Storing Cascamite

[Steve Maskery]

I've just bought 1.5kg tub of Cascamite. It's years since I bought any, as I normally do everything with Wudcare PVA, but this is for an external door and I don't want any problems down the line. It's for Ray, actually.

I know Cascamite can go off if damp air gets to it. Does anyone have any good tips for storing it so it will last for ever .

I was thinking of splitting it up into smaller Ziploc bags. Would freezing it help or would that wreck it?

Any experiences welcome.

 

[katellwood]

I've heard of people blowing up a baloon in the vacant space in the top of the tin to remove any moist air then sealing as normal

Just a thought

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Or at least put some into a smaller container for day to day use, so you're not opening the large tub every time.

 

[ColeyS1]

I buy 25kilo bags and just split it up into 10 litre paint tubs. Never had any issues with it going off.

Coley

 

[Peter Sefton]

Hi Steve, I think the key is to keep it in smaller air tight containers matched to your own use rate. We buy it in 25KG bags and decant into 2.5L plastic buckets.

The literature states shelf life between 1 and 2 years but you could reduce this to 1 or 2 weeks if the powder is left open in damp conditions, I am sure you know the water is the catalyst.

Cheers Peter

 

[Steve Maskery]

Thank you guys.
Yes, I do know that water is the enemy, and I have successfully stored it for several years before now. Maybe longer than I should have. But it really is donkeys' years since I bought any. I do remember that I eventually threw the remains of the last tub away.

I've just been looking for my nice little electronic scales, which were great for measuring out small amounts, but I can't find them and I don't remember seeing them this side of the rubicon, so I guess that's something else that grew legs .

I think I'll decant into ziplocs, and sore the bulk in the airing cupboard.

Thanks all.

 

[custard]

I've just been looking for my nice little electronic scales, which were great for measuring out small amounts, but I can't find them and I don't remember seeing them this side of the rubicon, so I guess that's something else that grew legs .

Funny, I measure Bordens UF glue by weight, but Cascamite UF glue by volume. Don't know why, just what I've always done.

Anyway, Cascamite is 3.5:1 powder to water by volume. Those cheap plastic kitchen measuring spoons work great, for most smallish furniture applications I use 3 1/2 tablespoons of powder to 1 tablespoon of cold water, starting the process with 3 1/2 tablespoons of powder and 1/2 tablespoon of water (plus just a couple of extra drops), then mixing hard with a stoutish ice lolly stick, it's a pig to mix but you end up with something like a lump of clay, then add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of water and get to something like double cream consistency. You need a minimum ambient temperature of about 14 or 15 degrees centigrade for it to cure and you'll normally get at least a full half hour of open time unless it's a scorching day. I use an old tooth brush and a pan of very, very hot water to clean off any squeeze out, then give a second scrub with fresh hot water. I almost never have finishing problems with Cascamite where as I'll frequently have finishing problems with PVA despite following exactly the same clean up regime, I suspect that the short open time of PVA means it's often semi-cured by the time I get to scrub it and therefore the water just runs off it, where as squeezed out Cascamite dissolves in the hot water and is 100% fully removed.

It's also a treat on a complicated job to have all the time in the world to thoroughly check for square and adjust cramps as necessary without feeling under any time pressure. Bottom line is I'm convinced my furniture glue ups are more accurate and better executed with UF/Cascamite than with PVA.

Cascamite's brilliant stuff!

Good luck!

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

We get the big tins of it from Sovereign and have a few of those desiccant tea bags in the top helps it keep for a few years

 

[rafezetter]

I went a bit over the top probably, but decanted my smaller 5kg container into baby food jars, put those inside a family circle biscuit box and added wood shavings (dried in my room) and dessicant bags that I rotate when I use some.

No idea if its' having any positive effect, ask me again in 2 years

 

[Benchwayze]

Steve, I never had any issues with Cascamite going off. I did have a problem with the the new Cascamite (Polymite). I glued up pairs of of 4 x 2 Western Red Cedar to make 4 x 4 legs for a garden bench. The biscuits didn't take well, and the flat surfaces of the Cedar just rejected to glue entirely. The glue dried okay, but I was able to pull the pieces apart as easily as if I'd used double sided sticky! I had to resort to exterior grade PVA. I can only assume the oils in the Cedar wood didn't agree with the Polymite. I tried the glue on some pine and oak, without any trouble at all, so I don't think the glue had gone off.

HTH

 

[Monkey Mark]

Anyone care to share where they get theirs from?

 

[paulrockliffe]

I think with PVA because it's water soluble, when you try to wipe it off with water, some of that water then dissolves a bit of the PVA in the joint and brings it out. Just a little bit and barely enough to notice, but it can easily be enough to leave a 'water mark'.

 

[Droogs]

I generally store any moisture activated glues etc in these types of tubs along with a couple of silica "tbags"

https://www.amazon.co.uk/vacuumSaver-li ... B008O3FU5K

seems to work well

 

[custard]

Anyone care to share where they get theirs from?

I get Cascamite from Axminster, they have a good range of pack sizes.

I get liquid UF glue (Cascamite is a powdered UF glue) from Airpress.

http://www.airpress.co.uk/99-bveneer-an ... ing-glueb/

If I've got a laminating job or a big veneering job I tend to use liquid UF glue as those jobs require fairly big quantities and liquid UF is simpler to mix up in big quantities and spreads smoother with a roller than Cascamite. If I've got in-date liquid UF glue in the workshop then I'll use that for all the odd little jobs too. But I'm scrupulous about chucking away out of date liquid UF, so that's when Cascamite comes in handy for the joint glue ups that tend to occur every few days throughout the year.

 

[ColeyS1]

Anyone care to share where they get theirs from?

Westward building services. 25 kilo bag for 50 quid+vat.

Coley

 

[Benchwayze]

Amazon stock it. Never bought it from them mind.

 

[iNewbie]

Lots of places sell it; ebay, even - just a quick google

http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=s ... 8weiyIG4Cg

 

[harvestbarn]

I bought mine from Rest Express £12.95 for 1.5kg I split it into poly zip lock bags. Still trying not to mix more than I need. For small quantities I mix by volume with an ex kitchen measure.

 

[Steve Maskery]

That's a good price. I've just bought the same for just over £16.

I've found a pouch of silica get in the stores. I can't remember what it came with, but it is quite large, about the size of a family pack of peanuts. I guess I could dry it out long and slow in the oven, but does anyone know if I can microwave it successfully?

 

[MDE]

That's a good price. I've just bought the same for just over £16.

I've found a pouch of silica get in the stores. I can't remember what it came with, but it is quite large, about the size of a family pack of peanuts. I guess I could dry it out long and slow in the oven, but does anyone know if I can microwave it successfully?

I think long and slow in the oven is the way.
I had to bin some cascamite recently as it had gone off, but only after several years. I really like it for complicated glue-ups. Also great for mixing with sawdust and knot filling a wood floor. Btw, I'm not sure polythene bags are impervious to water vapour - in the future I will ziploc portions and store them in a sealed container.