I spent the past two weeks volunteering for Habitat For Humanity, removing furnishings from a very expensive house that was going to be demolished for a rebuild. We removed all the interior cabinets, doors and frames, and anything that would sell in the Restore.
During the demo, I got a small cut on my arm that would not stop slightly bleeding, and remembered I had a bottle of New Skin in my truck. A small dab and back to work. Another volunteer stated that Super Glue was his “go to” fix for many things in his RV, which prompted the idea for this article.
History of Super Glue
We all remember the commercial with the construction worker gluing his hat to a steel beam and hanging—demonstrating, the strength of “Super Glue”. However, did you know that it is a cyanoacrylate and was discovered in 1942 by Dr. Harry Coover, Jr., while trying to develop clear plastic gun sites for Allied soldiers.
There are several types of cyanoacrylates such as Power Glue, Instant Glue, and Super Glue.
Here is a description of cyanoacrylates from Wikipedia:
Specific cyanoacrylates include methyl 2-cyanoacrylate (MCA), ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate (ECA, commonly sold under trade names such as “Super Glue” and “Krazy Glue”), n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA), octyl cyanoacrylate, and 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (used in medical, veterinary and first aid applications). Cyanoacrylate adhesives are sometimes known generically as instant glue, power glue, or super glue. The abbreviation “CA” is commonly used for industrial grade cyanoacrylate.
Coover rediscovered cyanoacrylates while working at Eastman-Kodak. He applied for a patent in 1954, received it in 1956, and the product was sold as Eastman #910. In the 1960s, it was bought by Loctite and sold as Loctite Quick Set 404. In 1971 Loctite reintroduced it as Super Bonder. There are now several different brands and names of cyanoacrylate.
Here are a few uses for cyanoacrylate:
Medical and veterinary
Cyanoacrylate glue has been used for years to mend animal bones, hides, and even turtle shells. A spray version was developed and used in Vietnam to temporarily close wounds until the soldier could be transferred for treatment.
In 1998, Dermabond was approved by the FDA as a medical adhesive. It can also be applied to the fingertips that get scratched and cut from activities. Even guitar players apply a thin layer to recreate the “callus” surface needed for playing.
Two other common formulations are available for medical treatment: SurgiSeal and LiquiBand Exceed. I have used New Skin for years on minor cuts and scraps.
Cosmetics
Nail salons use cyanoacrylate glue for nail extensions and repair. It is also use for eyelash extensions.
Trim repair and adhesive
I have used cyanoacrylate to reapply the batt strip that covers the seam between interior wall panels. During temperature changes, the original adhesive never stays.
You can also use it to secure cabinet handles that have stripped out, countertop trim, and even secure loose screws.
Repair tools
I have had several handles from screwdrivers, chisels, and putty knives come off over the years. Applying a little Super Glue and pushing the handle back on has worked wonders.
Clothing repair
Soles of shoes can be secured. Seams or stitching in shirts and coats, and rips or tears in leather or vinyl can be repaired.
Fix broken ceramics
Whether it’s the broken handle of your favorite coffee cup or the best meatloaf dish, Super Glue can mend almost any broken or cracked ceramic and plastic utensils.
Exterior repair
Super Glue is great to reapply trim pieces on the sidewall at the floor level as well as end caps on bumpers. I have even used it to fill and seal small cracks in the fiberglass that can develop at the corners of door and window cutouts.
I have also used Super Glue on stitching and seams of the main awning, as well as window awnings that have started to fray slightly. This not only helps keep them from fraying more, it also keeps moisture from penetrating.
Lifting cars
According to its website, Loctite Super Glue set a Guinness Book World Record for lifting a 5-ton Ford pickup (video) with a small car in the back using only 9 drops of the adhesive!
Super Glue comes in a liquid or gel form. You can get your quick RV fix on Amazon here.
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DAVE HAS ANSWERED MORE THAN 1,000 readers’ maintenance and repair questions. Read a directory here. There is so much to learn!
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Without watching, you can glue your fingers to anything. LOL
Speaking as an ER physician, CA glue works on (not in!) lacerations as long as it can be adequately cleaned, there is no active bleeding, the area can be kept dry after the repair, there isn’t any motion through it and the edges of the laceration can be easily approximated without any skin tension on it. In general, lacerations heal in 5 to 14 days depending on their location with extremities taking the longest. Skin glue almost never lasts that long, causing the wound to separate and resulting in an inferior repair. Its advantages are it is fast and the patient doesn’t need to return for suture or staple removal. Interestingly, the facility charges the same with either method of repair.