Plastic Pipettes for use with water thin superglue

[TelePlay]

Not a telephone tool per se but another inexpensive "tool" that works great when using with water thin cyanoacrylate glue (superglue).

For many years I've been using water thin and baking soda to fix/fabricate broken items (a Google search will turn up 100s of ways to use that combination of chemicals).

The problem has been transferring a small portion of the glue to its intended target. It can't be used right out of the purchased 2oz bottle without having the entire bottle cure into a solid polymer block.

Can't use wood (toothpicks) in that the wood will instantly initiate the glue's chemical curing process, on the wood.

Stainless steel probes work well as long as the steel is cleaned off with acetone prior to use and even then, the glue will begin, be it slowly, to cure on the metal (which can be cleaned off with a cotton cloth wet with acetone).

A few months ago I discovered that the plastic in these pipettes is the same as that used to hold the water thin glue. That means they can be used to transfer larger volumes 1/2 to 1 ml) to a secondary holder, such as a plastic pill dispenser or medicine cup, for multiple applications on a project without contaminating the supply bottle causing its entire contents to cure quickly into a solid block of cured polymer.

The pipette can such be used to put a small drop of glue on the intended target, say a thin layer of baking soda which almost instantly cures into a rock hard polymer.

The pipette can be used without the glue curing on or in the pipette opening. And the pipette can be easily cleaned, with pure acetone, for reuse (over and over).

An eBay search for "plastic pipettes" will find different quantities and prices. This link is to a current listing for 200 for under $12.

These also with well for transferring solvents out of a quart metal can into a smaller 10 ml glass bottle.

I use them to make different percentage mixtures of acetone and isopropyl alcohol for working on plastics.

https://ebay.us/m/mhkAX5

200 of these is a lifetime supply, they last forever or until one is used with a hard to clean liquid (e.g. paint or oil).

Posting this tip here for posterity should someone find it a helpful tip.

[Kellogg Kitt]

Thanks for the the tip; I will probably use it someday.  I always have a difficult time with this type of glue when I need just a tiny drop.

[RDPipes]

Not trying to rock the boat here but, what I found to work well are Pipette Tips,
they fit right on to most cyanoacrylate glue bottles like the one below, and they're cheap
and come by the dozen or more. You can find them at hobby shops or medical supplies online.
They have a very tiny hole and of course can be cut to enlarge like caulk tubes.

[TelePlay]

That will work. It's another way to work with water thin cyanoacrylate.

I never dispense right out of the 2 ounce bottles I buy to prevent excessive use and possible contamination of the 2 ounce bottle (which is rare but possible).

These tips you use are usually used on a mechanical dispenser, Eppendorf or Fisher, to pick up and dispense small, very exact and precise quantities of a liquid, one time use tips. For example, if one wanted to determine the lead content of a blood sample from a child, they could use a 10 uL dispenser to load a delves cup:

"The "Delves cup" refers to a technique used in atomic absorption spectrometry, specifically for analyzing lead in blood and other samples. It involves atomizing the lead from a small sample, often blood or urine, using a nickel cup and analyzing it with atomic absorption spectroscopy. This method was particularly significant for enabling blood lead analysis with small sample volumes."

Can't remember how many thousands of those tests I did over a two year period back in mid 70s in a toxicology lab.

You can see these dispensers being used on TV whenever they do a news story about some testing, usually viral these days, being fine in a fume hid in some lab. I wish I could afford the dispenser.

Anything that does not cause water thin to cute on is a good tool. I like the plastic pipettes in that they can be used and reused to transfer large, measured quantities of any liquid. I never considered these tips so glad to know they work, do not cause water thin to cure in them.

[TelePlay]

. . . what I found to work well are Pipette Tips, they fit right on to most cyanoacrylate glue bottles like the one below, and they're cheap and come by the dozen or more. You can find them at hobby shops or medical supplies online.

Do you remember what size (volume) of tip that you find works for you? They come in at least 10 uL to 5,000 uL volumes. I'd be interested in getting some that fit the tip of my stock glue dispenser.

[RDPipes]

Do you remember what size (volume) of tip that you find works for you? They come in at least 10 uL to 5,000 uL volumes. I'd be interested in getting some that fit the tip of my stock glue dispenser.

No I sure don't but I could send you a couple and you could see if they fit.
Never knew they came in different sizes. I've ordered them twice now and never noticed.
And I don't remember where I ordered them from. They have always come the same size as far as I know.
I believe the end that fits on the spout are all the same, I think it's the length that maybe different.
You can also get this kind made for cyanoacrylate glue bottles at hobby stores as shown below.

[TelePlay]

The tip matches the pipette it is used on.

A 10 uL pipette would use a smaller tip.

A 200 uL pipette would need a larger tip.

The amount of liquid drawn up never overfills the removable tip. They are one time use and come sterile, non-sterile and all are washed so free of any contaminants.

Postage makes sending them a no go, that 1/4" thickness thing. But thanks for the offer. Next time I get to Science & Surplus, I'll see if they have them.

[RDPipes]

The tip matches the pipette it is used on.

A 10 uL pipette would use a smaller tip.

A 200 uL pipette would need a larger tip.

The amount of liquid drawn up never overfills the removable tip. They are one time use and come sterile, non-sterile and all are washed so free of any contaminants.

Postage makes sending them a no go, that 1/4" thickness thing. But thanks for the offer. Next time I get to Science & Surplus, I'll see if they have them.

I wasn't going to ask for payment of any sort, it's not that expensive for me to ship these little things.