CA Glue and Baking Soda Problems

[ProfCoppersmith]

Hello all!
I was recently talking to my dad and he told me something interesting.
He was looking through his attic and found one of my first models, a T-Rex from Jurassic Park which he had helped me with. The interesting part was that he found crystalline growth from every place we used CA glue and baking soda to fill.
Has anyone ever had this happen before? Any ideas how to prevent it?
I had been planning on using this method for filling and reinforcing joints in a prop I'm working on: should I use something else?

Thanks!

 

[Muzza]

Was the area painted?

 

[TazMan2000]

Because I sand 3D resin and PLA prints with a palm sander lots, the dust bag gets full of resin and plastic dust, which makes a great substitute for baking soda.

TazMan2000

 

[ProfCoppersmith]

Was the area painted?

Originally, yes... I think. It was a long time ago, but I remember painting it.
(Love the Kosh avatar by the way.)

Because I sand 3D resin and PLA prints with a palm sander lots, the dust bag gets full of resin and plastic dust, which makes a great substitute for baking soda.

TazMan2000

THANKS! I will keep that in mind for the future. ^_^

 

[kruleworld]

THANKS! I will keep that in mind for the future. ^_^

also the sanding dust from body filler works too

 

[korben44]

Have you tried super glue gel? It might be too expensive than mixing cla glue and whatever, though.

 

[ProfCoppersmith]

Have you tried super glue gel? It might be too expensive than mixing cla glue and whatever, though.

Yes, I actually used to use it a lot when I was doing scale modeling. It works great for small gaps and flaws in a surface, but it is really inadequate for larger gaps. It can also be a bit of a mess if you have to use a lot of it.
My current projects are the first time in a long time that filling in gaps has been an issue for me. I have Bondo for some of it, but that seems best suited to really big holes and the like. I'm wanting to use the baking soda and CA glue method for all the in between stuff. It just seems more efficient.

I should also mention that the model on which the odd crystalline growth happened was something I made (with my dad) more than 25 years ago, and has been sitting in a non-climate controlled attic for much of that time.

 

[mcusanelli]

I use Lock-tite superglue with corn starch. It works great especially if you build it up in layers, keeping the mixture more syrupy so there is a few more seconds to manipulate it. And it carves and sands smoothly like styrene-strong as hell too!

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

Since everyone missed it (and I want to know too), he wants to know why the CA glue sprouted weird crystalline growths!

 

[ProfCoppersmith]

Since everyone missed it (and I want to know too), he wants to know why the CA glue sprouted weird crystalline growths!

Yes, well actually, that and if anyone else has ever actually had this happen after using this technique? ^_^

 

[TazMan2000]

Check this link and I'm sure it will answer your questions.

Does Baking Soda Absorb Moisture? (All You Need to Know)

Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a crystal salt that has numerous applications. The chemical formula of baking soda is NaHCO3which contains sodium (Na+)

diymelon.com

The reason this happened to your model is that it most likely absorbed moisture and eventually the salt crystals leached out. Paint, is not always a sealant. Expansion and contraction can cause minute cracks and allow moisture ingress.

You may not get anyone here that this has happened to, since they may not store their work in a non-climate controlled place, or seal up their boxes. But I believe your experience may get those who have stored their items in such places, to check up on them or to seal up the boxes airtight.

TazMan2000