I’ve discovered that you can make a version of cyanoacrylate (CA) glue accelerator at home. Just mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda into 1/4 cup of purified water. Brush it onto the “dry” half of the joint. The soda will neutralize the acid in CA glue, which is there to slow the curing time. At this ratio, your homemade accelerator will still give you several seconds of open time to align the parts. But if you want an immediate cure, increase the soda to 1 teaspoon instead. After trying this on many sample joints made of poplar, I’ve noticed no loss of bond strength, plus it’s odor-free and doesn’t stain the wood.
– Paul Guncheon
Wahiawa, Hawai
