Interesting after-market gadgets for the Domino Joiner on Etsy

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ChuckS

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Is the print file for the keyhole inserts available in the public domain?

Don't know how effective the glue dispenser works in real life, but if you're 3D-printer technically good, you may be able to develop the file and try it:


 
That keyhole insert is rather interesting. :unsure:

I'll pass on the glue bottle. I had a Glu-Bot and it kept drying up so I went back to the original glue container. It keeps glue fresh for at least a year...probably longer as who knows how long the glue has been sitting on the shelf.
 
I've seen similar Domino glue-things on places like Printables and Thingiverse. But that guy is only charging fifty cents. That seems worth it for the time alone.

That said, I also had a baby Glue Bot but found it cantankerous to squeeze and am just too lazy to transfer the glue so I just use the stock bottle.
 
onocoffee said:
That said, I also had a baby Glue Bot but found it cantankerous to squeeze and am just too lazy to transfer the glue so I just use the stock bottle.
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That being said, the Glu-Bot is fine if you're dispensing product from it at least once a week, however if you're the normal wood shop guy that uses glue once a month or so, the thing gets clogged up and its usefulness is severally diminished.
 
A long time ago I learned a trick from a befriended general contractor. He had a systainer (I think it was a T-Loc 5) with an inlay for caulking tubes. He had the inlay raised from the bottom with a few strips of plastic. In the systainer there was a few cm of water. He stored his caulking tubes upside down in the systainer, such that the tips of the tubes were under water. That way no oxygen will get to the contents of the tubes. It works like a charm. I have tubes with stuff like silicone and ms polymer stored like this that are like new, even though they have been open for more than a year.

I still intend to try something similar with my glue bottles, hoping that will solve any clogging issues. I almost exclusively use white glue (mostly D3, sometimes D4) and water has no real negative impact on the quality of those. It seems you should be able to get good results using this trick.
 
Am I the only one who loves the Glu-Bot? Yes, it does clog. But I have had no more clog problems with it than any other bottle. Even after sitting for months. But an awl or dental pick clears it pretty easily. I generally use the wide / flat tip. IDK, I basically never want to go back to a regular bottle. 🤷‍♂️

Seth
 
I didn’t have clogging issues with the Baby Glue Bot. I just found it more difficult to squeeze the glue out once the amount had dropped below a certain level. But reflecting back on it, chill could have been a factor as well.
 
hdv said:
A long time ago I learned a trick from a befriended general contractor. He had a systainer (I think it was a T-Loc 5) with an inlay for caulking tubes. He had the inlay raised from the bottom with a few strips of plastic. In the systainer there was a few cm of water. He stored his caulking tubes upside down in the systainer, such that the tips of the tubes were under water. That way no oxygen will get to the contents of the tubes. It works like a charm. I have tubes with stuff like silicone and ms polymer stored like this that are like new, even though they have been open for more than a year.

I still intend to try something similar with my glue bottles, hoping that will solve any clogging issues. I almost exclusively use white glue (mostly D3, sometimes D4) and water has no real negative impact on the quality of those. It seems you should be able to get good results using this trick.
Click to expand...
Fastcap sells a wall-mounted holder that stores caulking guns upside down in a pool of water.
 
I think that the Fastcap glu-bot tip clogs, but no more than a regular glue bottle. It is also easy enough to clean; or replace (and the replacements are readily available from many vendors). The biggest annoyance I have is with the gaskets failing after glue hardens around them. Fastcap does sell replacements, but they are not as readily available from third parties and shipping is expensive compared to the item. Amazon has conditioned us (me included) not to appropriately value the modern miracle of getting items delivered across the country at a cost of only minutes of labor ...
 
" I think that the Fastcap glu-bot tip clogs, but no more than a regular glue bottle."

I was expecting something better than the glue bottle from the shelf when I paid extra for the Glu-bot. If they're the same, why bother? That said, I got the small Glu-bot because it is good at controlling how much glue to dispense when that matters (e.g. with miniature projects). It also has the hard to squeeze out problem onocoffee pointed out. Yes, if we clean the tip after every use or replace it, the Glu-bot is fine. But many woodworkers, including me, aren't that well organized.

For regular projects, I need the flow and use the glue bottle that is sold with the glue.
 
ChuckS said:
Fastcap sells a wall-mounted holder that stores caulking guns upside down in a pool of water.
Click to expand...
Interesting... :unsure: I may have to give these a try.

Talking about caulking tubes, I'm sure most folks know there's an expiration date on caulking tubes but some are easier to find than others. Vulkem prints the date on the outside of the cartridge, Sika embosses the date into the end of the "pusher" cap and Loctite/Henkel...well I've never found their expiration date. :mad: I learned the hard way not to just grab any old Loctite caulking tube, but I now squeeze each tube in the middle to make sure the adhesive is still soft and usable.

And after opening, I use some of these little red condoms. I've tried all the other cures and these seem to work the best.
 

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I had some of the rubbers from Lee Valley Tools, but they became brittle after some years. They didn't as well as I thought. Lately, I've simply wrapped the tube's opening with layers and layers of packing tape.


@Cheese
www.fastcap.com

Sealant Saver - FastCap

www.fastcap.com
Note these user comments:"
super useful, but take care

These really do work well. Use water for latex sealants/caulks, mineral spirits for polyurethanes/silicones/etc. The only negative is that the rim is somewhat fragile and prone to breaking. I made the mistake of lightly pushing the tube down to give a snug fit. Big mistake. It took me two breakages to learn. Set it in there gently and just let gravity do its thing. They really are worth it."

How long does the water stay in there without evaporating? would I have to check it every so often if I don't use it on a regular basis? not sure

Response: So long as a tube is inserted, the water should be sealed in there and not evaporate. When caulking is in use and the water is open to the air however, it will slowly evaporate. The rate at which it evaporates will depend upon the external environment it is in. The tube when filled needs about 1 teaspoon (5ml) of water to function properly.
 
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I also wanted to note that while I still have a number of Titebond2 lying around, earlier this year I started trying out the Bossdog glue line and have liked the results thus far. One of the niceties about BD is their bottle. More like a foodservice squeeze bottle with twist nozzle that's easier to keep clean and clog free. Just twist closed and wipe the excess off the tip. I have yet to have their glues seize the caps.
 
I checked and found that the Bossdog glue is at least 2.5x in cost the LV cabinetmaker's glue that I've used for over two decades. Hard to justify the extra cost just for a different (even if slightly better) cap design. The only problem with the LV glue bottle is the small cap that seems to have its own legs and disappear; the tip never clogs. Pencil eraser caps come in handy as replacements when the tips are missing.

I don't like the Titebond cap...it can get stuck with the dried glue after it's not used for some time. I might need to pry open the cap with an object!

No kidding:
 
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A buddy made and sent me a similar pry bar for the glue bottle.

IMG_0478.jpeg


Since he has a laser, might as well engrave it. Hopefully that will keep it from getting tossed into the trash.


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It hangs on the inside of the cabinet door that contains the glue bottles.

IMG_9305.jpeg
 
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