This week’s question comes from Knothead. He writes:
“I’ve heard that PVA glue has an expiration date of about 1year after opening. Is this tuely so, or does it just start hardening in the bottle? I bought a gallon jug and didn’t get it used up within a year but it still pours out. Can I use it until it is too thick to pour?”
And here was my reply: “Hey Knothead. The recommended shelf life on PVA glue is generally a way for the company to cover its butt. One year is simply the length of time they will guarantee the quality level. But most glues can go for two years or more if stored consistently at room temp. And fortunately, the glue will show signs of problems when it is bad. So if it still flows nice and smooth and its not clumpy and stringy, you should have no problems using the product. Here is a link to the Titebond FAQ where they cover these topics extensively.
From Titebond: “…as long as products like Titebond Original, Titebond II and Titebond III remain fluid, without drastic change in appearance, they will continue to perform as intended. Most of our yellow and white glues, including Titebond Original and Titebond II, remain usable beyond two years. Should Titebond Original become thick and stringy, or Titebond II turns into an orange colored gel, these changes signify that the glue is no longer usable.”
3 Responses to “Shelf Life of PVA Glue”
Hey Class,
One other thing that I noticed about TB2 is that once it is past its prime is that when you apply it to the wood it almost resists seeping into the grain. When you side the wood together once glue is initially applied it almost sounds like plastic bubble wrap, and trapping air bubbles, even the tiniest of them, in a glue joint isn’t good. Hard to describe the consistency other than the feel of old pudding and it does not really wet/attach/soak to the wood. When it passes that point, it gets pitched.
Have thrown out a couple jugs of TB2 thinking that I would use them in the time and wanted to save money on buying in bulk.
LQQK
More helpful info on this subject from Titebond’s web site:
How do I read the lot number?
For most Titebond products the first digit of the lot number is a number. It is the last digit of the year of manufacture. The second digit is a letter. It indicates the month. We use the letters A through M, excluding the letter I. The third digit is a number. It represents the manufacturing division the product was made for. The next four numbers represent the internal lot or batch number. That is followed by a decimal point and two numbers which represent the day of manufacture.
Example: 6L12455.23 – This material was manufactured on November 23rd of 2006.
I have a 4 litre container of Selleys Exterior Aquadhere about half full which has been in my farm shed for around 3 years. When I recently opened it, the glue has none of the white or creamy white appearance it previously had and the smell is now pungent and nothing like the smell of normal PVA glue. The glue has gone opaque, almost colourless, but perhaps with a slight amber tint. It had not formed a skin on top, which I had expected as it slowly dried out in the plastic container. The glue no longer works.
I now find I have a smaller container of Selleys interior Aquadhere which has gone an opaque amber colour with the same pungent smell as the Exterior Aquadhere. The glues no longer stick.
I have not previously heard of Aquadhere having a use by date. It clearly has, and Selleys should state that. Has anyone else had a similar problem with PVA glues?