Yellow glue question???

[Tom Robb]

I found my quart bottle of Tightbond yellow glue looking funky. A dark yellow, not quit watery, liquid sitting on top of the normal colored glue. I didn't notice any particular odor to the stuff. Poured it off and tried to use the remainder which was very hard to squeeze from the bottle.

I was only making some shelf brackets for the garage and the nails will probably be sufficient to keep them together, but ought I throw the rest of the glue out?

Has anybody else run into this?

[gary porter]

Yep, they do have a shelf life. I had to throw away , or at least I did throw away, a gallon of Titebond that I has left over from a rafter project. I'd say a year is good but too much after that its just not worth it. Glue is too cheap to risk it on something if its important. If it doesn't matter then you could try diluting it a little and try it.
Personally I'd just go buy a new bottle.
Gary

[Rich VanValkenburg]

I had the same problem with Titebond, only mine smelled like rotten milk. I threw it out. That was the last time I ever tried to use it. Non-boat projects like cabinets, mantels, and stuff I stick to Elmers yellow. I've had bottles of that stuff sit for a few years, frozen and thawed, that performed like new.

Rich

[gary porter]

I normally buy a white glue for furniture work from Garrett Wade called Slow Set.
It seems to last a long time or at least long enough for me to use it up and it comes in pint bottles as well as quarts. I use Titebond for construction work etc. Polyurethane and epoxy for boat work.
Gary

[Mrleft8]

Sounds like it froze. I think TB2 has a freeze thaw cycle of 5.....But I'm not sure. I have remixed separated yellow glue and had no issues, but if it were for a paying job.....I'd spring for new glue....

[Thorne]

Yeah, I've always remixed water-based glues when they separate out -- just like peanut butter and oil, or cream and milk....

[Tom Robb]

Thanks, guys.
Sounds like buying only enough to use soon is a good idea.
You'd think the bottle would mention a "use by" date like foods and medicines. Maybe it does... I'll have to look.
I don't think it froze. The shop heater keeps the room at about 50-52 degrees in cold weather.
Thanks again.

[Tom Robb]

I found this info on Tightbond's website - probably copyrighted, but used here for strictly educational purposes.

What does the term shelf life mean in regard to Titebond Wood Glues?
Shelf life is a conservative estimate of the minimum time period that we would expect a given product to remain usable, when stored as directed. This concept might also be called "useable service life" or "storage life", and it necessarily refers to both the physical handling properties and the ability of the product to perform properly. When used in reference to wood glues, reaching the stated shelf life does not mean that a product will "expire" or become unusable. Instead, we view the stated shelf life of most of our glues merely as a guideline to avoid potential aging concerns. In reality, 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.

What is the shelf life of Titebond Wood Glues?
Our literature states the shelf life of all of our glues as one year. Titebond Liquid Hide Glue includes an expiration date on the bottle, because it can progressively lose its ability to dry hard, and this change is not visually obvious. Titebond Polyurethane Glue has a one year shelf life in an unopened container, but is useable as long as the glue remains fluid. Polyurethanes, however, are designed to react when exposed to moisture and can sometimes begin to cure after the bottle has been opened, and solidify.

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. The minimum shelf life of Titebond III is stated as one year, when stored appropriately at room temperature. Titebond III is expected to last beyond its stated shelf life. If thickened, shake vigorously by firmly tapping bottle on a hard surface until product is restored to original form.

Of course when that use-by time starts is an open question that isn't mentioned on the bottle. Who knows how long ago it left the factory.

[pipefitter]

Just like anything else that is air cured,including tung oils,glues,varnish,oil based paints...Store them in a bottle that is close to the sizes of the amounts left or not but squeeze all the air out of the bottles until the liquid is at the very top of the container and then screw the lid tight.I have kept glues and finishes for years in this way.I have a bottle of alphatic resin glue that is 4 years old and is still like new. I also have a bottle of Formby's tung oil that is older yet and is still the same as when it was stored.Also,the blue paint that is on my boat is stored in a plastic bottle and it was still perfect when I did the touchup where the bow roller on the trailer munched the finish. Typically,even when you buy a new bottle of glue,there is more air space at the top than should be which I suppose they leave for expansion/contraction during shiiping and handling.Try it,you will find it works very well and you wont have to pitch so much into the landfills.It also works the same for carbonated soft drinks that would otherwise go flat soon after opening.

[Dan Miller]

Of course when that use-by time starts is an open question that isn't mentioned on the bottle. Who knows how long ago it left the factory.

Titebond stamps a code on their glue bottles. The first character, a number, is the year it was made, the second character, a letter, is the month (A= January, B=February, etc.). Armed with this knowledge, you'll now be able to tell if you are buying fresh glue.

[Tom Robb]

Yah, Dan, I just now got the same info from Tightbond. Also they said the yellow snotty stuff is dye, just get a stick and stir it back in, but since I'd poured the snotty stuff off I can stir in a little water to thin it back out.
All this stuff is good to know. I'll have to keep in mind the squeeze out the air thing.