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What is the shelf life of fish glue? I have had a small bottle for couple years and haven't used it. There is some white precipitate at the bottom of the bottle...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

I think they generally say one year but I have the same bottle of Norland Fish Glue going on 3 years now and it's still as strong as ever. Some people refrigerate it. You should mix it up before using it, just move it around and shake it in the bottle. A white precipitate however doesn't sound good. IF something has come out of solution as a precipitate then the formula would be off.

I just checked the two bottles that I have. One is at least 5 years old, and has the white particulate at the bottom of the bottle, about 1/2" thick. The other is 3 years old, last month, and is fine. It's the LV fish glue, but I understand it is made by Norland as well.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Fish glue sometimes settles out a white particulate that is normally not visible when mixed well. Fish glue should always be mixed well before using. I don't think the settling particulate is an indicator of the glue's strength. I have some that is 6 years old that does not have the particulate and some that is about 2 years old that does have it. Both seem to still be good.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

like Waddy said:
Always shake the container-never use in a temp less then 55 degrees.
Glue up a sample piece ;before using it on a valuable one.

Mike

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Mike Collins

I get my fish glue from ye olde cabinet shoppe in PA . It has stayed liquid for over 1.5 yrs . When I receive 1 qt. it i put it in seperate plastic squeeze bottles and freeze till needed.Lasts a long time