How to Use Superglue for Making Jewellery

Use of Superglue (Cyanoacrylate)

To make a successful bond it is essential to take a few careful steps.

Cleaning
Use a solvent to remove all traces of grease, and apply with a lint free cloth. Cellulose thinners, Trichloroethylene or Acetone (nail varnish remover or dry cleaner fluid - TCE) and do not touch the surfaces once clean.

Roughen the surface
If gluing silver/metal components then file or stone the surface, on other materials use wire wool. Ensure that the joint gap is small since conventional superglue can only fill a void of upto approx 0.1mm. Make a dry run making sure that you can apply the glue, make and hold the joint in one continuous motion.

Use an applicator
Do not apply glue directly from the tube, inevitably you will squirt too much onto the joint and your fingers!. For best results use a bottle, rather than a tube, remove the nozzle then dip a length of thin wire into the glue to pick a drop and apply to one side of the joint. Spread the glue thinly over the surface and apply to the second surface and hold for a few seconds. Provided the glue was not too thick the joint will set almost immediately. If necessary add more glue to the assembled joint using the same method. Refit the nozzle and cap to reseal the bottle, provided you do not use the nozzle for it's intended purpose you can continue to use it as a removable 'bung'.
With care a tube can be used in the same way by removing the nozzle opening the foil seal fully, then dip into the tube. Find a secure method of supporting the open tube upright.