Here's an interesting question :

If you're using those glue that come out of a needle (looks like the Revell ones are very popular on this side of the pond, they're the ones I'm using), how do you prevent the glue from drying inside the needle?

This happens regularly with my tubes, even if I put the cap on. I used to block the needle with another needle but on those tubes the needle is too small, can't find anything thin enough to fit...

Anybody knows what I mean? Got a solution?

Testors supplies a tip clearing wire in thier glue - seems to work fine - I wil occasionaly dip the tip in acetone ot naptha to clear it as well-
http://www.testors.com/catalog_item.asp?itemNbr=1455

I have the same problem. I use lighter and simply put the needle into fire. It burns and needle is clean... until next time Anyway it works.

Piotr

I've tried putting a piece of 5 amp fusewire (ie very thin) through the needle, which worked for a while, until the glue became so hard that the wire snapped when I tried to remove and now the needle is permanently useless.

if you need to glue something small why not use fuse wire alone? i simply sqeeze ca to the top of the container dip the wire in, catch a bead of glue (which can be re-dipped if you get too much) then place the drop exactly where it needs to go. this is very handy for 1/72 p/e cockpit parts

Mate

I second PiotrS idea. there is nothing like a good fire to melt and burn off the hardened glue. I used to use a cigarette lighter but it takes about 20 - 30 seconds whicgh (a) makes the lighter darn hot and can burn your fingers and (b) empties your lighter in a hurry (bad when desperate for a durry)

So I use one of those tea light candles that SWMBO uses in her aromatic oils burner. Also comes in handy for stretching sprue.

Brian

I use Entomology pins (You know the ones people stick butterfly's to boards with)
They are long enough, very thin, and bloody strong for their guage.

I happened to have some lying around from my university days (well over 10 years ago now) and discovered they wher perfect for the revell nozzle!

I use fishing wire to unblock the needle, it's available in different sizes and just strong enough to push the glue out.

I use a strand of speaker wire, I think I have 16 or 18 guage forget which one right now. Strip a small section of wire and it will give you a bunch of stranfs you can use. Works like the thin wire that comes with the glue bottle.

I had a similar problem with the needle tip bottle and my LHS guy suggested that before I cap the tip at the end of the night, I hold the bottle upright (with needle tip pointing up) and squeeze until nothing but air comes out.. It works like a charm and I haven't had any clogged tubes since then..

I use a nylon bristle cut from the sweeping brush in the kitchen. Flexible and the glue doesn't attack it.

I also use the bic lighter trick.

I have been using the revel glue for a while now and encountered this problem. What i do is clear the needle with a piece of wire sorry have no idea what the gauge is but i do it after every session and it does not happen that often anymore.

redleg

Woohoo! Got about three of the useless pieces of kit to clear tomorrow night... Thanks guys! I was feeling very annoyed with these glue needles.

Revell glue is good but the needles are a nuisance unless used VERY regularly. What a pity they don't come with a cap or internal wire...

ARE YOU LISTENING REVELL???? Great item but one major flaw!

AH! Wait a minute... Blocked tube = more sales... Hmmm!

How cynical Murrrdo :-)
Funnily enough, (funny weird, not funny haha) I seem to lose the cap real early on the Revell glue, thus leave it uncapped. Most of the time I can just pick off the solid glue at the tip with my fingernail and it runs clear again... If not then 5amp fuse wire is the source