What is Selleys Fix & Go No More Mess Super Glue, and where should you use it?

Selleys Fix & Go No More Mess Super Glue is a cyanoacrylate super glue in a stand-up tube that will not clog, because the product retracts back into the tube after use. It requires no mixing, sets in 10 seconds, dries clear, and it is made for all types of household repairs — the design brief being that it leaves no mess on the benchtop.

If you have ever thrown out a half-full tube of super glue because the nozzle had welded itself shut, that is the problem this product is built around. The retraction is what keeps the tip clear between jobs, and the stand-up format is what stops the tube leaking onto the surface it is sitting on.

Technical specification

Property	Typical result
Technology	Cyanoacrylate
Colour	Dries clear
Set time	10 seconds
Initial cure time	30 minutes
Full cure time	~12 hours

Supplied as a 3mL tube. Indicative data only, not intended for the preparation of specifications.

What the key numbers mean in practice

There are three separate milestones here and it is worth keeping them apart, because most disappointing super glue repairs come from confusing the first with the last.

Set time, 10 seconds. This is how long the parts need to be held together before the joint holds itself. It is not when the repair is finished.

Initial cure, 30 minutes. Selleys states that sufficient bond strength for practical use is achieved after 30 minutes. This is the point where the item can be handled and put back on the shelf.

Full cure, approximately 12 hours. The bond continues to strengthen over 12 hours. If the repair has to carry weight or take a knock, that is the figure to work to.

The practical consequence: glue the handle back on a mug in the morning, handle it after half an hour, and leave real use until the following day.

Where to use it

Selleys lists this product as suitable for bonding:

• Ceramic
• China
• Paper
• Metal
• Wood
• Most plastics

Its stated features are no mixing required, a non-clog nozzle, a fast bond, a strong bond, and a clear finish.

The page also specifies interior use only.

How to apply it

Surface preparation first: surfaces to be bonded must be clean, dry, free of dust and close fitting. Super glue bonds a thin film between two faces that already meet; it does not bridge a space, so time spent dry-fitting the break is time well spent.

1. Pierce the seal at the end of the tube by attaching the nozzle with the cap and turning clockwise.
2. Remove the cap and apply a small amount of glue to one surface. One surface, small amount — more glue makes a slower, weaker joint, not a stronger one.
3. Bring the surfaces together and apply slight pressure. Slight is the operative word; heavy pressure squeezes the adhesive out of the joint.
4. Wipe the tip of the tube, replace the cap and store upright in a dry, cool place.
5. Allow 30 minutes for sufficient bond strength for practical use. The bond will strengthen over 12 hours.

Why "close fitting" is the condition that decides the repair

Of the four surface preparation requirements Selleys lists — clean, dry, free of dust, close fitting — the last is the one people negotiate with, and it is the one that cannot be negotiated. A cyanoacrylate bonds as a thin film between two faces that already meet. Where the faces do not meet, there is nothing for the film to bridge, and adding more adhesive makes the situation worse rather than better: a thick layer cures more slowly and remains the weakest part of the joint.

The practical test is simple. Hold the two pieces together dry and look at the break line. If they close to a hairline along their whole length, the repair will work. If there is a visible gap, or the pieces rock against each other, this product cannot fix that — it has no gap-filling ability, and the honest answer is a different adhesive.

Dust is the second most common cause of a failed super glue repair, particularly on ceramic and china, where the break itself generates a fine powder that sits in the joint. Blow or brush the faces out before you glue rather than pressing that powder into the bond line.

Safety — read this before you open the tube

Selleys gives explicit safety directions for this product, and they are not decorative:

• The glue will bond skin and eyes on contact. Keep out of reach of children.
• Avoid contact with skin and eyes, and avoid breathing the vapour.
• If fingers stick together, apply a solvent such as acetone to the contact areas, then wash off with water.
• Do not use solvents near the eye or on open wounds.
• In case of eye contact, immediately flush with water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention.
• If medical advice is needed, have the container or label at hand. Refer to the Safety Data Sheet, and keep the card for reference.

Selleys also notes that super glue can create a white residue on the surface of a material if the area is not well ventilated. Clean the affected area with acetone — most nail polish removers will do — taking care to check compatibility first, as acetone may damage sensitive materials. Ventilating the workspace is the simpler fix: the residue is a consequence of vapour settling on the surrounding surface, so airflow prevents it.

Limitations — where No More Mess should not be used

• Not for polyethylene or polypropylene plastics. The page also lists Teflon as unsuitable.
• Not for glass.
• It may cause some leather to discolour or harden. Test in an inconspicuous area for compatibility with leather before you commit.
• No gap-filling ability. Surfaces must be close fitting.
• Interior use only.

Storage

Wipe the tip of the tube, replace the cap, and store upright in a dry, cool place. Storing it standing up is part of how the non-clog design works — a tube left on its side with the cap loose defeats the retraction that keeps the nozzle clear.

Hazard classification

Classified as hazardous under Safe Work Australia GHS 7, with the signal word Warning.

• Flammable liquids — Category 4. H227: combustible liquid.
• Skin corrosion/irritation — Category 2. H315: causes skin irritation.
• Eye damage/irritation — Category 2A. H319: causes serious eye irritation.
• Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure — Category 3, respiratory tract irritation. H335: may cause respiratory irritation.

Not classified as Dangerous Goods for transport by the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail or New Zealand NZS5433. It is classified C1 (combustible liquid) for storage and handling under AS 1940, and is Poison Schedule S5 (Caution).

What is in it

Chemical entity	CAS number	Proportion (w/w)
Ethyl cyanoacrylate	7085-85-0	>60%
Non-hazardous or below reporting limits	—	Balance

The safety data sheet describes it as a colourless to straw-coloured liquid with a pungent odour, specific gravity 1.1, viscosity 80–150 cps, and a flash point of 80–93.4 °C (closed cup).

The no-mess design and the hazard classification are more closely related than they look. Every classification above describes adhesive that has escaped the joint — on skin, in an eye, evaporating from a smear on the bench. A tube that retracts its contents after use and does not clog is, in safety terms, a tube that leaves less adhesive on the outside of itself to be picked up by the next hand that reaches for it. The design brief was tidiness; the effect is less incidental contact.

The flash point of 80–93.4 °C keeps H227 in proportion. Category 4 is the mildest flammability rung — combustible rather than flammable — and nothing on a workbench takes the adhesive near that temperature. It matters for storage rather than for use: not in a car, not on a sunny sill, not beside a heater, which is what the C1 classification under AS 1940 is about.

H335 and H319 are the ones to respect in the moment. Cyanoacrylate vapour irritates the airway and the eyes, and it is released while the adhesive cures — so the ten seconds you spend holding the parts together is also the peak of the vapour. Work with a window open, and keep your face out of the direct line of the joint rather than bending over it. The pungent odour listed among the physical properties is not the smell of something going wrong; it is the ordinary smell of the product working.

The first aid below anticipates burns and blistering, which goes beyond what H315 skin irritation alone would suggest. That reflects the chemical class rather than anything unusual about this tube: cyanoacrylate polymerisation is exothermic, and the class is known to react quickly with cotton and wool, so the advice is written to cover adhesive soaking into a glove, a sleeve or a cloth. If it soaks into fabric against your skin, get the fabric off rather than pressing it down.

Protection

• Eye protection — chemical goggles.
• Gloves — nitrile rubber, suitable for intermittent contact. The safety data sheet notes that glove construction and local conditions vary and the final assessment is the user's.
• Respirator — a suitable respirator where vapour inhalation is a real risk, which in practice means enclosed spaces or prolonged work.
• Ventilation — natural ventilation is adequate under normal use. Use outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, and avoid breathing the vapour.
• Storage — cool, dry, well ventilated, out of direct sunlight, container upright and tightly closed, away from food and from sources of heat or ignition, and stored locked up.
• Do not eat, drink or smoke while using it, and wash your hands before you do.

First aid

Exposure	What to do
Eyes	Hold the eyelids apart and flush continuously with running water for at least 15 minutes, or until the Poisons Information Centre or a doctor says to stop, then go to a doctor or hospital.
Skin	Remove contaminated clothing and flush the skin and hair with running water for at least 15 minutes, or until advised to stop. For a skin burn, cover with a clean, dry dressing until medical help is available. If blistering occurs, do not break the blisters. Seek medical assistance if swelling, redness, blistering or irritation develops.
Inhalation	Move the person to fresh air without becoming a casualty yourself. Loosen clothing, let them settle into whichever position is most comfortable, keep them warm and at rest until fully recovered. Seek medical advice if effects persist.
Swallowed	Rinse the mouth with water. Do not induce vomiting. Give a glass of water. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If vomiting occurs, give more water and seek medical advice.

If poisoning occurs, contact a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre — 131 126 in Australia, 0800 764 766 in New Zealand — with the container to hand. Selleys emergency line: 1800 220 770 in Australia, 0800 220 770 in New Zealand.

Common questions about Selleys Fix & Go No More Mess Super Glue

How long do I hold the parts together?

The set time is 10 seconds.

When can I use the repaired item?

Sufficient bond strength for practical use is achieved after 30 minutes. The bond strengthens over approximately 12 hours to full cure.

Why doesn't the nozzle clog?

The product retracts back into the tube after use, which keeps the tip clear. Wipe the tip and replace the cap after each use, and store the tube upright.

What will it bond?

Ceramic, china, paper, metal, wood and most plastics.

What won't it bond?

Polyethylene or polypropylene plastics, and glass. The page also lists Teflon.

Can I use it on leather?

It may cause some leather to discolour or harden. Test in an inconspicuous area first.

Will it fill a chip or a gap?

No. It has no gap-filling ability — the surfaces must be clean, dry, dust-free and close fitting.

Can I use it outdoors?

No. It is specified for interior use only.

What do I do if I glue my fingers together?

Apply a solvent such as acetone to the contact areas, then wash off with water. Do not use solvents near the eye or on open wounds.

What if I get it in my eye?

Immediately flush with water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention.

Why is there a white haze around my repair?

Super glue can create a white residue if the area is not well ventilated. Clean it off with acetone, checking material compatibility first, and work in a ventilated space next time.

Can I glue paper with it?

Yes. Paper is on the list of materials Selleys states it will bond, along with ceramic, china, metal, wood and most plastics.

Can I use it on a repaired ceramic that will be washed?

The technical data sheet does not state any water resistance for this product, so treat regular washing as outside what has been published for it.

What colour does it dry?

Clear.

What size is the tube?

3mL.

Does it need mixing?

No. No mixing is required.

See the full super glue range, or the super glue guide for choosing between formats.