What is Selleys Super Glue High Precision, and where should you use it?

Selleys Super Glue High Precision is a fast-setting super glue with a high precision applicator, made for delicate, precise repair jobs around the home. The applicator makes it easy to control the flow of glue so you can apply it exactly where you need it, in the amount you need — which on a small ceramic or jewellery repair is most of the job.

Its distinguishing feature is the glue saver nozzle, which prevents waste and mess by retracting partly dispensed glue droplets. Before completely dispensing a drop, release pressure on the dispenser buttons and the glue saver draws the glue back into the bottle. In practice that means you can bring a droplet to the tip, judge whether it is the right size, and take it back if it is not — instead of watching it fall onto the workpiece.

Where to use it

• Delicate, precise repairs where placement matters
• Fine details on small items
• Plastics, other than polyethylene and polypropylene

Interior use only.

How to apply it

1. Attach and twist the cap to pierce the seal.
2. Apply one drop at a time. This is the discipline the applicator is built to support — on fine work, excess adhesive squeezes out along the join and shows in the finished repair.
3. Press the surfaces together for 30 seconds.
4. Replace the cap promptly.

Store the bottle upright in a cool, dry place.

Getting the most out of a precision applicator

The value of controlling the drop is that you can work on parts too small to tolerate a smear. Dry-fit the pieces first and work out exactly where the adhesive needs to go, then place one drop there. If a single drop does not seem to wet the whole join, the usual cause is that the faces are not meeting properly rather than that you need more glue — check the fit before adding a second drop.

The glue saver also keeps the tip clean between applications, which is what stops a fine nozzle from blocking after a few uses. Combined with storing the bottle upright and capping it promptly, it is the reason this format survives being used occasionally over a long period.

Limitations — where Super Glue High Precision should not be used

• Interior use only.
• Not suitable for polyethylene or polypropylene.
• Not recommended for glass.
• No gap filling. The surfaces have to meet. Where a fragment is missing, this adhesive cannot bridge the space, and a second drop will not change that.

Storage

Store upright in a cool, dry place and replace the cap promptly after use. Standing the bottle upright keeps adhesive out of the applicator mechanism — which is the part doing the precision work.

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)
2-Propenoic acid, 2-cyano-, 2-methoxyethyl ester (methoxyethyl cyanoacrylate)	27816-23-5	90–100%
Non-hazardous or below reporting limits	—	Balance

This one is worth reading carefully, because it is not the same chemical as the rest of the super glue range. Almost every other Selleys super glue declares ethyl cyanoacrylate at more than sixty percent; the 3mL High Precision bottle (product code 103452) declares a methoxyethyl cyanoacrylate at ninety to a hundred percent. The hazard classification comes out the same, but the formulation does not, and the concentration is higher.

Ninety to a hundred percent monomer with essentially nothing else in the bottle is what a precision applicator needs. There is no thickener and no filler to interfere with a drop forming cleanly at a fine tip, and no bulking ingredient to slow the cure. It is also why the advice about using one drop at a time is worth following: what comes out of this bottle is very nearly pure adhesive, and there is nothing in it to soften what a misplaced drop does to a finish.

The classifications that matter on this product are H319 and H335, for a reason specific to how it is used. Fine repairs — jewellery, a ceramic chip, a small mechanism — are done with the work held close to the face under good light, for as long as the alignment takes. That posture puts your eyes and your airway nearer a curing adhesive than any other job in the range. Work at arm's length where the job allows it, ventilate the bench, and let the glue saver nozzle do its work: drawing a droplet back into the bottle rather than shedding it onto the bench is a direct reduction in how much adhesive is left in the open air.

H227, combustible liquid, is the mildest rung of the flammability classification and is a storage instruction rather than a bench one — keep the bottle away from heat and out of a hot car, which is what the C1 classification under AS 1940 covers. The skin first aid below anticipates burns and blistering, which goes beyond Category 2 skin irritation. That is characteristic of cyanoacrylates generally: the curing reaction gives off heat, and the class is known to react quickly with cotton and wool, so adhesive soaking into a glove or a sleeve is treated more seriously than a drop on bare skin.

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.
• 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 Super Glue High Precision

What does the glue saver nozzle do?

It helps prevent waste and mess by retracting partly dispensed glue droplets. Release pressure on the dispenser buttons before a drop is fully dispensed and the glue retracts back into the bottle.

How long do I hold the parts together?

Press the surfaces together for 30 seconds.

How much glue should I use?

One drop at a time. The applicator is designed to let you control both placement and quantity.

Can I use it on glass?

It is not recommended for glass.

Will it stick to plastic?

Plastics other than polyethylene and polypropylene.

Can I use it outside?

No. It is for interior use only.

Will it fill a gap or a missing chip?

No. It has no gap filling capability, so the pieces need to fit closely together.

Is it suitable for jewellery and ceramics?

It is intended for delicate, precise repair jobs where you need to control exactly where the glue goes, which is the kind of work those repairs involve.

How do I open it?

Attach and twist the cap to pierce the seal.

How should I store it?

Upright, in a cool, dry place, with the cap replaced promptly after use.

Why has the nozzle blocked?

Usually because the cap was left off or the bottle was stored on its side. Replace the cap promptly and store the bottle upright.

Can I reposition the pieces once they touch?

Plan on not being able to. Dry-fit the parts and settle the alignment before you apply any adhesive, then hold for the 30 seconds.

See the rest of the super glue range for other formats, or the super glue guide for help choosing.