Titebond Original glue

[Bruce McC]

Titebond currently use a 10 digit code on their glues, the code is in the format "AYMMDDBATX"
A indicates made in the US of A, Y the last digit of the year of manufacture, MM the month, DD the day
and the last four digits are the batch number. The shelf life of Titebond Original is given as 2 years.
This information comes from the Product Application and Technical Guide available on the Titebond web site.

Prior to learning of these details, I purchased a 237 ml bottle of Titebond Original from a trendy timber supplier
at a timber exhibition currently on Canberra, the code on the bottle was A109070092. Decoded this meant
that the glue was made on the 7th September 2011, 3 years old , 1 year past its recommended shelf life.
On returning the glue and obtaining a refund the rep made the off-handed comment all Titebond in the country
must be past its shelf life!

Let the buyer beware.

[Kamusur]

Thanks for the heads up Bruce, now out to the garage to check the date on those bottles.

Steve

[demonx]

I wonder if that is shelf life after opening, or shelf life after manufacture?

I have a 4lt bottle of titebond original that I have only just bought and the first digits of the code are A11, so using your info this glue would be out of date last year.

[Bruce McC]

Allan
This is the link to the Titebond Product Application and Technical Guide

http://www.titebond.com/Libraries/Liter ... .sflb.ashx

Reference to the 10 digit code is on the second page of the guide.
My answer to your question is yes, your glue is at least three years old. According to the guide
it was manufactured in 2011 at best, 2001 at worst. The second digit after the letter A represents
the last year of the date of manufacture.

Does this matter? Make up your own mind when Titebond say in their own guide:-

".... the freshest material provides the best results."

[Jeremy D]

I purchased a bottle of titebond original from Masters last week. It has a new updated label and was manufactured April this year. I was glad to see because since opening this particular store has only had glue as old as 2010. Maybe they are sending out new stuff because of the new branding.

[Bruce McC]

Perhaps I need to explain or clarify my last post, I must have been sniffing too much glue today.
The digit immediately following the letter A represents the last digit in the year of manufacture.
So 1 could be read as 2011 or 2001.

[Kim]

I buy TB from Masters Hardware because they have the most turn over and the lowest price. Just so folks know, the date is not the only issue. If TB, or any other PVA based glue becomes frozen (for example during transit in the cargo hold of a plane?) then it should not be trusted...how does one know??? Well they don't I guess...but it's a good reason to buy from a local supplier with buying power, cause the bigger the shipment, the more incentive there is to make sure it doesn't freeze.

Cheers

Kim

[charangohabsburg]

So 1 could be read as 2011 or 2001.

No. Lot numbers before 2009 looked completely different.

Titebond glue kept above freezing point and below room temperature can go a long way beyond the two years shelf live, but I would never pay for a bottle that already has passed or approached a lot the end of the guaranteed shelf life!

[kiwigeo]

This sounds a perfect lead in to a hide glue thread

[charangohabsburg]

On returning the glue and obtaining a refund the rep made the off-handed comment all Titebond in the country must be past its shelf life!

Not quite so. The smart distributors store it on the floor in order the glue will have no shelf live at all when sold!
So, never put your Titebond bottles on a shelf, or it will turn bad within two years.

[kiwigeo]

Those Swiss....so logical

[charangohabsburg]

Of course, Martin. Or did you expect something else?

[Bruce McC]

Picked up an 8 oz/ 237ml bottle of Titebond Original for $3.06 at the local Masters store.
Date of manufacture March 2014. Less than half the price from suppliers at the recent
Working With Wood Expo and fresh.

[kiwigeo]

Picked up an 8 oz/ 237ml bottle of Titebond Original for $3.06 at the local Masters store.
Date of manufacture March 2014. Less than half the price from suppliers at the recent
Working With Wood Expo and fresh.

"Woolies the fresh glue people......"

[needsmorecowbel]

Woolies... trying to run a hardware store like a supermarket since 2011...

NOW WITH! Cell phone toting 16 year old staff at every checkout...

Stu

[Jeremy D]

Woolies... trying to run a hardware store like a supermarket since 2011...

NOW WITH! Cell phone toting 16 year old staff at every checkout...

Stu

You you ain't been served by this guy.

[kiwigeo]

Woolies... trying to run a hardware store like a supermarket since 2011...

NOW WITH! Cell phone toting 16 year old staff at every checkout...

Stu

Cant be much worse than Bunnings.....owned by Wesfarmers (owners of Coles).

[needsmorecowbel]

Martin you haven't seen my local Masters...

Stu

[Steve.Toscano]

Sorry (but not sorry) for digging up an old thread.....
With this information how does one find "in date" Titebond Original?

Over the last week I have visited 2x Masters stores, and Sydney Carbatec. The freshest Titebond Original I could find on the shelf had a manufacture date of March 2015 which was one of the 3.7L bottles at Masters - way too much for me, and was borderline whether still any good.
All the 4##ml & 2##ml bottles at Masters were early 2014 at best, Carbatec were 2013.

Carbatec staff weren't too fussed when i asked if they had any "in date" out the back, one of the old guys reckons he's still using a 'drum' of it of over 10yrs old.

[demonx]

You an always go to your local building suppliers and buy F9 glue. I know the place I buy from buys in bulk and bottles it themselves for local carpenters etc and its regularly turned over, so you're always buying fresh as the local wood trades are pumping through the stuff.

[Bruce McC]

Hi Felix

This slow set hard cure PVA may be an alternative to Original Titebond. It is Australian made and this particular supplier guarantees
that the glue is fresh! I am using it on a current build. Give me a few years and I'll let you know how it goes

http://www.thewoodworks.com.au/shop/sea ... set-detail