There are so many glue options out there that it is nice to have a resource to go to to find out just what glue to use for what…this is that resource!
Recently I was looking for an adhesive to use in a project and was amazed by the all the different types of glues and sticky stuff that can be used for do it yourself projects.
Quite frankly, it can even be confusing for someone like me, and I make my living using things that hold and bond things together. So here are a few of the glues and adhesives that Shari and I use. Hopefully, it will help with purchasing the right glue for the project that you’re working on.
Let’s start with probably the most recognized and widely used glue – good ol’ white glue or, for you technical folks, polyvinyl acetate. If you looked in your family craft drawer right now, you would probably have a bottle of this stuff. It’s very inexpensive and can be used for lightweight gluing on most porous materials, like kid craft projects. It’s non-toxic and can be stored for a very long time. But it has poor water resistance, isn’t very strong and is hard to sand. For paper and light wood projects, it’s just the right stuff, so keep plenty of it handy.
Which brings me to probably my favorite glue, yellow glue, which is commonly referred to as wood glue, carpenters glue or for you exact type’s, aliphatic resin. This glue is excellent for indoor projects. It has better moisture resistance and greater strength then white glue. It doesn’t run as easily as white glue, so it stays in place better. It can be sanded easily, but it does have “fast grab,” which means it sets up quickly. Once it’s stuck, it’s stuck. If you use it, dry fit everything before you glue and clamp it together.
When using this glue make sure the cap is always placed back on type and if the glue starts to smell sour or is really thick, it has reached its shelf life which is normally about a year.
But if there is a glue that is perfect for beginning woodworkers, yellow glue is it, I use this glue for practically all of my woodworking projects.
If you are planning on working on a project that needs to be water resistant you may want to consider a water-resistant polyurethane glue. These glues are great for exterior projects such as outdoor furniture because they are practically waterproof. These glues are very strong which cure through chemical reactions, instead of evaporation. The only caution here is that these glues can’t be cleaned with water after it cures. These glues come in many different brand names such as Sumo Glue or Ultimate Glue.
Most craftesr will recognize another on of my favorites which is hot melt, or thermoplastic adhesive. This is used with a glue gun. It hardens within seconds, is very easy to use, works great for all types of projects from fabric to paper and can be used to make a few simple, quick repairs. One bad thing about it is that the gun tip can get really hot, so this glue can have an ouch factor. It also has a very short working time and isn’t very strong. It’s definitely not a good choice for woodworking projects, but Shari swears by it for all her window treatment projects that require non-sewing.
Sometime I use cyanocrylate, or super glues. These glues bond almost instantly and are great for models, eyeglass repair and whatnot. This glue clamps with only a small amount of finger pressure and dries quickly. It can be expensive, so it’s best for small projects. It’s hard to use on porous surface. Also, it’s possible to glue your fingers together if you not careful – definitely an ouch factor.
Rubber cement is contact glue with two types of sets: you can apply rubber cement to one surface, and bond it to another surface; or, for a stronger bond, apply rubber cement to both surfaces and bond the two together. I use this type of glue for craft projects.
The last type of adhesive of which I use a lot,in fact, I used it on one of our room by room episodes for a paneling project – is construction adhesive. This stuff is polyurethane mastic. It’s perfect for house repairs and any project that needs a lot of strength and water resistance. Great for exterior wood projects, it can be a little expensive. Most of the time it’s applied with a caulking gun, but it does come in smaller tubes. It can be messy to apply and isn’t good to use in a visible area. But if you want an adhesive that will hold anything, this is it.
Those are the glues that I mostly use. They have many name brands, but for the most part they all work the same. If you don’t know how they work or what they are for, the instructions on the back of the package is a great place to start. And if you don’t know what type to use, your local hardware or home center store will be glad to help you out, oh by the way, thanks for sticking around while reading this article.
Gluing tips:
- Surfaces to be glued must be clean dry and free of dust and dirt (sawdust). Also any moisture present will weaken the bond.
- If the joint isn’t tight don’t count on the glue holding firm.
- Less is more, a thin even bead of glue will form a stronger bond between two pieces of wood, but a really thick bead will not, it will actually weaken the joint.
Using a small brush will give you a nice even amount of glue and spread the glue over the entire contact surface.
- All glues have recommended open time, which is the amount of time the glue can be exposed to air before assembling. Yellow glues about 7-10 minutes, but of course that depends on how warm and high the humidity is in your work space.
- Glues work best in temperatures above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Instead of wiping glue off with a damp rag, allow the glue to dry then remove excess with a sharp chisel or putty knife. Wiping the glue will push the glue into surrounding wood pores, causing a stained piece to be blotchy.
And finally, a full cure usually takes about 24 hours, so find something else to do in the meantime. I’m guilty of pushing this one myself.
Matt
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