Buzz
White glue may not be the most powerful adhesive, but it's perfect for a range of simple, quick fixes.By maintaining a small collection of multipurpose adhesives, you’ll be equipped to handle various repairs. Below are some of the most commonly used types of multipurpose adhesives.
- White glue (Polyvinyl acetate, or PVA): PVA glue is a white liquid commonly found in plastic bottles. It is best used for porous materials like wood, paper, cloth, porous ceramics, and non-structural wood-to-wood joints. It is not waterproof. You’ll need to clamp the glued items for 30 minutes to an hour for proper setting, with curing taking between 18 to 24 hours. School glue, a type of white glue, dries slower. It's inexpensive, nonflammable, and dries clear.
- Epoxy: Epoxies come in tubes or cans and are made up of two components — resin and hardener — which must be mixed before use. Epoxies are incredibly strong, durable, and resistant to water. They are ideal for use on metals, ceramics, some plastics, and rubber, but should not be used on flexible surfaces. Most epoxies require clamping for about 2 hours. The drying time is approximately 12 hours, and curing takes 1 to 2 days. Epoxy dries clear or amber and tends to be pricier than other adhesives.
- Cyanoacrylate: Known as superglue or instant glue, cyanoacrylate is a one-part adhesive similar to epoxy. It creates a very strong bond, making it suitable for materials such as metals, ceramics, glass, some plastics, and rubber, though it is not recommended for flexible surfaces. Apply sparingly. Clamping is not necessary, and curing time ranges from 1 to 2 days. Cyanoacrylates dry clear.
- Contact cement: A liquid rubber-based adhesive sold in bottles and cans, contact cement is ideal for bonding laminates, veneers, and other large areas. It can also be used on paper, leather, fabric, rubber, metal, glass, and some plastics as it remains flexible once dried. It is not suitable for repairs requiring strong bonds. Apply to both surfaces, let them set, and press them together for an immediate bond. Repositioning is not possible after contact is made. No clamping is required, and curing happens once drying is complete. Contact cement is highly flammable.
- Polyurethane glue: This amber paste is a high-strength adhesive sold in tubes. It forms a very durable bond, similar to epoxy. Polyurethane glue is ideal for wood, metal, ceramics, glass, most plastics, and fiberglass, and it dries flexibly enough to be used on leather, fabric, rubber, and vinyl. Clamping is necessary for about 2 hours, with curing time taking roughly 24 hours. Polyurethane glue dries translucent and can be painted or stained. Its shelf life is limited, and it is relatively expensive.
- Silicone rubber adhesive or sealant: Silicone rubber adhesives are available in tubes and work similarly to silicone caulk. They create very strong, waterproof, and durable bonds, offering excellent resistance to both high and low temperatures. They are best for use on gutters, as well as building materials such as metal, glass, fiberglass, rubber, and wood. They can also be used on fabrics, some plastics, and ceramics. Clamping is typically unnecessary, and curing time takes about 24 hours, though the adhesive skins over in under 1 hour. Silicone rubber adhesives remain flexible after curing and are available in clear, black, and metallic colors.
- Household cement: Household cements are fast-setting, low-strength adhesives sold in tubes. They are suitable for use on wood, ceramics, glass, paper, and certain plastics. Some household cements dry with flexibility and can be used on fabric, leather, and vinyl. Clamping is usually unnecessary, with setting times ranging from 10 to 20 minutes and curing times lasting up to 24 hours.
- Hot-melt adhesive: Sold in stick form for use with glue guns, hot-melt adhesives are heated above 200°F by the glue gun. To achieve the best bond, surfaces should be preheated as well. Hot-melt adhesives offer moderate strength and may fail if exposed to high temperatures, making them suitable for temporary bonds between wood, metal, paper, and certain plastics. No clamping is needed, and setting times range from 10 to 45 seconds, with curing time of 24 hours.
Still not quite what you need? Check out these options:
- Home Repair Tools: Whether you prefer using the Yellow Pages for household repairs or consider yourself a DIY enthusiast, there are a few essential tools every homeowner should have in their toolkit. Explore more about them in this article.
- Fasteners: Fasteners, like nails and screws, are used to join two objects together. Discover the different types of fasteners and their typical uses on this page.
- Glues: A range of glues, including wood adhesives, household cement, and more, are perfect for home repair projects. Learn which type of glue works best for various tasks in this helpful guide.
