Glue buyer guide

Glue buyer guide

The term ‘glue’ refers to any substance designed to be applied to one or both surfaces of two separate items, in order to bind them together and prevent them from separating.

Simple enough, but the market for glues and adhesives can be anything but straightforward. There’s a whole range of quality adhesives available for all purposes, though knowing where to start isn’t always easy.

Types of glue

Whatever project or purpose you have in mind, you’ll find hundreds (even thousands) of compatible adhesives available. However, the vast majority of glues can be separated into just a handful of primary categories:

Polyvinyl adhesive (PVA)

Generally referred to as PVA glue, this is an extensive family of general-purpose adhesives that are commonly used for binding wooden surfaces. They are effective, inexpensive, easy to use and safe. Characterised by a milky-white colour when wet and turning transparent as they dry.

Pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA)

Pressure sensitive adhesives create bonds between materials when they are pressed into place. PSAs are a popular choice for various craft and DIY projects, quickly and effectively bonding materials like glass, metal, plastic and paper.

Spray adhesive

Spray adhesives are suspended in solvents and sprayed onto surfaces by way of a specialist gun or aerosol. When using a spray adhesive, the solvent within the substance needs to evaporate completely before the glue is able to create a bond. Spray adhesives are compatible with a wide variety of materials, though must only be used in extremely well ventilated spaces.

Epoxy resin adhesive (Two-part adhesives)

Extremely useful for binding materials and surfaces that would otherwise be considered incompatible, two-part epoxy resins create strong, reliable and comprehensively weatherproof bonds. They can also be toxic and must therefore be used with due care and caution.

Flooring adhesive (Rubber resin adhesives)

There’s an extensive market for specialist rubber resin adhesives, which are designed specifically to hold floor coverings in place. They’re created with a degree of flexibility to enable the subsequent floor covering to flex slightly when walked up on.

Grab adhesive (Acrylic Polymer adhesives)

A popular choice for craft projects and DIY jobs around the home, grab adhesives are designed to negate the requirement for screws and nails when fixing skirting-boards and wooden mouldings in place.

Filler adhesive (Polyurethane-Foam adhesives)

Those cans of expanding foam that are used to fill gaps in plaster, masonry, wood and stone are also classified as adhesives. They’re exceptionally convenient and easy to use, though should be applied carefully as they can be difficult to move once cured.

Super-glue (Cyanoacrylates)

Almost every home features at least one tube of instant glue. Within a matter of seconds, super glue can provide an exceptionally powerful and long lasting bond. Great for small and precise repairs, though not suitable for bigger jobs or porous materials.

How to use glue like a pro

The key to making your adhesive of choice work for you lies in carefully reading the manufacturer’s guidelines. All adhesives have their own unique properties and recommended usage guidelines. It’s therefore important not to simply assume you know how to use it.

In addition, it is also essential to make sure that the surfaces you intend to stick together are clean, dry and free of dust. Irrespective of the size and nature of the job, you will find it difficult or even impossible to produce the desired result when working with dirty or damp surfaces.

Here’s a summary of additional tips and guidelines when working with glues:

Choose the correct adhesive

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that any given adhesive will be able to perform beyond its recommended usage guidelines. Unless it is specifically stated that the adhesive is compatible with the materials you’re bonding, use something else.

Bonded surface quality

The evenness and general quality of both bonded surfaces will also make a difference. If necessary, you may wish to consider repairing or polishing the surface of the materials, prior to going ahead and gluing them.

Pay attention to glue colour

Don’t forget that some glues turn an entirely different colour when they have cured. If discretion is your priority, choose something that is designed to be as colourless as possible after drying.

Apply adhesive safely

Most glues have the potential to be hazardous or even toxic, therefore must be handled with care. If it’s a glue with particularly hazardous properties or an adhesive that emits toxic vapour, it should be used only with appropriate personal protective equipment.

Use adhesive sparingly

With the vast majority of adhesives, less is more. It’s a common misconception to assume that where adhesives are concerned, applying more means creating a stronger bond. In reality, using more glue than you need could actually weaken and therefore compromise the bond.

Glue curing times

You’ll find details of recommended curing times (drying times) in the manufacturer’s guidelines. These are provided for a good reason and should be heeded to the letter. If it recommends a curing time of 48 hours, it’s inadvisable to test the bond any sooner or you will risk having to start over.

Get the job done right first time with an appropriate adhesive and it’s a job you’ll only need to do once. If there are any specific maintenance requirements that could extend the lifespan of the bond, these will be clearly specified in the manufacturer’s guidelines.