Have you ever checked out the adhesive section at Lowe’s? It’s quite overwhelming! The amazing part is that this isle doesn’t even include any specialized adhesives, for things like tile and plumbing. Even if you have a Phd in adhesives you would be overwhelmed with the different brands, applications, setting times, curing times, strength, or flexibility.
I put together this short list of different types of adhesives to use as a quick reference. I highly suggest if you are doing any projects requiring glue you do a little research before purchasing.
Acrylic
Uses: Fast, extra-strong bonding of wood, metal, glass, outdoor furniture.
Components: Two-part, liquid or powder
Setting Time: 5 minutes
Curing Time: Overnight
Strength: 6,000 psi
Flexibility: Rigid
Water Resistance: Waterproof
Allphatic
Uses: General purpose adhesive for furniture building and repair
Components: One part liquid, ready to use
Setting Time: Clamp for 45 minutes
Curing Time: Overnight
Strength: 2,000-3,500 psi
Flexibility: Rigid
Water Resistance: Water soluble
Bolt-Locking
Uses: Locking threads of bolts and screws
Components: One part liquid, ready to use
Setting Time: 15 minutes
Curing Time: 24 hours
Strength: Red-maximum, Blue-medium, Purple-low
Water Resistance: Waterproof, resists gas, oil and other solvents
Cellulose
Uses: Wood, mold work, china, glass, most fabrics
Components: One part liquid, ready to use
Setting Time: Sets to 60% strength in 2 hours
Curing Time: Cures to 90% in 2 days
Strength: 3,500 psi
Flexibility: Moderately flexible
Water Resistance: Waterproof
Contact Cement
Uses: For bonding laminate plastic to countertops
Components: One part liquid, ready to use
Setting Time: Allow to stand for 15 minutes before joining surfaces
Curing Time: Sets almost immediately
Water Resistance: High
Epoxy
Uses: For wood, metal, china, glass. Good for bonding two different types of materials
Components: Two parts, mix equal amounts just before using.
Setting Time: 5 minutes to overnight
Curing Time: 3 hours to several days
Strength: 3,400 psi
Flexibility: Rigid to semi-rigid
Water Resistance: Waterproof
Hide Glue
Uses: For construction and repair of wood furniture
Components: One part liquid, ready to use
Setting & Curing Time: 8 hours
Strength: 3,200 psi
Flexibility: Rigid
Water Resistance: Water soluble, do not use on outdoor furniture
Hot Melt (Hot Glue)
Uses: For everything except a few plastics. Good for quick repairs on leather and fabrics also good for loose furniture joints
Components: One part cartridges in stick form, used in a heated gun
Setting & Curing Time: 1 to 2 minutes
Strength: 250 psi
Flexibility: Moderately flexible
Water Resistance: Waterproof
Latex-Base
Uses: Fabrics, carpet, paper, cardboard
Components: One part liquid, ready to use
Setting Time: immediately
Curing Time: 1 hour
Strength: 250 psi or more
Flexibility: Flexible
Water Resistance: Yes
Liquid Solder (Flux)
Uses: Bonds aluminum, tin and other metals
Components: One part liquid, ready to use
Setting Time: 8 hours
Curing Time: overnight
Strength: Up to 3,500 psi
Flexibility: moderately flexible
Water Resistance: Yes
Mastic
Uses: for ceiling, wall and floor tiles, plywood panels, concrete, asphalt, leather and textiles
Components: One part, ready to use
Setting Time: 1 minute to 1 hour
Curing Time: 24 hours
Strength: 250 psi or more
Flexibility: Flexible to rigid depending on type
Water Resistance: Yes
Polyester
Uses: Used on fiberglass boats
Components: Two parts, resin and activator, mix just before using
Setting Time: Less than an hour
Curing Time: See instructions
Flexibility: Rigid
Water Resistance: Waterproof
Polyvinyl Acetate (White Glue)
Uses: For general household repairs, furniture, interior woodwork, paper, ceramics
Components: One part liquid, ready to use
Setting Time: 8 hours
Curing Time: 24 hours
Strength: 3,200 psi
Flexibility: Rigid
Water Resistance: Soluble, not to be exposed to water
Polyvinyl Chloride
Uses: Used in plumbing applications. Also used for quick repairs and craft work. china, marble, glass, wood, porcelain, metal
Components: One part liquid, ready to use
Setting Time: Sets in minutes
Curing Time: see instructions
Strength: Depends on materials being bonded
Flexibility: Semi-rigid
Water Resistance: Yes
Resorcinol
Uses: For extra strong wood repairs, outdoor furniture, boat building
Components: Two parts, liquid and powder, mix just before using
Setting & Curing: 10 hours
Strength: 3,400 psi
Flexibility: Rigid
Water Resistance: Waterproof
Styrene Butadiene (Rubber Based Cement)
Uses: For use on metal, glass, many plastics, tile
Components: One part, thick paste, ready to use
Setting & Curing Time: 48 hours
Strength: Depends on materials being bonded
Flexibility: Rigid
Water Resistance: Waterproof
“Super” Glue
Uses: Bonds most plastics, metals, vinyl, rubber, ceramics
Components: One part liquid, ready to use
Setting Time: Seconds
Curing Time: up to 12 hours
Strength: 5,000 psi
Flexibility: Rigid to semi-rigid
Water Resistance: Highly resistant
Urea Formaldehyde
Uses: For extra strong furniture and cabinet repairs
Components: One part, mix with water just before using
Setting Time: 9-13 hours
Curing Time: 24 hours
Strength: 3,000 psi
Water Resistance: Highly resistant after curing time
I bookmarked this-it is so useful and easy to understand-thanks.
Have a good week.
Quite helpful. Bookmarked this as well.
This is a great read! We must know the right adhesive to use for a certain job so that we can use the product efficiently. When we just use an adhesive without knowing its specialty, we're just wasting. This post will be a great help to DIY-ers like me who usually have some urgent shopping to do at Lowe's since there are broken things at home. Thanks for this post! 😀
Thanks for sharing this useful information. On reading this post I came to know about many adhesive bonding type and its uses.
May I want to know different types of Metal Bonding Adhesive and also the best quality adhesives.
This is very helpful, Because after reading this i came to know which Adhesive used for which purpose.