Choosing the Best Glue for Your Specific Project

There are all these super glues or all-purpose glues out there these days that claim to work on every material and for every project, but choosing the right glue often means not believing all that hype. Some products may work for a wide variety of purposes and on a broad range of materials, but there really isn’t a single glue that can do EVERY job. That’s why it’s so important to be well informed before choosing the best glue for the job at hand.

The Strongest Glue

There are many companies that claim their glue to be the strongest but which ones are actually the strongest?

In terms of glues that you can actually purchase, the 3 strongest glues are these:

Titebond 3

Gorilla Glue

Loctite Super Glue

Depending on what you’re trying to glue together, one will work better than the other. Cyanoacrylate type glue (super glue) is good for fast bonds and gluing rubber. Epoxy based glues would be better for various materials like metal and composites. Polyurethane, like Gorilla Glue and Titebond works very well with wood.

Read what surfaces they recommend to help you decided which of those brands will work best for you.

The Best Heat Resistant Glue

Whether you’re building or repairing something, the last thing you need is a glue that doesn’t stand up to the elements. Some glues create what seem like solid bonds until exposed to high heat. To ensure bonds don’t break down as the temperature heats up, you need a glue that is heat resistant.

What you need is a heat resistant glue and these 2 are some of the best ones.

500 Degree Epoxy

  • High heat is a hand mixable epoxy putty stick specifically formulated to bond and repair materials that will be exposed to high temperatures in automotive and industrial maintenance applications
  • This is manufactured in United States
  • 3 times stronger at high temperatures
  • Withstands continuous heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and intermittent heat up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Strength of 800 PSI at room temperature and 600 PSI at 400 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Perfect for tail pipes, mufflers, machinery, engine blocks, and exhaust manifolds

Rutland 500 Degree High Heat Seal

  • Rutland High Temperature Silicone is a great solution to your sealant and adhesive needs
  • Forms a tough and flexible seal
  • Will adhere to most clean surfaces including: glass, metal, plastics, fiberglass, wood, brick, and stone.
  • Seal fireplace inserts, repair solar panels, apply ceramic tiles to your fireplace surround or heat shielding behind your stove, the uses are endless
  • Rated to withstand up to 500° F (260° C)

The Best Water Resistant Glue

There are water resistant glues and then there are sealants or adhesives that remain solid even when submerged in water. As far as submersion-stable glues or sealants go, there are a couple of top choices: Loctite Epoxy Marine, which is a two-part epoxy, and 3M Marine, which is available in five varieties, dependent upon your specific needs.

Water resistant glues, on the other hand, include super glues, multi- and all-purpose glues, and two-part epoxies, among others. Elmer’s makes a series of waterproof glues that are good for everyday crafting or school needs. Gorilla Glue and Loctite are good choices in the all-purpose and super glue categories.

When you need a glue that is both water resistant and appropriate for bonding specific materials or substrates though, it’s best to review the strongest candidates in the “specific use” category. For example, top notch, wood glue manufacturers, like Titebond, make a range of products, including standard and water-resistant wood glue varieties.

The Best All-Purpose Glue

There are a lot of “all-purpose” solutions on the market today, and while they may work for certain projects, none is really up to the task of tackling every job equally. In other words, not all glues work on every material. That being said, a few all-purpose glues are able to handle a variety of projects and work well in binding or adhering a wide range of materials. Of these, Gorilla Glue is among the best. Other strong contenders include Rapid Fuse from DAP and Elmer’s Glue-All.

The Best Glue for Specific Purposes

When you need a glue that’s specially designed for working with a certain material or materials, you’ll want to boost success by choosing the best. Following are the top of the line glues for specific substrates.

Best Glue for Rubber

If you’re gluing rubber to rubber, then you need a two-part epoxy, Permatex 84101 PermaPoxy is great.

  • Versatile, easy-to-use, general purpose epoxy adhesive
  • Two-part adhesive and filler system that eliminates the need for welding or brazing
  • Sets in five minutes with no clamping needed
  • Permanent strength up to 3400 PSI
  • Suggested Applications: Ideal for complex, multi-piece assemblies. Bonds rigid materials including, ceramic, chrome, fabric, fiberglass, glass, hard plastic, metal and rubber

You can also use cement rubber.

If you’re adhering rubber to metal or another material though, then a super glue or all-purpose solution, like Gorilla Glue should work fine.

Best Glue for Plastics

Plastic cements are best when you need a permanent and watertight seal, but there are some specialized plastic glues like Super Glue Plastic Fusion and Loctite Epoxy Plastic Binder that do wonders too.

Best Glue for Glass and Ceramics

When working with glass and ceramics, you need a glue that dries clear and doesn’t expand too much upon drying. Elmer’s China and Glass and 3M Ceramic are solid options, but perhaps the very best is Araldite Crystal, which is a two-part epoxy solution.

Best Glue for Metal

Gluing metal to metal can be tricky, but specially designed products, like Super Glue Quick Set Metal Epoxy and Loctite Epoxy Weld Bonding Compound, get the job done right.

Best Glue for Shoes

Shoes deserve special attention since shoe glue must hold up to rigorous movement as well as the elements. It has to be an adhesive that has flex and give, works with a range of materials, and withstands cold, heat, humidity, and water.

When the soles come off of shoes, most people will just buy another shoe but it’s sort of waste of money when de-attached soles are such an easy fix. From tears on canvas shoes to boots to leather tops to fixing torn off heels, this glue is the best.

Its works quickly and is waterproof. It’s also inexpensive and has the highest rating and reviews when compared to other glues for shoes.

Another shoe glue that is decent but isn’t as popular is Boot-Fix.

  • Dries clear, so you can use it on any color shoe with out worrying about black smudges or discoloring your fingers when using it.
  • Safe to use on all rubber and vinyl footwear including boots, athletic shoes, climbing shoes, dress shoes and more.
  • Specifically formulated to create a lasting bond that stays strong so you can have confidence in repairing your shoes yourself.

Removing Gorilla Glue or Super Glue

Getting glue off of your fingers can be a pain especially if the glue is strong. What you can do is use acetone or if you want, use Goof Off, which is an excellent glue remover.

Super Glue vs Krazy Glue

As the name implies, Super Glue is super strong, versatile, and easy to use. KrazyGlue is one of the longest standing names on the market and still among the best in terms of everyday, home use. It’s great for minor repairs and bonds well to ceramic, wood, and other materials. Some however aren’t great with plastics and most don’t produce a lasting, watertight seal. For that, you’ll want to consider a two-part epoxy or you’ll need an industrial strength super glue, like E6000, which is manufactured by Eclectic Products.

Glues, epoxies, and adhesives seal things, provide stability, and increase longevity. Choosing the right option for your project can mean the difference between successfully building, creating, or repairing something and absolute disaster. If you’ve ever used the wrong glue, then you know this all too well! With the information found here though, you’re now armed with just what you need to make the best buying choice.

One Response

  1. Mark September 5, 2017

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