There are so many different types of glues, so it can be difficult to know what glue to use. Here’s a guide to the many types of adhesive glue and what you can use them for.
There are so many different types of glue, but each one can be used for a specific job.
Believe it or not, glue has been around since 70,000 BC. Early men used glue-like substances such as tree-sap and red ochre to protect their cave-paintings.
Since then, many different types of glue have been invented for many different jobs, including adhesive glues that you can use to repair, protect, construct or seal things with. But for most of us, glue is a handy tool to have around the home for odd DIY jobs.
So, what glue to use? Fundamentally, there are two types of super glues: gels and liquids. Liquids can be applied really easily to most surfaces, but gels don’t drip, which means they’re perfect for fixing things above your head, or anything vertical or slanting.
Loctite’s Super Glue Liquid is fast and strong. It bonds in seconds and dries transparently, plus it can hold heavy loads and withstand extreme temperatures (from -50°C up to 120°C). It’s also waterproof and dishwasher safe. This means that it’s perfect for mending broken plates, splintered wood, or cracks in plastic, quickly and easily. Thanks to its special formulation, Loctite’s Super Glue Liquid can also stick leather, rubber and paper together.
Loctite’s Super Glue Power Gel has a unique rubber-infused gel formula. Its high-strength non-drip gel consistency means that it’s particularly suited to jobs involving non-horizontal surfaces. You should choose Loctite’s Super Glue Power Flex when you need to bond vertical surfaces like tiles or shelving units that are located above your head or those that are at a slant. So, regardless of whether you need to bond plastic, wood, cork, steel, paper, concrete, tiles, or ceramic, Loctite’s super glues and adhesives are always the right choice for you.
Video: Wondering how to fix a precious ornament? Watch our video guide to fixing a porcelain figurine with Loctite Super Glue Liquid
There’s no need for spills! Choose a gel super glue instead.
Loctite’s Super Glue Creative Pen is a great tool to keep in your kitchen cupboard or workshop. This multipurpose super glue can be used for quick fixes involving wood, leather, metals, glass, plastics, paper and ceramic. Designed to fit comfortably in your hand like a pen, you can repair things precisely, with no mess. Or, if you’re prone to sticking your fingers together, try Loctite Super Glue Pure Gel, which has been specially formulated to allow a bit more time to align the surfaces. Its non-drip gel formula means it’s perfect for taking on tricky jobs including leather, rubber, wood, metal, porcelain, paper or plastic surfaces that might otherwise cause a mess.
Loctite Super Glue Creative Pen can be used to fix chips in broken tiles quickly and easily.
If you’re working with wood, you’ll need a stronger wood glue. To repair cracks or splintered wood you need a two part water-resistant epoxy adhesive made specifically for wood. Wood glues can even replace nails or screws in some cases – check the description on the packaging.
Need to repair your shed door? Use a strong epoxy adhesive.
It might seem like a disaster when your metal appliances, towel rails or furniture break, especially as metal is very strong. What glue to use for such a tough material? The solution is simple – a high-strength metal glue will do the trick. Seek out a durable two part epoxy adhesive that sets solid in a short amount of time with high bond strength. Some are even repositionable and ideal for quick permanent bonding, repairing and filling in gaps in most types of metal and stone.
You don’t need a welder! Just get some epoxy glue and your metal will be fixed in no time.
Breaking plastic objects like your camera casing or your child’s favourite toy can be upsetting. But with Loctite’s Super Glue All Plastics, you can fix plastic before anyone notices. Not only is this glue effective at bonding even the most difficult plastics like polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), it also dries transparently, so no one will ever know it was broken in the first place. This glue sets in seconds and, with its easy to open, self-piercing and anti-clog cap, it’s very simple to use. For bigger jobs that also require a strong glue for plastics, use a two part water-resistant epoxy adhesive. These can often also be sanded, drilled and painted.
No one needs to know that you broke this doll. Fix it in no time with plastic glue.
Every now and again your glassware breaks, and you must decide whether to throw it away or repair it. Whilst glass might seem like a tricky thing to fix, it can be done with glue that is specially formulated for this purpose. For small jobs, including fixing the stems back onto your wine glasses or the handle back onto your water jug, look no further than Loctite’s Super Glue Glass, which is water-resistant, clear drying, and dishwasher safe. This type of glue can be used for all types of glass, including stained, crystal and tinted glass, and can be used to bond glass to metal.
Repair your water jug with a glass glue that is waterproof and dishwasher safe.
If you need a glue that’s not mentioned here, Loctite and UniBond offer many different types of glues and adhesives for different kinds of DIY jobs. There’s even Loctite’s Kintsuglue – a flexible putty which can be used to repair, reconstruct, protect or enhance almost anything.
Loctite and UniBond have got you covered!