The glue aisle at your local home improvement store can feel like an overwhelming place. Shelves are chock-full of glue bottles in every shape, size, and color. They all serve the same fundamental purpose of sticking things together, but what makes the big jug of wood glue different from the little tube of construction adhesive?
It’s not always easy to match the glue with the job. However, we’ll try to demystify the different types of glues below to make your next shopping trip easier.
Yellow and White Glue
Yellow glue is a water-based adhesive mainly used for interior woodworking. You may see it advertised as “wood glue” or “carpenter’s glue.” A common example is Titebond’s Original Wood Glue, though the company also makes moisture-resistant and waterproof versions like Titebond II Premium Wood Glue and Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue.
It’s easy to use yellow glue. Just apply it to the pieces of unfinished or unpainted wood and clamp them. Keep unstressed joints clamped together for 30–60 minutes and stressed joints clamped for 24 hours.
White glue, a staple on school supply shopping lists, also comes in professional-grade formulas. A bottle of Titebond All Purpose White or another similar glue is perfect for crafts, light home repairs, and general woodworking. However, it’ll offer less moisture resistance and may take longer to cure than yellow glue.
Both yellow and white glue take about six hours to fully cure. They’re non-toxic, and you can clean them off with water and a damp rag. However, you’ll need to sand unfinished work thoroughly before you finish it, since glue residue will prevent stains and clear finishes from penetrating the wood.
Instant Glue
Glue that has fast set and cure times is made from cyanoacrylate. However, you’ve probably seen it on the store shelves as super glue or instant glue. Products like Titebond Instant Bond are useful for quick fixes and small repairs: dropped vases, stepped-on toys, and corners broken off of picture frames.
To apply instant glue, clean and dry the item so there’s no dirt or oil residue. The adhesive will set in about five to 15 seconds and cure between 30 and 60 seconds. The resulting bond is almost invisible on wood, rubber, and some plastic substrates.
Instant glue is not intended for foam, polyethylene, and polypropylene plastics. It’s also not useful for exterior applications and areas with continuous water submersion. A waterproof wood glue can help with these situations.
Today’s Homeowner Tips
If you get it on your fingers, keep acetone-based nail polish remover on hand and rub the affected area until it removes the adhesive.
Finally, instant glue tends to dry out. Store it tightly capped and clearly marked in the refrigerator between uses. If you have young children, place it in an old childproof prescription bottle to keep it out of curious hands.
Polyurethane Glue
Polyurethane glue is a waterproof and versatile adhesive for interior and exterior projects. It can bond everything, including foam, fiberglass, wood, brick, metal, and stone. Some products, like Titebond’s Polyurethane Glue, also work on ceramics, most plastics, HPL, Corian, and other porous and non-porous materials.
Today’s Homeowner Tips
For the best results, apply the glue and clamp the pieces together for 45 minutes.
Polyurethane glue’s shelf life is one year in an unopened container. To help it last longer, store the bottle upside down so the glue cannot solidify between uses.
Construction Adhesive
Construction adhesive is a thick, waterproof adhesive used for more demanding projects: hanging drywall, installing countertops, and attaching plywood and panels to framing. However, it’s also suitable for projects around the home. Products like Titebond Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive have a strong grab that fills gaps and irregularities and stays flexible permanently.
You’ll typically buy construction adhesive in tubes and apply it with a caulking gun. Cut the nozzle to the desired bead size, then apply the adhesive in a continuous bead or in dollops based on your project’s needs. Press the materials together within the open time on the label. Tightly cap the nozzle between uses so the adhesive won’t dry out.
Other Products
The glues we’ve already covered work well for a wide range of household needs. However, these two specialty adhesives are best for specific applications.
Hot glue is a thermoplastic adhesive that comes in cylindrical sticks. It’s primarily used for craft projects and temporary bonds due to its quick set time and ease of use.
To use hot glue, insert a glue stick into a heated glue gun. Once it’s hot enough, squeeze the trigger gently to apply the melted glue onto the desired surface. Assemble the pieces quickly before the glue cools and sets.
Hot glue doesn’t produce very strong adhesion and isn’t suitable for load-bearing applications. Be cautious using it, especially around children. If you get it on your skin, the melted adhesive will cause a painful burn you won’t soon forget.
Contact cement is primarily used for bonding plastic laminates and veneers to plywood. It comes in both solvent and water-based versions.
To apply it, roll or brush the adhesive on both surfaces, and let it dry for the recommended time before bringing the two pieces together. As the name implies, the cement bonds on contact, and the pieces can’t be repositioned once you touch them. However, you should still use a rubber roller to press the two surfaces firmly together.
Wear a respirator and keep plenty of ventilation when you use contact cement—ideally open windows or garage doors. It gives off strong fumes that can irritate your nose and respiratory tract.
Glue Safety and Best Practices
Whenever you use glue, practice these safety tips:
- Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid breathing in fumes.
- Wear gloves so your skin doesn’t come into contact with the adhesive.
- Keep glues away from heat sources—many are flammable.
- Always read and follow the manufacturer’s usage instructions and safety labels.
- Store glues out of reach of children and pets.
Finally, remember that glue doesn’t last forever. Always check the expiration date on the container, and only apply it within the temperature range specified in the directions.
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