An Adhesive for Every Purpose: Choose the Right One the First Time

White Glue

• Also known as polyvinyl acetate (PVA).
• A non-waterproof adhesive used mostly for interior woodworking jobs where a waterproof joint is not required.
• Usually packaged in plastic squeeze bottles, these inexpensive, milky-white glues dry clear and are fast setting.
• Bonds paper, fabric, cardboard, cork and leather, as well as wood.
• Can withstand a moderate amount of strain and cleans up easily with soap and water.
• Non toxic and non flammable.

 Woodworkers’ Glue

• Also called carpenter’s glue.
  
• Has a faster grab than white glue (set time is usually within 15 minutes).
• Is usually tinted an off-white or yellow.
• Woodworkers’ glue is used in applications where better water resistance, heat resistance and ease of sanding are desired.
• Aliphatic wood glue, a general-purpose adhesive, is also popular among people who are doing woodwork, including those building or repairing furniture.
• Non toxic and non flammable.

 Instant-Setting Glue

• Also called Super Glue (cyanoacrylates), this glue creates a strong, instant bond with a small amount of glue.
  
• Regular cyanoacrylates will bond almost all non-porous materials such as ceramic, some plastics, rubber, metal or synthetics.
• Comes in gel form.
• Should be handled with extreme care and kept off of skin.

 Epoxy

• One of the strongest adhesives known, epoxy is designed primarily for the bonding of non-porous surfaces, but can also be used effectively on wood.
• Available in clear, white or metallic finish.
  

• Most epoxies come in two parts: a resin and a hardener (or “catalyst”) which must be mixed together before the adhesive is used.
  Once mixed, the material will set permanently in a specified length of time—most will permanently bond, even under water.
  
• The bond will withstand most solvents when curing is complete.
  
• Excellent for sealing gaps and will withstand vibration and shock.
• Can be used on pipes, radiators, wood, metal, ceramic tile, china, marble, glass and masonry.
  
• Since epoxy is toxic and flammable, use extreme caution when handling.

 Polyurethane Glue

• Is a one-part adhesive offering the strength of an epoxy without mixing.
• Generally requires 4 to 24 hours to fully cure, but it does bond to most materials. 
• Cures in the presence of moisture, so wetting one or both materials to be joined is required. 
• Good for a bond between either similar or dissimilar surfaces an is commonly used in woodworking.
• Waterproof, sandable, paintable and stainable.

 Contact Cement

• Can be used on many surfaces, but the joints it makes may come apart under a heavy load.
• Good to bond laminates to countertops and cabinets, or to glue plastic foam, hardboard or metal to wood.
• Instant adhesion makes contact cement difficult to use. It bonds immediately without clamping and resists water, temperature extremes and fungi. 
• Contact cement is most effective when one or both surfaces are porous or semi-porous. 
• Contains solvents that should be allowed to flash off before assembly. Non-flammable versions are available.

 Resorcinol Glue

• Is two-component adhesive of liquid resin and powdered catalyst.
• Used in wood joints, it cures under pressure in 10 hours at 70° F.
• Ideal for exterior structural applications because of its waterproof and weatherproof qualities.

 Silicone Rubber Adhesive

• Ideal for strong, flexible joints on wood, dissimilar surfaces such as metal, rubber, glass, ceramics, brick, wood and polystyrene foam.

Plastic Resin Glue

• Is powdered urea formaldehyde glue.
• When mixed with water, it makes highly water-resistant bonds.
• Frequently used for furniture repair, it is applied to clean, close-fitting surfaces and cured under pressure for at least 10 hours at 70° F.
• The finished glue is non-toxic and impervious to most materials.

 Construction Adhesive

• Also known as mastic, which is a general term for any thick adhesive.
• Used in heavy-duty bonding and construction, mastics are usually applied with a caulking gun or trowel.
• Reduces the need for screws, nails and other fasteners.
• Flexible and waterproof qualities make them ideal for outdoor applications.
• Can be used to join flooring and sub-flooring, paneling, drywall and roofing, molding, tile, masonry and concrete, metal and wood.

 Courtesy of NRHA.org