Adhesives 101: How to Glue...

The right adhesive can make all the difference. Using the wrong stuff can ruin a project or make you do it twice. Many of them have fancy names most of which you have already used. Here are 8 different kinds of "glue" for all kinds of fixes, projects, builds.

You also know this as white glue, wood glue, or modge podge. It works great when gluing a tree based material like wood, paper, or cardboard. It cleans up fast with a damp rag. I like to use water and a tooth brush to clean out any extra from a wood joint. After it's dry the joint shows a clean fit.

This stuff works great on flat surfaces but I like to use it on paracord. When it touches nylon it creates an exothermic reaction. It also works great with nylon webbing like a seat belt. It won't hold under a load but it will keep your webbing flat and even while you stitch it in place.

An interesting property is revealed with baking soda. Sprinkle it on wet super glue it quickly turns into a concrete like substance.

One of my favorites. Hot glue comes out in a bead and solidifies fast. If you have a larger area you want to spread it on, use a clothes iron and a paper towel. The iron heats up the glue which makes it possible to spread. The paper towel keeps your iron gunk free.

I also like to use it to temporarily hold items while I work them. In the 3rd picture I have a piece of granite glued to a bolt while I'm polishing it.

You can also Hans Solo small items between layers of plastic. This includes leaves and pictures.

This is glue for bolts. It hardens with a lack of oxygen. If you have a bolt you don't want come undone, use this stuff. Just kept in mind you may have to use a torch to heat the glue so the bolt can come undone. You can by it in different colors which have varying strengths. Of course the bolt has to be clean for it to work best.

This adhesive is normally for quick plumbing fixes. I like to use is to bond metal to other materials like plastic and sea shell. It comes in a roll which has an inner and outer compound. Cut off the amount you need and mix it between your fingers. It hardens in minutes.

Solder is awesome. It's not a true adhesive but the whole point here is how to get two things bonded together. You use this to bond metal. Silver solder will work with copper, zinc, brass, steel, nickel, bronze, silver, and gold. Flux is required. It prevents the metal surface from oxidizing which allows the solder to bond. Aluminum can also be soldered but you need a special rod. You can find it at the hardware store.

It acts similar to water when molten. It has a surface tension which is strong enough to move small pieces. It can be polished as well.

This is the same silicone you use to put your oil pan on your engine. My favorite is Ultra Grey Permatex. In the first picture you can see a stop watch I glued to my tool box. It's been on there for more then 10 years. Since it keeps a rubberized texture it's shock resistant.

You also should use this in places that get very hot. For instance, a GPS mount on a dash board might be stuck on with a peel and stick clear adhesive. Once the car takes the hot summer sun it gets soft and falls off. Since silicone is designed for engine temperatures, the inside of your car will not get hot enough to ruin the bond.

It's also works great to glue magnets like I did on my refrigerator. In my mechanic days I would glue car emblems to my tool box with it.

This is a tip I got from my Hawaiian friends. Children use this for their school work. All you need is a few grains of cooked rice. Press them between paper and when it's dry the job is done.

Member Orngrimm gave this tip:
"1 part by volume Starch (Corn or potato) + 10 parts by volume Water + Heating slowly while stirring continuously till it thickens a bit. Let it cool (wooden spoon should stand in it at its own) and you have just made good quality nonpoisonous wallpaper paste."

Thanks for reading.