Traditional Gluing Methods

White glue is used to repair furniture.

Glue is used in all kinds of projects from woodworking to beading jewelry. Each type of application and glue product will depend on what the glue is adhering to, the amount of strength the glue needs to have and how it can be applied. When gluing two pieces of wood together the glue used is usually white glue that is applied to both surfaces and then clamped until dry. Gluing jewelry is done with a drop-type applicator and sometimes a syringe. The glue is clear and will dry quickly. Other glues are applied hot or cold or by spraying. Each has its own set of tips.

White Glue

White glue is nontoxic and easy to use for crafting.

The two most common applications for white glues are paper gluing projects and woodworking. White glue goes on white and then turns clear as it cures. The glue used for most carpentry is called carpenter's glue. This glue has a yellow tint and has more holding power than traditional white glue. This type of glue takes some time to dry, and while drying the glue remains slippery. For this reason projects using white glue are often clamped or held during the drying process.

Hot Glue

Hot glue can patch up a broken pot, but it can also burn your fingers.

Hot glues that are used for crafting are glues that are shaped into a stick. This stick is inserted into the back of a hot glue gun. The hot glue gun heats up the stick and transforms the solid into a hot liquid. The benefit of using hot glue is that it is fast. The glue is active while it is hot, so many objects can be glued very quickly as the glue is squirted on. Once the glue cools the objects are well attached. Problems include sticky strings of glue and the potential for burning your fingers on hot glue.

Spray Glue

Spray adhesives coat large surfaces quickly with a thin coat of glue.

Many projects require large surfaces to be laminated together with glue. Paint-on glues are often inefficient for this type of gluing and they may dry too slowly. The alternatives are spray adhesives. A spray adhesive is often rated for cloth, paper, wood and other materials and it covers a surface quickly with a thin coating. This allows many different materials to be attached over wide surfaces. It is best to use this type of glue inside a contained area to keep overspray away from other surfaces that you don't want to make sticky.

Tube Glue

Tube-type adhesives glue a wide range of objects and dry clear.

Tube glues range from construction adhesives applied with a caulk gun to jewelry adhesives applied with a syringe. These adhesives are often clear or dry clear and most commonly dispensed in small tubes. Look for project-specific glues designed for temporary or permanent adhesion. Some tube-type adhesives are two-part, like epoxy, and designed to provide very strong holding of objects. Most are used direct from the tube. These adhesives often dry quickly without clamping.

References

• Spazztic Crafts: Glue Guide