20 Types Of Glue (And How They Are Used)

 

Over the years, glues have grown to become essential tools in homes and schools.

You can find them in art and craft lessons, or even in carpentry for holding together pieces of wood.

Glues are not only convenient in minor applications, but they extend to places such as a hospital to cover patient wounds and in big industries to hold together electronic instruments.

There are a dozen types of glue out there, each with a specific purpose, but some have multiple uses.

Continue reading to find out the types and benefits of different glues available.

 

20 Types Of Glue (And How They Are Used)

 

You have at least come across an adhesive somewhere in the office or at your child’s school. Some glues have multiple uses, while others serve a specific purpose.

Typical office glues and superglues are conveniently available in local stores.

They are the most common, but here are others you probably have not come across.

 

1. Wood Glue 

Elmer’s Products, Inc E7000 Carpenters Wood Glue, 4 Fl oz , Yellow 

 

Wood glues are typically in home furniture and many wooden structures.

The glues hold pieces of wood together, which a carpenter can fasten further by drilling in a nail.

Depending on the type of wood product you have, wood glue can maintain a good hold for a long time.

Polyurethane, hide and epoxy glues are the most common wood glues because they have a surface that quickly binds two wooden pieces together.

The quality of wood and the purpose of the product under construction determine the type of wood glue to use.

However, the most common characteristic of any wood glue is that it is strong, waterproof, and covers all the small gaps in wooden pieces.

Typically, wood glues require some reinforcement before their strength kicks in.

After setting the glue, you can drive in a nail to help the glue cure to have a permanent hold on the wood.

 

2. Craft Glue

Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue – The Original – 4fl oz – Tip Kit Included – Dries Clear – Metal Tip – Wrinkle Resistant – Flexible and Crack Resistant – Strong Hold Adhesive – Made in USA 

 

Craft glues are typical office, school, and home commodities.

Alternatively, they go by the name white glue.

Their purpose is to put together papers in art and craft classes or bring card sheets together.

Water is the main ingredient in craft glues, and typically, they look like a thick paste of transparent water.

They have no toxins, making them safe around young children.

While in the office, they help hold pieces of documents together because they are transparent.

They are also easy on the hand, as they come out with a quick wash, unlike superglues.

The application of craft glue is simple.

You take a bottle full of the material and carefully paste it on a sheet of paper.

If your objective is to hold two pieces of paper together, take another piece of paper and paste the glue on it.

Bring the two papers together, and the glue will bind some minutes later.

 

3. Glitter Glue

Elmer’s 638458774473 Washable Glitter Glue, 6 oz Bottles-6 Colors, Green/Pink/Purple/Red/Yellow/Blue, 36 Fl Oz 

 

Glitter glue is a fun-packed adhesive especially made for school-going children.

Kids love shiny things, and beyond colors, glitter glue gives their work a more shiny appeal.

The name glitter already explains much of what this glue can accomplish.

Like glitter clothes, when applied, it gives a drawing project colorful highlights.

Glitter glue comes in plenty of colors.

Beyond children’s work, glitter glue can help make your household look prettier.

You can use it around the house to give it that colorful appeal.

Using glitter glue is as easy as using crayons.

Decide on what project you want to use the glue for and start getting creative.

The glittery sense of the glue will do the rest.

 

4. Polyurethane

Varathane 200261H Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane, 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1), Satin Finish 

 

Though the material is an essential part of some adhesives, polyurethane is a waterproof component that withstands high pressure when applied to items on its own.

You can buy it easily in tool stores locally.

Independently, it can help bond wood, metal, glass, tiles, bricks, and rubber.

It also works well for bonding porous surfaces that need more work.

Its long-lasting nature, coupled with flexibility, makes it even more valuable for items such as rubber and plastic that sometimes need to stretch under pressure.

The glue also settles quickly like superglue, making it a good alternative when doing a big project.

Like epoxy, the glue comes in two parts, where you have to mix one with the other in specific amounts to get the best of both.

Setting polyurethane on wood requires no expertise.

However, when it comes to projects like tile setting, or repairing the furniture, leave the application to an expert.

 

5. Glue Dots

Glue Dots Double-Sided Craft Dots, 1/2”, Clear, Roll of 200 (08165E) 

 

Glue dots are small rolls or sheets that help to fix items on walls or other places you need to impose an object on another.

They come in pairs and work as a piece of gum fixated on a piece of paper and placed on a wall.

However, unlike gum, they easily come off and last longer.

Glue dots come in plenty of shapes and sizes.

They also have different adhesive strengths.

Some are double-sided, offering 360 degrees adhesive properties, while others only secure some specific items on one side.

Often, the dots help secure paper, plastic, foam, and glass.

Placing them is easy; you only need to read the care package and the manual.

 

6. Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA)

3M 72 Pressure Sensitive Spray Adhesive, Blue 17.3 Net Ounces, Aerosol Can 

 

PSAs do not come in ordinary packages seen in other glues; they are usually in sheets.

The glue is among those you can safely keep around the house.

They can fasten pictures on the fridge or put a note on the wall easily.

However, PSAs are not as strong as superglues, meaning they cannot hold heavy materials like metal and heavy plastic in place.

In comparison, they are like craft glues that hold light material together, like sheets of paper on a fridge.

Other uses of the glue are in children’s art and design projects.

They can help fasten drawings on the wall for display or put labels on tables and chairs in classrooms.

Once an art and craft lesson is over, teachers can easily pluck the material fastened by a PSA glue without dirt or ugly marks left behind.

When using, easily apply it to the back of a piece of paper and place it on the area of interest.

 

7. Spray Glue

Loctite 2235317 13.5OZ M Spray Adhesive, 1 Pack, Clear, 13 

 

Spray glues have multiple uses.

They have applications in schools, homes, and offices.

The glue works on multiple solid surfaces.

You can use it in offices, schools, and homes for:

• Joining wood in an art project
• Fastening plastics
• Decorating classrooms in a school
• Repairing furniture
• DIY projects

 

A common characteristic of spray glue is that it ages well; it will maintain its transparent, glossy look for a long time.

The glue comes in different configurations to fix the light and heavy-duty material.

For ordinary DIY projects, spray glue for light use will do.

You can also go for heavy-duty spray glues that have a stronger hold on things like plastic and metals.

 

8. Epoxy

Loctite Epoxy Five Minute Instant Mix 0.47-Fluid Ounce Syringe (1365868) 

 

Epoxy requires experts to cure them into a constituent adhesive, though you could have some for a personal DIY project.

You cannot use them easily in homes or classrooms for general purposes because they require two parts for their adhesive sense to activate.

It takes a lot to make them work because they come in two parts.

The first part of epoxy glue is the resin, which goes into a hardener that makes it a thick paste that can hold wood, plastic, or marble.

The final paste works like any other multipurpose glue on different materials.

What makes this glue tick is the ability to fill gaps and strong adhesion.

The strength is at its fullest when the hardener and the resin finally settle.

Before application, take your time to understand how to mix the two parts of the glue.

When buying, the two parts come together.

 

9. Fabric Glue

Aleenes Fabric Fusion Adhesive, 8-Ounce 

 

Fabric glues are exceptional, as they work well to fix worn-out jeans or uphold the integrity of old upholstery.

Most glues available in local stores cannot hold torn fabrics well.

That is why this is a specialized product.

In your local fabric shop, you can find different fabric glues.

Each glue in the class also has a unique purpose, but none allows water through.

So, you can easily wash your garments after applying the glue.

You also do not have to worry about mobility after using the glue; it can bend easily without affecting the integrity of the adhesive.

When placing the glue on your cloth, first read the instructions, as some come with a unique way of pasting.

For example, the webbing type requires a steam iron to melt it before placement on your fabric.

However, for the majority, you place them like ordinary craft glue.

 

10. Hot Glue

AdTech W220-34ZIP30 Hot Glue Sticks, 30-Pack of Non-Yellowing, Clear, 30 Count 

 

Hot glue works similarly to liquid glues, only that it comes packaged in solid form.

Out of the box, the solid blocks are useless unless heated to a liquid.

Once turned into a liquid, the glue can hold plastics, wood, and any material.

However, you cannot bind metal using this glue.

Its strength when dry, first action, and durability make it stand up against ordinary superglue for typical home applications.

However, on the flip side, the adhesive can quickly hurt your fingers if accidentally left to dry there.

Glue blocks in this class come in many shapes and sizes.

The application of hot glue needs an expert or an experienced person.

When bought, hot glue is in the form of solid translucent sticks, which have zero adhesive property.

Activating the adhesive nature of the material requires a glue gun.

One at a time, place the solid glue into the gun and paste it on the objects you want to bond.

 

11. Super Glue

Super Glue 15187 , Clear- pack of 12 

 

Superglue can take on metals and hold them together.

The glue is one of the strongest you can buy.

Typically, it has bonds that quickly hold materials like wood, plastic, metal, ceramic, and glass together when exposed to air.

One characteristic that makes it potent is the clean, glossy look it leaves behind.

You will not notice the glue easily after it has dried, though it can also fit in joints.

The cyanoacrylate will perform better on some surfaces compared to others.

The larger the surface area means that you place more of it for a firmer result.

That said, placement is straightforward.

Direct the narrowed mouth to the area of interest and watch the glue quickly turn into a firm plastic.

 

12. Grab Glue

Akfix 310 Instant Grab Adhesive. Paintable. Adheres to Wood, Cocnrete, Glass, Granite, Decorative Tiles – White 10.1 fl oz 

 

Grab glues work well in home DIY projects.

They are not unique glues by themselves, but the fact they require a dispensing gun makes them different from the likes of stick and pen glues.

One of the most common applications of this type of glue is in vertical decoration in houses.

That is because it has a lot of strength when dry.

You will typically find them in projects involving skirting boards and wood paneling.

Whenever looking to buy a grab glue, make sure to know the curing time of the material.

For projects involving the vertical placement, you will need one that cures much faster.

 

13. Gorilla Glue

Gorilla Clear Glue, 5.75 Ounce Bottle, Clear 

 

Gorilla glues are hybrid forms of other typical household glues.

The branding suggests that they are stronger and more durable in whatever they hold than traditional glues in their class.

However, the underlying material used to make them is not that different from what you would find in other typical glues.

But when it comes to holding or fixing items involving plastics, glass, wood, and a wide range of household items, they do a better job than traditional glues.

When it comes to usage, the application is similar to craft glue.

That means you hold a bottle containing the glue steady on top of the material you want to fix and do the same on the other surface and bond the two.

 

14. PVA Glue

Books by Hand pH Neutral PVA Adhesive, 8oz (BBHM217) 

 

PVA comes in handy for items that have plenty of gaping holes.

You can never find it in smaller tubes like those that you would craft or superglue.

Plenty of construction sites use the glue to cover MDF and plaster.

That is why, in the stores, they package the glue in huge tubes.

Flexibility makes it potent for its work, meaning that a construction worker can dilute it to work as a primer on concrete surfaces.

Though the glue does not work well for wood surfaces, you will need a clamp to hold the wood together for a while for the glue to dry.

 

15. Contact Glue

Gorilla Clear Grip Waterproof Contact Adhesive, , 3 Ounce, Clear, (Pack of 2) 

 

Contact glue works like spray glue.

However, you need to glue the two surfaces adequately that you want to bond for the glue to cure better.

It works with a slight paste on both surfaces.

Different contact glue versions have varying adhesive capabilities.

Some dry quicker after application, while others will need a hand to keep the glued surfaces together as they dry.

 

16. Rubber Cement

Elmer’s E904 Rubber Cement, Repositionable, 4 oz 

 

Rubber cement is not an ordinary glue to buy and store in your home, and it activates only when dry.

The final dry material, which is the adhesive, has a rubbery feel that gives it its name.

When shopping for one, you will come across plenty of variants, so it is imperative to know your specific project before picking one on the shelf.

The composition of the glue includes polymers mixed with the likes of hexane—a solvent.

The thick paste created is what goes to fix stuff or mend new ones in woodwork projects.

Rubber cement has industrial uses for making ink for writing pens.

It also works well for one-off projects that need a clean rub-off afterward.

For application, paste it on both surfaces that you want to join.

 

17. Glue Sticks

Elmer’s Glue Stick (E579), Disappearing Purple, 12 Sticks 

 

Glue sticks are integral for young children when doing crafts and drawing.

They help hold together pieces of plastics and tubes to make artistic creations.

Apart from children using them to craft, glue sticks can help around households and offices by fastening pieces of paper or card sheets on the walls.

The cylindrical-shaped body that holds them has a mechanical gear at the bottom that, when rotated, exposes the adhesive section on top.

Typical glue sticks come in plenty of colors, but all serve a similar purpose.

Some glue sticks leave behind a clean finish, helpful for places like open offices and public areas for sticking photos and cardboards.

 

18. Glue Pen

3-Pack – EK Tools 55-00010 Zig Memory System 2-Way Squeeze and Roll Glue Pen 

 

Like glue sticks, glue pens work to restore torn objects by bonding them together.

They have a neat finish that is clearer than the glue sticks.

Glue pens come in many shapes, which help fulfill multiple purposes.

You can have a thinner tip variant to fit into small holes and cracks.

The chisel-shaped lids can help target an irregular-shaped crack or object to avoid the areas that do not need an adhesive.

Using them is straightforward, too.

Simply trace out the surface that needs the adhesive and bring it together with the other part that has the glue already scribbled on it.

The two surfaces will stay firm together soon after because glue pens dry quickly.

 

19. Leather Glue

Aleene’s15594 Leather & Suede Glue 4oz 

 

If you have tried mending shoes before with glue, then you probably picked up a unique smell.

The smell is of leather glue that repairs leather jackets, shoes, and bags.

The glue is waterproof, making it perfect for treating leather.

It is also flexible and dries quickly to enable you to use your leather products quickly.

The application requires a special spatula, wooden or metallic, which you dip into a bottle of glue.

Pass the glue in the torn parts of your leather garments.

That said, look for a leather expert for a cleaner finish if you do not have previous experience mending leather.

 

20. Tacky Glue

Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue, 16 fl oz – 3 Pack, Multi, 48 

 

Tacky glue helps to reinforce other types of ordinary home glues because of its strength.

It has a better hold on items than the common school grade glue or craft glue.

Also, the glue is clear and has a better finish to look at after it has dried.

It can bind papers and other light items on walls and fridges easily.

However, unlike ordinary school glue, it has many drawbacks.

Some chemical compositions in it are highly active long after it has dried, meaning it can change color when holding some items together.

You will not want to use it on white surfaces or places you cannot afford an unsightly color change.

Besides that, it reacts with the basicity and acidity composition of some materials, as it is not neutral.

You should keep it away from highly reactive surfaces.

When applied to glass or metal, it also peels away easily.

Its reactive nature and inability to hold the glass and metallic surfaces limit the number of items you can bind together with the glue.

You should also read the care package, as the glue might also lose its potency when kept below freezing point.

Beyond the cons, it is easy to apply on surfaces.

However, read more to understand where and when to administer the glue.