Do It Yourself Projects Involve Glues

It seems no matter what do it yourself project you are going to tackle, at some point you will need to use glues. Whether your adhesive is for repairing a broken ornament, or you want a squeak free floor, you need to use the right glue.

The following list is your most common glues and their application.

1. Regular yellow glue. Use indoors only when it is warmer than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It is not water resistant and cannot be left standing for more than five minutes. Your set time is at least 30 minutes if clamped. Yellow glue is very popular for quick fixes to wood and paper.

2. Type II yellow glue. Use for indoor and outdoor projects as it has excellent water resistance. Open time is the same as normal yellow glue, but it requires an hour for setting. This is an excellent choice for wood projects that are outdoors.

3. White glue. Similar to type 1 yellow glue, but it has a longer set time. Good choice for projects that need to be precisely fit and you require the extra time before it starts to set. Is not water resistant and requires an hour minimum clamp time. Nice for wood working where the glue may be visible, as it drys clear.

4. Epoxy. A great choice when you need to bond to different materials such as metal to plastic. It is a two part that needs to be mixed. Set time varies depending on the formula, when choosing check the package for exact set time as if it is really fast you can waste more than you use. Is very water resistant, so should can be used outdoors, a very versatile glue. When working with epoxy wear gloves, goggles and a respirator (or at least work in a well ventilated area).

5. Contact cement. Used primarily to bond plastic laminates and veneers. Best used in a very well ventilated area as fumes are extremely strong. Very flammable, so no open flames. Solvent-based dries a lot faster than water-based formula. It has a fair water resistance, so it can work well in high humidity areas, but not wear direct water contact can occur. Be very precise when working with contact cement, once the two surfaces touch it is very difficult to separate them and reposition. Final application pressure is best done with a roller, to ensure all air bubbles are removed.

6. PL400. Used primarily where squeaks or extremely strong bonds are needed. Is water resistant so can be used indoors or outdoors. Used by framers to ensure floor systems have an excellent bond to floor joists. Will bond dissimilar products. Has a quick set time, depending on temperature can start to dry within minutes. Final dry time can be up to an hour. Hard to remove once glue has set, so if there is any clean up do it immediately. Several different PL strengths are available for different projects.

There are hundreds of different glues and adhesives on the market, and you should read the manufacturers intended uses before choosing the glue for your project. Ensuring you have the correct glue will make your do it yourself project go faster and ensure you are not having to do the job again.