Your Guide to Glues

Acrylic Glue: can be used on vinyl, rubber, metals, stone and plastic, but its primarily used on melamine.

Adhesive Caulk: waterproof and not requiring clamps, it’s best used to bond wood, fiberglass, carpeting, vinyl, tile and concrete; usually used to attach kitchen backsplashes and exterior trim.

Construction Adhesive: applied with a caulk gun, it is typically used to join wood, metal, plastics and rigid foam to wood or concrete.

Contact Cement: forming a heat-resistant and water-resistant bond, it is typically used to bond plastic laminate to a substrate like particleboard, but it can also be used to bond wood, hardboard, plaster, plastics, metal, drywall and fiberglass.

Cross-linking PVA: a very strong, versatile and weather-resistant yellow glue.

Cyanoacrylate Glue: bonds a wide range of materials including wood, veneers, rubber, plastics and metals.

Epoxy Glue: forming a very strong, waterproof, heat-resistant bond, epoxy is ideal for filling gaps and bonding a variety of materials including wood, fiberglass, concrete, glass, leather and plastics.

Hot-melt Glue: most often used for temporary than permanent bonding as it cures almost instantly.

Polyurethane Glue: best used with wet wood on exterior trim as it fills gaps while it cures and forms a strong waterproof bond.

Resorcinol Glue: forms a very durable, strong, heat-resistant, waterproof bond that best used for exterior applications (note: it will leave a dark stain on wood).

Silicone Caulk: can be used as an adhesive as it is suitable for exterior use and can be applied at temperatures as low as –55°F.

White Glue: a common wood glue that forms a very strong bond suitable for many interior applications.

Yellow Carpenter’s Glue: similar to white glue, but thicker, tackier and resistant to solvents and heat.