What kind of glue to use for each situation?

The products we use every day are made of different materials. A breakage due to use or an accident does not necessarily mean the end of their useful life. Bonding the parts with the right glue can save the day. Brycus advice helps you determine which adhesive is best for you.

What types of adhesives are there?

You have to consider the material you are going to work with before choosing one glue or another. Otherwise, you could definitely damage the surface and not be able to join the broken pieces. Some adhesives are specially designed for gluing wood, glass and metal surfaces, among others. In this case, you just have to choose the right product. 

However, unless your work involves frequent joining of pieces of the same material, most users prefer to have a multi-purpose glue, which they can use in different circumstances. Within this category, we find different varieties.

Universal

As the name suggests, these adhesives are designed to stick all kinds of materials, although they are especially effective on paper, wood or ceramic surfaces.

Universal adhesives are made from synthetic polymers and are economical and easy to use. As a disadvantage, they do not create very strong bonds and do not withstand heat and moisture well.

Cyanoacrylates

Also known as supercementes, this kind of glue manages to join all kinds of materials thanks to a chemical reaction that takes place on contact with the humidity of the environment. Cyanoacrylates dry almost instantly and create very strong and visible bonds.

Separate component adhesives

Some products are made of two materials which, when combined with each other, produce a reaction that enables them to achieve very solid bonds. They come in separate containers and must be mixed in equal parts to achieve the expected results.

For example, we have polymers composed of an epoxy resin and a hardening agent. They are ideal for bonding rigid materials and filling gaps. Their only drawback is that the joints do not go unnoticed and their drying process is very slow.

Contact adhesive

Also called solution adhesives, they are an emulsion that is usually made of neoprene, polychloroprene, nitrile or styrene-butadiene rubber, and can be applied by brush, spatula, roller or even a spray gun.

As it is elastic and deformable, it is ideal for joining flexible materials, such as shoe soles. It is also recommended for fixing floor coverings. It is also effective on wood, although it is advisable to apply a first coat to seal all porosities and, once the surface has dried, to apply a final coat to glue the pieces together.

General recommendations for use

Regardless of the type of glue you use, the following tips from Brycus will allow you to achieve the best possible results.

- Read the instructions for use carefully before applying the glue.

- Make sure the contact surface is free of water, grease, and dust that may prevent proper contact between the surfaces.

- Hold the pieces together while the glue dries with the help of a clamp.

- Work in a ventilated space and with a mouth guard so as not to be exposed to the toxic fumes of the glue.

- Avoid smoking when handling flammable adhesives.

- Use a wooden or plastic stick instead of handling the glue directly with your hands.

- Use acetone or olive oil to loosen your fingers if necessary.