Plastic is a material we can find just about anywhere in the world. It’s in our houses, on our cars, on our laptops, the list goes on and on. We rely on plastic a lot in our everyday life.
So when it breaks, it can be the worst thing in the world. So of course the answer is trying to fix it with glue. Then it doesn’t stick.
Glue can be a tricky thing. You might find yourself spending time holding your freshly glued plastic objects together, only to find out when you release they come apart. This can be so frustrating. Then there is the drying time.
For those important plastic objects, coming back 24 hours later to find the glue still isn’t dry is a nightmare. And what about the glue that doesn’t stick to the plastic? Do you just give up? Absolutely not!
If you are currently panicking about gluing plastic - stop! There is a solution to all of these problems. Glues specifically designed for plastics are here to help. There is one out there for any plastic problem you might have.
Although, with so many glues available, choosing the correct one for your project can be very overwhelming. Lucky for you, we are here to help! We have compiled a list of the best glues for plastics currently available.
To make your life easier, we’ve also included a handy buyer’s guide that has all the information you need to know when deciding which glue is right for you.
The J-B Weld Plastic Bonder is a two part urethane adhesive. This glue also has a gap-filling system that bonds to many plastic surfaces.
This is a great heavy-duty plastic glue that would work for filling dents, bumpers, re-attaching car parts. It can also be used on other materials, like brick, concrete, ceramic, and many more.
In order to use this adhesive correctly, you’ll need to follow some simple steps. The first step would be dispensing the two parts, to a 1-1 ratio.
The second step is mixing the two parts together. Lastly, you can then apply the mixed adhesive and wait 15 minutes for it to set and 30 minutes for it to cure. It really is that simple to use.
The packaging system allows for you to re-seal the adhesive, preventing air from curing the adhesive. This is great as the glue can then be stored and retrieved whenever you need it, without the fear of it being clogged.
This particular product cures to be black, which is great for using the glue for cars or in areas that will be concealed. However, it would not be appropriate for gluing items where you need the glue to be invisible.
The glue is self-leveling meaning that you don’t have to worry too much about the application of the glue. Also if the glue has been disturbed during the drying process, it will still dry glossy.
You can also touch up the glue if it was disturbed. Once dried, the glue is able to withstand heavy impacts and is very durable.
Pros
Durable - This glue is able to withstand heavy-hitting and is able to hold heavy plastics together.
Multipurpose - The glue can be used on different surfaces and materials.
Easy to use - The steps to use this glue, are simple to follow.
Cons
Messy - Some customers have reported the packaging can be messy as the adhesive comes out quickly.
Rhino Glue Gel is an instant adhesive that is made to bond to everything. The Rhino Glue Gel is a thicker version of the Rhino Glue.
It has a toughened formula to help the glue withstand hard impacts, shocks, heat, vibration, and moisture. This glue is a Cyanoacrylate glue, which is what most super glues are.
The most annoying thing about glue can be the drying time. No one wants to wait hours for something to dry. Well, with the Rhino Glue Gel it dries quickly. If you have a hairdryer handy, the glue will dry in around 30 seconds.
This glue drys hard which is great for durability. However, it is also flexible meaning it can withstand impact making it even more durable. This glue is also water-resistant, so you are able to use it in kitchens and bathrooms, but it is not completely waterproof.
It is also heat resistant, just avoid using it on products that will be exposed to high temperatures as that weakens the glue.
The glue sticks to most plastics, however, some customers noticed it had trouble with others. The plastics Rhino Glue Gel had trouble sticking to are polypropylene plastic and PET plastics.
Some users found that the glue has a really strong smell when wet, which caused them irritation. As will all glues, when you are using this product it needs to be done with care. For the best results make sure the surfaces you are gluing are clean.
Pros
Durable - The glue is water-resistant and heat-resistant. Also flexible for impacts.
Dry time - The glue takes seconds to dry.
Bottle - The bottle holds 40 grams of product which is a lot compared to other Cyanoacrylate glues.
Cons
Smell - The product has a strong, unpleasant smell which can cause irritation.
Plastics - The glue does not bond to all plastics.
Gorilla has stormed the market when it comes to buying glue, especially superglue. We knew that we had to include the brand that revolutionized super glue, on this list. The Gorilla Super Glue Gel is what we believe is the best multipurpose glue on the market.
Gorilla Super Glue Gel is a new superglue formula in the sense that it does not drip because it is thicker. This is great because users now have more control when gluing. Like most superglues, it is a Cyanoacrylate glue.
The glue takes between 10-45 seconds to dry, meaning you’ll never have to long again when gluing.
If you decide to use this glue then a small amount of glue goes a long way. Even though you might only be using a small amount of glue, it still creates a strong bond with whatever it is being placed on.
One of the most infuriating parts about buying super glue is using it once, needing to use it again but finding out the cap is clogged. That’s why it is great that Gorilla Super Glue Gel has an anti-clogging cap.
You would think that an anti-clogging cap would be a necessity for glue bottles but many brands still do not include them. Gorilla Super Glue Gel has a metal pin on the inside of the cap.
This metal pin stops the glue from being able to harden in the tip as the air cannot reach the glue.
Pros
Durable - Gorilla glue is impact resistant meaning it is more durable than other glues.
Ant-Clogging - You will be able to use this glue many times as the cap has anti-clogging features.
Dry time - The glue dries within 10 seconds on some materials. It is fully cured after 24 hours, for those needing to use a durable glue.
What can be surprising about buying glue is some of the options can be really expensive. That is why we thought it is important to include a budget-friendly option for those who don’t wish to spend a lot on the glue.
Loctite Super Glue Plastics Bonding System is specially designed for gluing plastic. Loctite understands that gluing plastics can be tricky. Therefore, this system is designed to make it easier for us.
They have included a primer in this system which means that plastics like polypropylene can be bonded to.
In order to bond successfully to difficult plastics, you must use the activator to prime the plastic, and then you can use the cyanoacrylate adhesive to bond the plastics together.
This glue dries in seconds and works on, hard to bond to plastics. The glue dries clear making it perfect for almost every use. When it comes to drying this glue, you do not need to clamp it down for it to set properly.
The glue is durable as it is water-resistant, can resist most chemicals, and also freezing temperatures.
With this product, you get 4ml of activator and 2g of bonder.
Pros
Easy to use - There is no mixing required with this gluing system and the two steps are easy to follow.
Dry Time - The product dries in seconds, so no more waiting around.
Plastics - This glue bonds to the hardest plastics to bond to, making it a great glue for plastics.
Cons
Clogging - Some customers have reported that the bonder would not go out of the tip when they tried to use it a second time. Also, the activator had dried up.
Whilst this glue might not be considered crazy expensive, it is pricier than the ones we have on the list already. So, if you are happy to spend a little more on glues for plastic, this is the option for you.
This glue is unlike the others we have on the list. The steps to make this glue work are a little different as it includes powder. In order to use this glue successfully, you have to follow a four-step process.
The first step is to clean the surface of whatever you are trying to glue. Step two is applying the powder to the clean surface. The next step is to apply the adhesive until the powder is saturated.
The last step is to wait for it to harden, which should only take a few seconds. Once the glue has hardened, you are able to sand and paint it, if you would like.
What is great about this product is that the glue can be used on its own. There is a disclaimer about this product when using it on those hard to glue plastics. Hard to glue plastics need to be primed before using this product to glue them.
Pros
Plastics - Although it is best to prime hard to bond plastics, many users reported having no issues using this product to bond to those harder plastics.
Dry Time - This glue dries quickly, which is convenient when gluing.
Durable - The glue is an industrial glue meaning is it very strong.
Cons
Application - The powder can be tricky to apply on oddly shaped surfaces, for example, curved ones.
Buyer’s Guide
Anti-Clogging Caps
There is nothing more irritating than buying glue, only to use it once. Having to throw away of perfectly fine product because the cap is glued shut. It is an issue so many people have when buying superglue.
You would think that brands would automatically have anti-clogging caps. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.
If this is a problem that you need to avoid, we would recommend always buying glue that has anti-clogging caps. For some, having glue is important in their everyday life, which is why anti-clogging caps are important.
Some manufacturers have applicators that are made for anti-clogging purposes, so if you want to make the most out of your glue, it is a good idea to look out for these glues.
Type Of Glue
Some of you might think that glue is glue, but there are different types of glue. We’ve discussed two types of glue on this list, urethane and cyanoacrylate.
Urethane adhesives are two part formulations that react when mixed together. They bond to many materials. If you are considering using this type of glue, it is best for those who wish to paint it and need glue that is waterproof.
Cyanoacrylate is the formula that most superglues are made from. Interestingly is the most common glue that is used for bonding to plastics. This is a very strong glue and its drying time is quite quick depending on its consistency.
You can get cyanoacrylate glue in thin and thick consistencies, with thicker ones taking longer to dry.
Other glues to consider are epoxy glues and polystyrene cement. Polystyrene cement glue is more destructible. It is only advised to use this glue on stronger plastics. It is great for sticking two plastic surfaces together, but not much for other materials against plastic.
It is important to consider the type of glue you might need as they all have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Materials
For many of us, plastic is just plastic. However, there are different types of plastics. It is important to know the type of plastic that you are using or wishing to glue. A lot of plastics will be able to be glued quite easily.
Though plastics like polypropylene plastics of PET plastics are hard to bond to.
If you are wishing to bond objects to these plastics, then you will need a glue that specifically states it is able to do that. The packaging of glues should help with this.
If it packaging states it bonds to plastics, it is a good idea to check the details on the back, making sure it says the type of plastic you wish to glue.
Bottle Size
The size of your glue bottle might not be important to everyone, but for those planning on using the glue quite often, this is something to consider. Unfortunately, a lot of glues come in really small sizes. This is due to the fact that for these glues, a small amount of glue goes a long way.
However, if the glue is something you use every day in your job it might be worth investing a glue with a larger capacity. You might also want to consider buying multiple amounts of the glue that you prefer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Buy Thick Or Thin Glue?
Whether you should buy thick or thin glue is completely dependent on the reason you are gluing and what you are gluing.
If you are gluing something small, like plastic earrings, a thin glue might be best as it dries quickly. However, if you are gluing something on a wall, thick glue would be best since it will not drip down the wall as thin glue would.
A great tip to follow, in order to work out whether you need thin or thick glue is to think about control. If you need a lot of control when going to glue the object, then a thicker glue is more appropriate. However, if you need it to dry in seconds then a thinner glue is what you need.
Does Superglue Work On Plastic?
Superglue can work on some plastics. However, for superglue to work on hard plastics like polypropylene, it might require a primer to be applied first.
One way you can work out if superglue will bond to the plastic you have is to think about its texture. If you can describe your plastic as having an oily surface, superglue alone will probably not bond to it.
Hi, my name is Michael Moore, and I have been 3D printing for a number of years now. I have created many cool gadgets over the years, but my current passion is creating one of a kind jewelry pieces. They can be so intricate and beautiful that many people wouldn't believe they are 3D printed.
Through Love and Robots, I hope to share my knowledge with others, and provide advice about everything 3D printer related.
