Whether you’re a seasoned crafter with the hot glue scars to prove it or a complete newbie, you’re going to need glue at some point or another. In the world of crafting, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to the assortment of glues on offer. Here are just 14 of the different types of glue for crafts available on the market.
1. White Craft Glue
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White craft glue, also known as PVA (polyvinyl acetate) glue, is a non-toxic water-based glue that is the most common type of craft glue. It’s white in color but boasts clear-drying properties that make it a versatile glue.
One of the best things about white craft glue is that it can be customized to your requirements. A little food coloring or a sprinkle of loose glitter, and you’ve got yourself a fancy glue.
Working with white craft glue is easy, although it can be messy at times. It takes 1 hour to set and 24 hours to cure completely.
White craft glue can be used for crafts involving:
- Paper
- Carboard
- Fabric
- Plastic
- Foam
- Ceramic
- Leather
This type of glue only has strength once it’s completely dry, which means that unless you’re using it on a very flat surface, you will need to clamp the item you wish to stick in place. In addition, it is not water-resistant at all.
Despite these minor drawbacks, white craft glue is an essential item in any crafter’s kit.
2. Glue Sticks
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No child’s stationery bag is complete without a handy glue stick, and this common type of glue should also take up a place in any crafter’s starter kit. Sometimes, when working with paper, stronger glues tend to seep into the paper and make it bleed or discolor.
The best thing about glue sticks is that they’re easy to use, clean, and remove if need be. This makes glue sticks a great option for children. Glue sticks dry in 2 to 5 minutes, so it’s a solid option for crafters who like to do things quickly.
Glue sticks can be used for crafts involving:
- Paper
Of course, the humble glue stick’s downfall is that it can only be used for papercrafts. It’s not a strong glue at all, and using it on any other material would result in a difficult application, and the object you tried to glue down will almost definitely peel off.
With all of the many glue options available to you that do the same thing a glue stick does, it’s not necessary to keep this item in your craft kit. However, it’s a good idea to keep one on hand in case your other glues finish or dry out.
3. Wood Glue
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Wood glue is essentially like white craft glue but on steroids. It’s incredibly strong, water-resistant, and ideal for both light-duty and heavy-duty crafts. Though it’s specifically formulated with wood crafts in mind, it’s really quite versatile.
As a standard, wood glue comes in yellow color, but there are white and clear dry options available. This type of glue is very strong, which means that you can use it for most craft projects and even the odd home repair job.
Wood glue can be used for crafts involving:
- Wood
- Ceramic
- Fabric
- Leather
- Paper
- Plastic
- Foam
The downside to wood glue is that it can take a long time to dry. Depending on how much wood glue you applied and what you applied it to, the setting time can be anywhere from 1 hour to more than 24 hours.
If you work with materials such as wood, leather, and ceramic often, wood glue is a must-have.
4. Super Glue
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Super glue is not reserved for last-minute fixes around the house, but it also has a valuable spot to fill in any crafter’s tool kit. As the name suggests, this glue is super strong, and so it only needs to be used in heavy-duty craft projects.
It’s very versatile, incredibly strong, and dries clear and quickly. The only real downside to using super glue for crafting is that it’s very finicky and demands extremely precise application.
Though super glue takes just a few minutes to dry, it’s best to allow for 10 minutes to achieve a full bond and 24 hours for a full cure.
Super glue can be used for crafts involving:
- Glass
- Metal
- Wood
- Plastic
- Ceramic
Once the super glue is set, no solvent can dissolve it. While this is a fabulous feature for crafts that you want to last forever, it leaves very little room for error.
Super glue is an essential glue to keep in your craft kit, thanks to its multi-purpose and heavy-duty nature.
5. Fabric Glue
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As the name suggests, fabric glue is glue that has been specifically designed for usage on fabrics and textiles. Fabric glue is more of an umbrella term as you get fabric glues that are specialized for silk, denim, cotton, and so on.
Fabric glue is strong, clear-drying, waterproof, and washable. Most fabric glues come in a tube, but these days you can also get a webbing fabric glue that requires melting with a hot iron before using it.
Depending on which type of fabric glue you buy, the fabric you’re gluing, and how much you use, drying time is anywhere from 2 minutes to 24 hours.
Fabric glue can be used for crafts involving:
- Fabric
Since most other glues can’t work on fabric, the fact that fabric glue only works on fabric doesn’t count against this type of glue. It just means that you can only use it for very specific – fabric-focused – crafts.
Unless you’re a crafter who often works with fabrics, this type of glue is not mandatory for your craft kit.
6. Hot Glue
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Glue guns are common tools in the modern-day crafter’s arsenal of supplies. While not the ideal choice for high-strength applications, hot glue is a wonderful option for precise application.
Hot glue is incredibly fast-drying, and it dries clear, making it ideal for most crafts except those involving smooth materials like metal, vinyl, or silicone. You can use hot glue for all kinds of crafts, ranging from scrapbooking to creating handmade jewelry.
This type of glue dries in seconds to a minute.
Hot glue can be used in crafts involving:
- Ceramic
- Fabric
- Paper
- Plastic
- Foam
- Wood
- Leather
Because hot glue is, well, hot, you need to be careful when using it to make sure you don’t burn yourself. This factor also makes it an inappropriate glue choice for young children.
While glue guns are somewhat expensive to purchase, they’re definitely worth the investment. Hot glue is a wonderful glue to have on hand that deserves its spot in your craft kit.
7. Glitter Glue
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Glitter glue is a mixture of clear craft glue and glitter particles. It typically comes in a tube format, is heavily pigmented with glitter, and dries clear, so all you’ll see in the end result is the glitter.
Though this type of glue is especially popular with children’s crafts, it can be used in all kinds of light-duty crafts ranging from decorating Christmas baubles to making DIY unicorn slime.
The downside to using glitter glue is that it generally takes a while to dry. Depending on the application, how much you use, and what the weather is like, it can take anywhere between 30 minutes and 24 hours to dry.
Glitter glue can be used in crafts involving:
- Paper
- Fabric
- Foam
Glitter glue is not a strong glue, and so it is mostly used for decorative purposes rather than acting as an actual adhesive. While it’s nice to have, especially if you have children, it’s not a necessary glue to keep in your kit.
8. Mod Podge
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These days, Mod Podge is a staple for the modern-day crafter. Not only is it a versatile adhesive, but it’s a great option for people who like dual-purpose products. Mod Podge is a glue, a sealer, and a finish.
Though it’s a must-have for decoupage fanatics, Mod Podge can be used for tons of craft projects. You get different variations of Mod Podge, ranging from those designed for outdoor usage and those designed for chalk.
Mod Podge feels dry to the touch within one hour, but it requires 24 hours to dry properly.
Mod Podge can be used for crafts involving:
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Fabric
- Wood
- Ceramic
- Glass
- Metal
- Plastic
- Foam
Mod Podge is easy to apply, non-toxic is very strong when used on porous materials, and is easily available.
Because of its versatility, Mod Podge is a must-have in your craft kit.
9. Glue Pens
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Glue pens are a fantastic option for people whose crafts require extreme precision. The glue within the pen is typically a clear PVA or polyurethane glue that dries clear and quickly.
Because of the level of control the crafter has over the glue, it can be confidently used with exact precision. You can use a glue pen for making cards, join tiny objects, fill in cracks, and – with a sprinkle of glitter or sand – decoration.
Glue pens take 2 to 5 minutes to dry.
Glue pens can be used for crafts involving:
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Foam
Glue pens, much like real ink pens, dry out incredibly quickly, so it’s of the utmost importance that you close the cap as soon as you’re done.
All things considered, glue pens are nice to have in your craft kit but are not critical.
10. Glue Dots
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Unlike most of the other glue types on this list that are used in all kinds of different applications, glue dots were designed solely with crafters in mind. These adhesives are solidified, removable, super easy to use, and hassle-free.
You can use glue dots for crafts that require a precise application, like scrapbooking, DIY diamond painting or making gift cards, and they’re super strong. Glue dots provide a surprisingly long-lasting stick for lighter objects.
Glue dots do not require any drying time.
Glue dots can be used for crafts involving:
- Paper
- Plastic
- Glass
- Metal
- Foam
- Wood
The best thing about glue dots is that – on top of eliminating mess – they eliminate waste entirely. You will only ever use the exact amount of glue you need.
Given all the above, glue dots are an essential glue to keep in your craft kit.
11. Adhesive Spray
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Adhesive spray, also known as spray glue, is liquid glue that is stored in a pressurized container and released as a mist. If your crafting involves photographs, adhesive glue is a particularly good choice for the job.
Because this type of glue is in a spray format, you need to take precautions when using it. For starters, it should only be used in a well-ventilated area or in an outdoor setting to avoid inhalation.
Secondly, it can be difficult to control exactly where the adhesive will land, so before spraying, you’ll need to lay down a drop sheet or cloth and remove anything you don’t want to accidentally coat in glue. This makes it an inappropriate choice for children and new crafters alike.
Adhesive spray glues take between 10 seconds and 30 minutes to dry.
Adhesive spray can be used for crafts involving:
- Foams
- Paper
- Films
- Plastic
- Cardboard
An adhesive spray is versatile, but it does not score many points on the user-friendliness side of the crafting spectrum.
While it’s a must-have for those who work with photographs, adhesive spray is not an essential glue for most craft projects.
12. Paper Glaze
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If you’re an avid scrapbooker or someone who works with other crafts involving photographs, a paper glaze adhesive is a must-have glue for you. This type of glue is acid-free, which means that your photographs will never become yellow with age.
In addition to being an adhesive for photographs and paper, you can also use paper glaze as a laminate by applying thin coats of the glue on top of the image. Think of paper glaze as a glue, a laminating tool, and a varnish.
Paper glaze can be used for crafts involving:
- Paper
As with all glue types, paper glaze glue is not without its cons. For starters, it can only be used with synthetic acrylic brushes. On top of this, it takes a full 24 hours to dry and is more expensive than other types of glue.
Much like adhesive spray, while it’s an essential glue for those who work with photographs, your craft kit can do without it.
13. Polyurethane Glue
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Commonly found on construction sites, polyurethane glue is becoming popular amongst crafters because of its heavy-duty nature. It’s waterproof, elastic, shock resistant, paintable, and can be used for an assortment of crafts.
You can use polyurethane for most heavy-duty crafts and for repairs around your home. Using polyurethane glue requires speed, experience, and a bit of a budget, so for these reasons, it’s not classed as beginner-friendly glue.
Polyurethane glue takes 2 hours to dry and 24 hours to cure.
Polyurethane glue can be used for crafts involving:
- Plastic
- Wood
- Glass
- Concrete
- Metal
- Fabric
Because this type of glue is so strong and full of chemicals, it cannot legally be purchased by anyone under the age of 18 years old. In addition, it’s recommended to use PPE such as eye goggles, respirator masks, and gloves when working with polyurethane glue.
Unless you have heavy-duty crafting needs to fulfill, polyurethane glue is not a staple item for a craft kit.
14. Epoxy
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Getting epoxy into a state where it can be used as glue, is like a craft slash science experiment in itself! In general, epoxies have two parts – a resin and a hardener – that must be mixed together before using it. Once mixed, you’ve got strong, water-resistant glue.
This type of glue can bond with most materials and is used for various crafts. The best (or worst, depending on how quick of a crafter you are!) part about epoxy is that it only takes about 5 minutes to cure and dry.
Epoxy can be used for crafts involving:
- Ceramics
- Glass
- Metal
- Plastic
- Wood
Because epoxy is formed as the result of a chemical reaction, you need to work with it incredibly quickly, or else it will harden in record time. And because of this chemical reaction, you need to wear proper PPE and take precautions when working with it.
Epoxy is a great tool for any crafter, and no craft kit is complete without it.
