It depends on the glue. Every super glue in our tables sets in seconds, the epoxies in 5 minutes to 6 hours, and Gorilla’s wood glue clamps for 20 to 30 minutes. Many of these products list a 24 hour full cure, but a thick film of E6000 can take 72 hours and Gorilla’s Landscape adhesive 2 to 7 days.
Two different clocks
Makers give a short time and a long one. Gorilla’s wood glue page defines them: clamping time is how long pressure needs to stay on, and cure time is how long the glue takes to reach its total bonding strength. Other makers call the short one set, fixture, gel or handling time. Construction adhesives also give an open time, the window you have to join the parts.
Super glue
| Product | Set | Handle | Full cure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gorilla Super Glue Gel | 10 to 45 seconds | Not stated | Not on its page; 24 hours in Gorilla’s comparison |
| Gorilla Super Glue Pen, Micro Precise, No Drip Gel | About 10 to 45 seconds | Not stated | 24 hours |
| Loctite Super Glue Gel Control | 15 to 30 seconds (data sheet); 30 to 45 seconds (page) | At least 10 minutes | 12 to 24 hours (data sheet table); 24 hours (its directions) |
| Loctite Super Glue Liquid Professional | 15 to 30 seconds | At least 5 minutes | 24 hours |
| Titebond Instant Bond, Thin to Gel | 3 to 20 seconds, by thickness | 5 to 30 seconds | 8 hours |
From each product’s page or data sheet. Loctite’s Liquid Professional data sheet says its times depend on temperature, humidity, the porosity of the surface and the amount of glue. Titebond’s shared description says Instant Bond sets in 5 to 15 seconds; each viscosity’s spec gives 3, 5, 8 or 20. More brands and applicators are on super glue dry time.
Two-part epoxy
| Product | Set | Full cure |
|---|---|---|
| Gorilla Epoxy | 5 minutes; leave undisturbed 30 minutes | 24 hours |
| Gorilla Epoxy Ultimate | 10 minutes; leave undisturbed 30 minutes | 24 hours |
| Loctite Epoxy Instant Mix 5 Minute | Gels in 5 to 7 minutes; handling strength in 1 hour | 24 hours |
| J-B Weld ClearWeld | 5 minutes | 1 hour |
| J-B Weld KwikWeld | 6 minutes | 4 to 6 hours |
| J-B Weld Original | 4 to 6 hours | 15 to 24 hours; 15 hours minimum before use |
From each product’s page or data sheet, with Gorilla’s set times, and Gorilla Epoxy’s 24 hour cure, from its epoxy pro tips. J-B Weld’s FAQ gives Original 16 to 24 hours to cure. More J-B Weld products are on J-B Weld cure time, and how an epoxy moves from set to cure on two-part epoxy.
Polyurethane and wood glue
| Product | Clamp | Full cure |
|---|---|---|
| Original Gorilla Glue | 1 to 2 hours | 24 hours |
| Clear Gorilla Glue | 2 hours | 24 hours |
| Gorilla Wood Glue | 20 to 30 minutes | 24 hours |
| Titebond wood glues (most) | 30 minutes to an hour unstressed; 24 hours for stressed joints | Not stated; don’t stress the new joint for at least 24 hours |
| DAP Weldwood Original Wood Glue | At least 30 minutes; dry overnight before sanding | Maximum strength in 72 hours |
From each maker’s page, FAQ or data sheet. More Gorilla products, from construction adhesives to sealants, are on Gorilla Glue dry time.
Flexible, craft and hybrid glues
| Product | Tack, set or hold | Full cure |
|---|---|---|
| E6000 | Tacky in about 2 minutes; sets in about 10 minutes (FAQ) or 45 (data sheet) | 24 hours thin; 48 to 72 hours thick |
| E6000 Plus | Not on its page | 24 hours; maximum strength up to 72 |
| Shoe Goo | Sets in 20 minutes | 24 hours thin; 48 to 72 hours thick |
| Gorilla Clear Grip | Let it dry about 2 minutes before joining | At least 24 hours |
| Gorilla Fabric Glue | Working time 1 to 5 minutes | At least 24 hours; wash after 3 days |
| Loctite Extreme Glue | Clamp 30 minutes | About 24 hours |
| Loctite Metal Glue | Leave undisturbed at least 8 hours | About 24 hours |
| Loctite Shoe Glue | Leave undisturbed 24 to 48 hours | About 24 to 48 hours |
| Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks | 45 seconds working time | Within minutes, as it cools |
From each product’s page, FAQ or data sheet. More E6000 products, from Premium to QuickHold, are on E6000 dry time.
Construction adhesive
| Product | Open or press | Full cure |
|---|---|---|
| Loctite PL Premium | Open 15 to 20 minutes; support it for 24 hours | 24 to 48 hours at 78°F and 50% humidity |
| Liquid Nails Heavy Duty (LN-903) | Open 20 minutes | 24 hours minimum |
| Liquid Nails Fuze*It Max (LN-3000) | Press within 10 minutes | 12 to 24 hours; 8 hours minimum |
| Gorilla Landscape Construction Adhesive | Press within 10 minutes; hold 20 to 60 seconds | 2 to 7 days |
From each product’s data sheet or page. More Liquid Nails adhesives are on Liquid Nails dry time, and caulk and silicone on caulk cure time.
What slows it down
- Cold: Liquid Nails says construction adhesive and caulk generally take twice as long at 50°F as at 70°F, and Loctite says PL Premium’s cure time rises significantly in cold or low humidity.
- Moisture: Gorilla says super glue cures by reacting with water, including the water vapor in room air, and that Original Gorilla Glue is moisture activated, so one surface should be lightly dampened.
- Surfaces: Gorilla says Clear Grip takes longer on non-porous surfaces, and Liquid Nails says plastic, metal and painted surfaces can stretch a construction adhesive’s drying from 24 hours to several days or even weeks.
- Amount: Gorilla says Epoxy Ultimate’s cure depends on temperature, humidity and the quantity applied, and Loctite gives Metal Glue about 24 hours for every 2 mm when it fills a gap.
We’d wait out the full cure on the label before loading a joint or getting it wet, even if it feels hard sooner.
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