Original Gorilla Glue is a polyurethane that foams up to 3 times its size and needs clamping. Gorilla Super Glue is a cyanoacrylate that sets in seconds with no clamp. Gorilla sells both, and says when to use each.
Side by side, in Gorilla’s words
| Original Gorilla Glue | Gorilla Super Glue | |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Polyurethane | Cyanoacrylate |
| Water to start the cure | Dampen one surface | Some absorbed moisture on the surfaces; no added water |
| Foams | Yes, up to 3 times | No |
| Clamp | 1 to 2 hours | No clamp; sets in 10 to 45 seconds |
| Full cure | 24 hours | 24 hours, in Gorilla’s comparison |
| Gap filling, on its spec sheet | No | No |
| Water | Gorilla calls it 100% waterproof; ANSI/HPVA Type I | Gorilla says the bond weakens over time with water |
| Outdoors | Yes; Gorilla says it doesn’t break down outdoors | Recommended primarily for indoor use |
| Service temperature | -40 to 200°F | -65 to 220°F (Super Glue Gel) |
From Gorilla’s comparison article and each product’s page and FAQ. The comparison’s table says Gorilla Glue “sets” in 1 to 2 hours; its product page says to clamp for 1 to 2 hours, which we use.
Gorilla’s own rule of thumb
Gorilla’s article puts it this way: reach for super glue for a fast, no-clamp fix on tight-fitting surfaces indoors, and for Gorilla Glue when the repair faces water or weather, or the surfaces are porous or rough and you can clamp them. If you can’t clamp or weight the pieces, Gorilla says Gorilla Glue isn’t the right choice.
Why one foams and the other doesn’t
Both cure with moisture. Gorilla Glue’s safety data sheet says it reacts with water, forming heat, carbon dioxide and polyurea, and Gorilla says it reacts with moisture to start the cure, so to lightly dampen one surface. The Super Glue Gel sheet says cyanoacrylate polymerizes rapidly on contact with water; Gorilla says it needs only the moisture already on the surfaces.
The foam isn’t a gap filler, by Gorilla’s own spec sheet, which says gap filling: no. Gorilla also makes Clear Gorilla Glue, a polyurethane that doesn’t foam, rated ANSI/HPVA Type II.
Gorilla says both struggle with polyethylene and polypropylene. See polypropylene for what makers say does stick.
Gluing something specific?
Glue finder