Guides

What glue works on 3D prints?Glue for 3D prints: super glue for PLA, PETG and ABS, which filaments acetone can weld, and why PETG resists every hobby solvent., Surfaces→ What sticks to what: glue chartA printable what-sticks-to-what chart: 21 surfaces against each other, with the glue type makers list for each pair, from the same data as the glue finder., Surfaces→ How long does glue take to dry?How long glue takes to dry, product by product: super glues that set in seconds, epoxies in minutes to hours, wood and construction glues, and full cure times from minutes to 7 days., Glue→ Super glue or epoxy?Super glue vs two-part epoxy, from the makers’ own sheets: set and cure times, gap filling, the surfaces each lists or rules out, heat and water ratings, and when we’d use which., Glue→ Which glue is waterproof?Which glues their makers call waterproof and which only water resistant: ANSI/HPVA Type I and Type II wood glues, super glues, epoxies and construction adhesives, with each maker’s submersion limit., Glue→ Gorilla Glue or super glue?Gorilla Glue vs super glue: one is a polyurethane that foams and needs clamping, the other a cyanoacrylate that grabs in seconds. When Gorilla says to use each., Glue→ Wood glue or construction adhesive?Wood glue vs construction adhesive, including Liquid Nails: clamp times, gap bridging, indoor or outdoor, and what each maker says its product bonds., Glue→ How does contact cement work?How contact cement works: coat both surfaces, let them dry, then press once with no shifting. Solvent vs water-based, what it can’t touch, and rubber cement., Glue→ Which spray adhesive for the job?Spray adhesive by can: what 3M, Loctite, Gorilla, DAP and Permatex say each bonds, which ones say they’re safe or not on polystyrene foam, and how to use one., Glue→ What does hot glue stick to?What hot glue sticks to, by glue stick maker: low temp for foam, fabric and ribbon, high temp for wood, plastic, metal and glass, and where makers say not to use it., Glue→ How does two-part epoxy work?Two-part epoxy explained by its makers: why the mix ratio is fixed, set time vs cure time, pot life, and how putty differs from tube and syringe epoxy., Glue→ Which glue takes the most heat?Heat-resistant glue by its data sheet: each product’s service temperature, from 120°F epoxies to 550°F J-B Weld and 1000°F ExtremeHeat, and what the figures mean., Glue→ Is there a food-safe glue?Food-safe glue: what “indirect food contact” and 21 CFR 175.105 actually mean, which wood glues claim it, and which makers say their glue isn’t food safe., Glue→ How long does super glue take to dry?How long super glue takes to dry, by brand: set in seconds, handle in seconds (Titebond) or minutes (Loctite), full cure in 8 to 24 hours, from Gorilla, Loctite, Titebond, Krazy Glue and J-B Weld., Glue→ How long does Gorilla Glue take to dry?Gorilla Glue dry time for each Gorilla product: clamp or set time, full cure, and the temperatures Gorilla gives, from Original Gorilla Glue to epoxy, wood glue and sealants., Glue→ How long does E6000 take to dry?How long E6000 takes to dry: tacky in about 2 minutes, full cure in 24 to 72 hours, and the different times for E6000 Plus, Premium, Fabri-Fuse, Spray and QuickHold., Glue→ How long does J-B Weld take to cure?J-B Weld cure time for each product: Original sets in 4 to 6 hours and cures in 15 to 24; KwikWeld sets in 6 minutes. Putty, syringe and super glue times too., Glue→ How long does Liquid Nails take to dry?Liquid Nails dry time for each product: open time from 10 to 30 minutes, a 24 hour minimum cure, maximum strength within 7 days (brand FAQ), and the cold-weather limits per tube., Glue→ What super glue won’t stick toWhat super glue won’t stick to, brand by brand: Gorilla, Loctite, Krazy Glue, Titebond and J-B Weld, the one Loctite kit that bonds polypropylene, and where the makers disagree., Glue→ What hot glue won’t stick toWhat hot glue won’t stick to, per glue stick maker: Gorilla’s polyethylene and polypropylene warning, oily rubber, and the silicone pads Surebonder sells for cooled glue to peel off., Glue→ What wood glue won’t stick toWhat wood glue won’t stick to, from Titebond and Gorilla: painted and stained wood, oily woods such as teak, Titebond’s metal corrosion warning, and the tape trick that keeps glue off wood you’ll stain., Glue→ What epoxy resin won’t stick toThe surfaces ArtResin says its resin won’t adhere to, what TotalBoat, WEST SYSTEM, Gorilla and J-B Weld say about plastics, and how they use plastic, silicone and tape to keep resin off., Glue→ What concrete won’t stick toWhat concrete makers say about forms and molds: Quikrete’s form-release step, Smooth-On’s concrete release, and the bonding agents new concrete needs on old., Glue→ Mold releaseMold release agents by mold and casting material: Smooth-On’s releases and sealers, TotalBoat’s advice for epoxy castings, and when a silicone mold needs none., Glue→ Parchment paper for craftsParchment and wax paper as a release surface for crafts: what ArtResin, Sculpey, Plaid and Reynolds say, oven limits, and why Sculpey warns about leaching., Glue→ Caulk vs silicone: which one?Latex caulk, 100% silicone, hybrids and polyurethane side by side: paint, water, movement, and the names that mislead., Caulk→ How long does caulk take to dry?How long caulk and silicone take: the three stages, each product's own water, paint and cure times, and what slows them down., Caulk→ What sealant for gutters?Sealant for gutters: the products made for gutter seams and end caps, how soon each takes rain, the joint limits, and how makers seal a lap joint., Caulk→ What caulk for brick and stucco?Caulk for brick, mortar and stucco cracks: the masonry sealants that name them, the widest joint each takes, and the silicones that rule masonry out., Caulk→ Which caulk can you paint?Paintable caulk: each product’s own paint time, why paint won’t stick to 100% silicone, and what “paintable silicone” really is., Caulk→ Can you caulk over old caulk?Can you caulk over old caulk or silicone? What DAP, GE, Red Devil, Sashco and others say, why silicone won’t hold new caulk, and how to get it out., Caulk→ Caulk or grout?Caulk vs grout in tile work: where tile makers say each one goes, the sealants they sell for corners and tubs, and what goes in first., Caulk→ How big a gap can caulk fill?How wide a gap caulk can fill: each product’s own joint limit, from 1/4 inch to 2 inches, and what makers say to use when a gap is bigger., Caulk→ What size backer rod do I need?Backer rod size: each maker’s rule for how much wider than the joint the rod should be, a joint-to-rod table, how deep it goes, and closed vs open cell., Caulk→ Paint for plasticPainting plastic: the primers and spray paints whose makers name plastic, what each says about polyethylene and polypropylene, prep, coats and cure., Paint→ Paint for bare metalPainting bare steel and iron: which metal primer each maker names for clean, lightly rusted or heavily rusted metal, prep, recoat windows and safety lines., Paint→ Paint for galvanized metalPainting galvanized metal: why makers say alkyd and oil paint peel off zinc, the primers that name galvanized, the paints that rule it out, and new vs weathered prep., Paint→ Paint for aluminumPainting aluminum: self-etching primers, aluminum primers and bonding primers whose makers name aluminum, prep, dry times, and the metal primer that rules it out., Paint→ Paint for stainless steelPainting stainless steel: the few primers whose makers name stainless, what each says about where and how long, and why we'd test a patch first., Paint→ Paint for glassPainting glass: frosted, mirror and stained-glass sprays, FolkArt's bake-cured glass paint, the primers and paints that name glass, and Sherwin-Williams' shatter caution., Paint→ Paint for rubberPainting rubber: no paint maker we read lists rubber as a surface, one rules it out, and rubber coatings like Plasti Dip are their own system. What each maker says., Paint→ Paint for 3D printsPainting 3D prints: Smooth-On XTC-3D is the one maker we read that names PLA, ABS and PETG. The spray paint makers we read don't, so plastic primers are a test-first job., Paint→ Paint for vinyl sidingPainting vinyl siding: why paint makers say no darker than the original color, their vinyl-safe palettes, when primer is needed, and what siding warranties say., Paint→ Paint for tilePainting tile: where Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams and Rust-Oleum say not to, tub and tile coatings, bonding primers, sanding, and how long before water., Paint→ Paint for laminate and IKEA furniturePainting laminate and melamine furniture: the bonding primers and paints whose makers name laminate, what each says about sanding, and how long until full adhesion., Paint→ Paint for cabinetsPainting kitchen and bathroom cabinets: what Rust-Oleum, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams and Zinsser say for wood, laminate and glossy doors, and each system’s cure time., Paint→ Paint for pressure-treated woodPainting or staining pressure-treated wood: how long each maker says to wait, from 6 months to none for kiln-dried lumber, the water splash test, and which primers name it., Paint→ Paint over stain and varnishPainting over stained or varnished wood: the primers that name it, sanding and deglossing, and what Varathane and Minwax say about staining over an existing finish., Paint→ Paint over wallpaperCan you paint over wallpaper? Benjamin Moore says no, Sherwin-Williams says yes and no on two FAQs, and Zinsser makes primers for paper that can’t come off., Paint→ Paint for concrete and brickPainting concrete and brick: how long each maker says new concrete must cure, the plastic-sheet moisture test, removing efflorescence, and floor and waterproofer limits., Paint→ Heavy-duty mounting tapeHeavy-duty double-sided mounting tape compared: the surfaces each maker names and rules out, temperatures, how to apply it, and each maker’s own stated limit., Hanging→ Tape for wet surfacesTapes whose makers say they stick to wet surfaces or work underwater, from Gorilla, Flex Tape and T-Rex, with each maker’s own limits, and the hanging tapes that need a dry surface., Hanging→ Outdoor double-sided tapeDouble-sided tapes their makers rate for outdoor use, with the surfaces and temperatures each one lists, and the indoor-only tapes to skip outside., Hanging→ Hang things on brick without drillingHow to hang things on brick without drilling: brick clips and how to size them, the tapes whose makers name brick, why Command says no, and when to drill., Hanging→ Hang things on concrete without drillingHow to hang things on a concrete wall without drilling: what Command, T-Rex, Scotch and Loctite say about painted and bare concrete, and when to drill., Hanging→ Hang things on tile without drillingHow to hang things on tile without drilling: Command Bath hooks and caddies, tapes whose makers name tile, keeping off grout lines, and how long to wait., Hanging→ Do magnets stick to stainless steel?Whether a magnet holds on stainless depends on the grade: SSINA says ferritic grades such as 430 are magnetic and austenitic grades such as 304 are not when annealed, and Whirlpool says a coated finish can matter too., Hanging→ What do magnets stick to?What do magnets stick to? Iron, steel, nickel and cobalt. K&J Magnetics says aluminum and copper won’t hold a magnet; Goudsmit adds brass, gold and silver. Stainless steel depends on the grade., Hanging→ Does Velcro stick to felt, carpet or fabric?Does Velcro stick to felt, carpet, fleece or fabric? VELCRO Brand’s FAQ says its hooks are made to grab and can catch a blanket or hair, and it names which of its sew-on and sticky-back products go on fabric., Hanging→ What does self-adhesive Velcro stick to?What self-adhesive Velcro sticks to, product by product: VELCRO Brand Sticky Back is for smooth indoor surfaces, and it names Extreme Outdoor, Rough Surface Strips and Extreme Lock for brick and concrete., Hanging→ What surfaces do suction cups stick to?Will a suction cup stick? Adams says smooth, non-porous surfaces like metal or glass; OXO says its StrongHold Suction Soap Dish isn’t for textured or porous surfaces, and Adams’s tips for making a cup hold., Hanging→ Command strip weight limitsHow much weight do Command strips hold? Each Command hook, strip and caddy’s weight capacity as 3M’s Weight Limits guide prints it, from 1/2 pound to 8 pounds, and what 3M says about adding extra strips., Hanging→ Do Command strips work on textured walls?Do Command strips stick to textured walls? 3M says heavily textured surfaces aren’t recommended, because the adhesive may not make full contact. What it says, and the products whose makers name rough surfaces., Hanging→ Can you use Command strips on wallpaper?Can you put Command strips on wallpaper? 3M says its products aren’t recommended for wallpaper, and its instruction sheets say not to hang on it. Several Gorilla, Scotch, Loctite and VELCRO Brand tapes and putties rule it out too., Hanging→ Command strips on painted wallsCommand hooks and picture strips work on painted walls once the paint has cured at least 7 days. How 3M says to apply and remove them so they don’t pull paint, and what other mounting tapes say about paint., Hanging→ Do Command strips work on brick?Command strips on a brick wall: 3M says its products aren’t recommended for brick, and its outdoor hook sheet calls brick too rough. Brick clips, and the tapes whose makers list brick, instead., Hanging→ Peel-and-stick wallpaper on textured wallsPeel-and-stick wallpaper on textured walls: York says its paper won’t adhere and Brewster says NuWallpaper may not, Tempaper says nothing more than an orange peel texture, and how Tempaper says to test a sample., Tile→ Peel-and-stick wallpaper in a bathroomWill peel-and-stick wallpaper work in a bathroom? Tempaper says yes with steam and indirect moisture; Brewster says fix damp first; Smart Tiles and Art3d rule out the shower, and Quadrostyle rules out shower floors., Tile→ Peel-and-stick wallpaper on cabinets and furniturePeel-and-stick wallpaper on cabinets and furniture: the pieces Tempaper and Brewster name, Con-Tact’s steps for sealing porous wood, and what no maker names, such as a fridge., Tile→ Will peel-and-stick damage paint?Will peel-and-stick wallpaper or tile damage paint? The paint finishes Tempaper warns about, each maker’s wait after fresh paint, and how each says to take it down., Tile→ Peel-and-stick tile over existing tilePeel-and-stick tile on top of old tile: Smart Tiles over a smooth backsplash, Quadrostyle’s grout limit, and the leveling Style Selections asks for before its floor tile goes over tile., Tile→ Peel-and-stick tile on concretePeel-and-stick tile on concrete: the slab age, dryness and primer Style Selections asks for, Quadrostyle’s panels for sealed concrete, and why makers rule out brick and block walls., Tile→ Peel-and-stick backsplash tilePeel-and-stick backsplash tile near a stove: each maker’s own clearance (Smart Tiles 8 inches, Art3d 16 for a gas stove, two Brewster tiles 15), the makers that give none, fireplaces, and caulking the counter edge., Tile→ Contact paperContact paper, from Con-Tact Brand’s own answers: the surfaces it won’t stick to, sealing porous wood, the 55°F floor, food and heat, and what Brewster names for its adhesive film., Tile→ Thinset on plywoodThinset on plywood: which Custom Building Products and LATICRETE mortars list exterior glue plywood, the two-layer floor LATICRETE spells out, and the woods the sheets rule out., Tile→ Thinset on drywall and painted drywallThinset on drywall and painted drywall: the Custom Building Products and LATICRETE sheets that list gypsum wallboard, SimpleSet’s two lines, and what LATICRETE says about tile over paint., Tile→ Tile over tileTile over tile with thinset: which Custom Building Products and LATICRETE mortars list existing ceramic tile, how each maker preps it, and what Custom says about mastic over old tile., Tile→ Does grout stick to it?Does grout stick to old grout, silicone, wood or metal? What Custom Building Products, LATICRETE and Schluter say, and where the grout makers we read are silent., Tile→ Tile mastic vs thinsetTile mastic vs thinset: what Custom Building Products says the difference is, and where AcrylPro, OmniGrip, LATICRETE’s 15 Premium Mastic, DAP’s Weldwood, SimpleSet, VersaBond and 253 Gold each go., Tile→ Does mortar stick to it?Does mortar stick to wood, concrete, metal or old mortar? What Quikrete says about masonry mortar, and what Custom Building Products and LATICRETE say about tile thinset., Tile→