All About Glue

Types of Adhesives

• Craft/ PVA (polyvinyl acetate) Glue: This includes regular white glue, such as regular Elmer’s glue, school glue and glue sticks. These are great for light-duty projects using porous materials like wood, paper, plastic and cloth.

Set & Drying Time — 1 hour (must be held in place for about 30 minutes)
Curing Time — 24 hours

• Wood Glue: There are many different kinds of wood glue, but the most common type is a yellow PVA glue, and it shares similar bonding and drying properties. The glue becomes rubbery as it sets and solid once completely dry. Wood glue is extremely durable once cured but takes a while to set up, so it’s a good idea to have clamps handy when using wood glue on mid-size or large projects.

Set & Drying Time — Wood glue should be secured/clamped for at least 20–30 minutes while it sets. It dries within an hour.
Curing Time — 24 hours

• Super Glue/Krazy Glue: These glues are also known as cyanoacrylates; they are similar to epoxy glues, but without the two separated parts. They provide strong, durable bonds and are great for metal, glass, ceramics, plastic and rubber.

Set & Drying Time — about 5–15 minutes to set, dry within an hour
Curing Time — 24 hours

• Silicone Adhesives: Silicone adhesives resemble rubber caulking and are often used  in plumbing projects or for glass repair. They are used to create flexible, waterproof bonds for metal, glass, rubber, wood and ceramics. The glue comes in several colors, including black, clear and white.

Set & Drying Time — sets in about 5 minutes and dries within an hour
Curing Time — 24 hours

• Epoxies: Epoxies consist of two substances — an adhesive resin and an activator/hardener — that must be mixed before application. Epoxies are extremely durable and waterproof and work best on rigid surfaces like metal, ceramics and plastics. J.B. Weld is a form of epoxy that works best with metal.

Set & Drying Time — Varies. You can buy some rapid-set epoxies that will set anywhere between 5  minutes and 2 hours. The glue will dry in about 12 hours.
Curing Time — 24–48 hours

• Hot Glue: Heated glue comes in stick form and must be used with glue guns, which come in both corded and cordless and high-temp and low-temp models. High-temp glue guns can heat glue up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and should be used with caution. Both high- and low-temp guns create moderately strong bonds, making them ideal for lightweight materials and temporary adhesion.

Set & Drying Time — One of the benefits of hot glue is that it sets quite quickly, about 15–30 seconds, and dries in about 5–10 minutes.
Curing Time — 24 hours

• Fabric Glue: There are many different kinds of fabric glue. Some fabric glues are similar to standard PVA/craft glues but provide flexibility and wash resistance. Fusible webbing is another form of fabric adhesive; it comes in strip form and melts under the heat of an iron to bond two fabric surfaces together.

Set & Drying Time — Bottled fabric glue sets in about and hour and dries in about 12 hours.
Curing Time — 24 hours

• Spray Adhesive: Spray adhesives disperse in fine droplets to provide a thin, uniform bonding surface. Spray adhesives work best on lightweight materials, such as paper, fabric and small or thin pieces of plastic, wood, and metal. They come in both high-tack and low-tack varieties; low tack allows you to lift and reposition the materials, while high tack will instantly create a permanent bond upon contact.

Set & Drying Time — Low tack will give you a few minutes before it sets; high tack will set instantly. Dries within 30 minutes.
Curing Time — 24 hours

• Rubber Cement: Rubber cement is made from a mixture of elastic polymers and a solvent that keeps them fluid. The rubbery texture allows you to remove to the material without much damage, which makes it great for mounting posters or artwork or in collage work. It is a fairly toxic substance and should be used in a well-ventilated area.

Set & Drying Time — Glue sets in about 15 minutes and dries within 6 hours.
Curing Time — 24 hours

• Expandable Glues: Gorilla Glue and Zap-A-Gap are popular brands of expanding adhesives. The glues are polyurethane based and extremely durable once cured, making them great for industrial-strength projects and heavy-duty materials including wood, metal, ceramics, glass, plastic and stone. The glue has foaming properties that cause it to expand and fill in cracks within a material. The glue hardens once it dries, allowing you to scrape off any excess with a paint scraper or chisel.

Set & Drying Time — Varies, depending on which type you buy. The standard drying time is about 1–2 hours and about 30 minutes for a fast-dry version.
Curing Time — 24 hours

There you go.....Maybe more than you wanted to learn!  My own toolbox includes:

*The Ultimate by Beacon....It is good for almost everything, and it (eventually) dries clear and hard.
*Quick Grip by Beacon....Similar to E5000, it is less toxic, I believe.  It is quick drying and remains  flexible.
*Zip-Dry by Beacon.....Absolutely the BEST paper glue ever! Paper dries wrinkle free
*Poly Bonder by Lisa Pavelka....Great for anything tiny like jewelry, small charms....Dries almost instantly.
*Fabri-Tac by Beacon...For all fabric! Nothing else comes close

And, no, I am not on Beacon's payroll.  They developed their glues for the airliner and shuttle industry, were discovered by crafters by accident, and pressed into putting their glues up in amounts which they could use.  They lag behind in marketing to them, however, so you may not know about them.  Both Michael's and Hobby Lobby carry them, but sometimes one has to search among the glues which are heavily advertised.

Spiritual Mailbox

Purpose of box: To assist in the spiritual practice of asking for what we want and/or expressing our gratitude for what we have.

The box is a receptacle for your written wishes and your written thank you notes. Although writing would be the easiest form for most people, expressions may also be symbolic, i.e.....a picture you drew or found, or a symbolic tiny object. I encourage that you use your box on a daily basis! You will receive clarity, and a new sense of gratitude.

Though any box would do, a box that you have made carries your own special “ju-ju”! I believe your communication with that which is greater than you, ought always to be on a personal level!:)

1. Choose your box....I am using a 6 ¾” diameter round paper mache box. I purchased at Hobby Lobby. (If you want your box to be round and cannot find the supplies, you may order a kit from me so long as my supply lasts. Just drop me a note)
   
2. Choose your paper...For the sample size, you will need two 12x12 medium weight scrapbook paper.
3. Paint all surfaces of the inside of the box as well as the lid. I used one coat of gesso. After it’s dry, I followed with one coat of Golden Acrylic, and because I like a layered look, I followed with a coat of Lumiere’ in close to the same color. Allow to dry!
4. Draw the outline of the upper and lower round with a pencil on one sheet of your paper and then cut it out...I find that large scissors work better than small ones.
5. Glue the cut out round to the top lid and the bottom of the box. Crafter’s Pick The Ultimate works well. Spread glue thinly and evenly! Smooth paper with the palm of your hand so no bubbles form.
6. Measure outside height of box and also the lid and mark your second sheet of paper accordingly. Cut out.
7. Glue the strips...there will be 2 for the box, and 2 for the lid which you will allow to overlap. Use the same careful approach as for the rounds.

Congratulations! You are done with the hard part!

8. Choose a round design....Handle by the edges only...and cut it out carefully
9. Paint the edges by drawing a catseye stamp along just the edges. Allow to dry 5 minutes or so before gluing to the top of your lid
10. Choose ribbon and using Fabri-tac, glue on outside edge of lid
11. Decorate the rest of the box! Don’t forget the inside of the box, as well as the inside of the lid. PLAY! Have fun!
12. Don’t forget to USE your box! By the way, they would make great gifts.:)