What is the Best Plastic Glue? | The Ultimate Guide

Hello people, after a lot of research ad brainstorming, I have put together a fantastic guide on the best plastic glue options. So without further ado, let’s cut to the chase.

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The Best Glue for Plastic Parts

Plastic is extensively used everywhere around us, and it is suited extremely well for almost all kinds of projects. However, finding suitable glue for plastic parts can be a daunting task as plastic doesn’t really stick to adhesives that easily. Plastic’s smooth surfaces, lack of roughness, and porosity make it difficult for traditional adhesives to bond with it. Luckily, there’s no need to worry as there are a few types of glue out there especially engineered to stick with plastics that can make your life easy.

Here is the list of three of the strongest plastic glue:

JB Weld PlasticWeld
Amazing GOOP
Loctite

JB Weld PlasticWeld

Image Credit - Amazon.com

This product is engineered to form an extraordinary bond with plastic; In fact, it does it so quickly that you have to be absolutely sure about the location before applying the glue; The adhesion with this glue is so strong that undoing will not only become extremely hard but also leave damage to the plastic. It’s important to remember that Plasticweld is a two-part epoxy that must be blended to form the adhesive.

Naturally, the mixing of epoxies is tricky – to get adequate results, one must mix the resin and catalyst equally. JB weld cuts on that inconvenience by providing a double plunger mechanism to release both products simultaneously. You can also order Plasticweld in a simple tube whose dispersion allows for hand mixing. Although this is one of the strongest glue for plastic parts and works very well with them, certain plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene don’t stick to it.

Amazing GOOP

Image Credit - Amazon.com

The superglue can be best interpreted as the bit weaker version of our previous candidate PlasticWeld. The specialty of this glue is that it is available in various formulas, which can be utilized depending on the need or environment. Discussing all varieties wouldn’t be possible, but I can tell you that Amazing GOOP is good quality all-purpose plastic adhesive.

It takes a bit longer to bond than PlasticWeld and is comparatively weaker at bonding two plastic parts together. In addition, its name says it is messy and goopy, which might not make it the best choice for exquisite applications. However, overall it’s a good choice for most situations, especially when you consider that you keep a tube of the products for any of the gluing needs you might have. According to my knowledge, the Trim Repair and automotive varieties work beautifully with plastics, which can be your best bet. The only case where you shouldn’t go with Amazing GOOP is when you are specifically working with PVC piping; in that case, you should always choose the plumbing formula.

Interesting Read – Which is the Best ABS Glue? | The Definitive Guide on Bonding ABS Properly

Loctite

Loctite’s got a series of well-reputed adhesives which work especially well with plastics. Its plastic bonding systems provide epoxy resin and activator in small, separate tubes with specific applications, making it a fantastic choice for applications where intricacy or grace is a top requirement. Talking about the Epoxy Plastic Bonder, one of Loctite’s most popular adhesive products, is similar to PlasticWeld because it contains epoxy contents in one tube with a double plunger for easy, mess-free mixing. This adhesive offers outstanding bonding and speed, but it should still be considered for objects with prolonged moisture exposure.

On the other hand, Loctite’s Vinyl, Fabric & Plastic Flexible Adhesive is designed to flourish in these conditions. It goes very well with the flexible plastic but doesn’t offer quite the strength of Epoxy Plastic Bonder. Which adhesive you should choose completely depends on the application. Going for any specialized glue for plastic is a smart choice if you need adhesive for a single project.

Salient Tips for Gluing Plastics

Gluing plastics is not rocket science. Best plastic glue is only half battle own rest depends on how effective you are in joining plastics. Although very simple, it might lead to making some tiny mistakes compromising the bond. So here are a few tips to make joining plastics more efficient.

1. Clean your Plastic Surface – Before gluing, always wash plastic with soap. Using a specific cleaner can make it easier. Soaking the plastic in isopropyl alcohol is another excellent option. Dry properly. Don’t touch the plastic with bare hands to minimize excess oil.

2. Roughening the Surface – Sanding the plastic surface is extremely important for the glue to bond; sand the plastic with 120 to 200 grit sandpaper. Steel wool or emery cloth also does the job. Whatever you do, remember the surface only needs to rub briefly. As I mentioned earlier, the Loctite two-part bonding systems come with an activator that helps roughen the surface to make the process easier.

3. Pinpoint – For pinpointing the glue application, use a tip of a needle or a small paintbrush.

4. Mix Components If required – Two-part epoxies or adhesives are tough, but better to make some preparation. First, read the product’s user manual to know the blend ratios. Then, mix as directed to activate the adhesives.

5. Clamp for a hardened seal – Sealing pieces firmly is essential. Use a clamp or tape to hold parts strongly together while the glue solidifies. Curing times can be anything from a few minutes to up to 24 hours. So check your product instructions.

6. Cleanup and Storing – Remove any additional uncured glue or spillage straight away using isopropyl alcohol or denatured alcohol. Mineral spirits are also a good option. Finally, close and seal the bottle properly and store it at a temperature below 75°F (24°C).

What to Avoid?

Acrylic is the plastic material commonly found in home craft projects; it also reacts very abysmally to super glue. The glue can cause a chemical burn to the acrylic sheet coming into contact with one another. That kind of reaction can cause extreme white clouding within the plastic.

Although superglue is easily removable using acetone, it also creates a reaction in acrylic in the form of substantial scratching.

Engaging Read – 6 Best Plastic Molding Techniques | A Complete Analysis

FAQs

Below are the frequently asked questions for the best glue for plastic parts. Let’s dive a bit deeper to understand the topic.

1. Is gorilla glue suitable for plastic?

Ans. Gorilla glue works very well with many types of plastics. However, as far as my experience goes, it shouldn’t be used n polypropylene and polyethylene or any rubber with high plasticizer content.

2. How to join two pieces of plastics without using any glue?

Ans. If you have separate pieces of plastics that you need to join, you have to do some welding. The basic idea of welding is to heat the edges being joined to melt the plastic until it is liquid enough to blend the edges.

3. Is hot glue good for plastic?

Ans. Hot and melted glue works well with several types of plastics, giving them a durable bond. It is also used to fasten plastic with several other objects, such as plastic, tiles, and wood. As you’re avoiding any drilling or nailing, you’re also avoiding damaging surfaces. Hot melt glue is also extensively used in preparing various plastic objects.

4. Which is the strongest glue in the market?

Ans. The world’s strongest adhesive is DELO MONOPOX VE403728. This is a modified variant of the high-temperature-resistant DELO MONOPOX HT2860. This epoxy resin creates a dense network during heat curing.

5. Which is the best glue for attaching plastic and wood?

Ans. The best glue for attaching plastic to wood is epoxy. Epoxy sticks very well with not just plastic but also wood. It creates a solid bond once it is solidified. It can be your best choice to stick plastic with wood if the type of plastic is unknown.

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Conclusion

That was all I had to say on the best plastic glue and salient tips to make a perfect bond. Always research and do the necessary preparations to get the best results. With proper planning and the right tools sticking plastic will become easier than sticking wood.

Kindly comment ou reviews, thoughts, and questions in the comment box.

Have a wonderful day.