The DIY Guide to Maximising Efficiency with Adhesive Tubes
Adhesive is one of the key components for anyone doing work in or around their home. That’s why we thought it would be helpful to share with you the DIY guide to maximising efficiency with adhesive tubes.
When it comes to applying adhesive, you don’t exactly have to have a professional tradesman there to do it for you (unless you suffer from physical ailments or are otherwise unable to).
Many budding DIY handymen and women, usually begin by glueing things together, it's probably the most accessible and easiest method of gaining confidence doing DIY, simple or otherwise. It can be done by anyone.
Even with no experience, the advent of the internet, and online guides makes almost any DIY process, simple and easy.
Whether you are an established tradesman, or a homeowner attempting some simple DIY, Sealants and Tools Direct are here to provide you with the quality products you require, at the best prices.
Our range is extensive, we aim to provide you with almost anything you need to make your house, or someone else’s, the best possible home. Our range of products include, but are not limited to, Abrasives & Glass Paper, building products, carpet, and surface protection, plumbing, roofing & guttering products, tools, and equipment, and so much more.
Click here to access our full range of products, and see how we can help you today!
What is an adhesive?
Adhesive is a form of paste, or liquid, (and more) that can bond surfaces together that otherwise wouldn’t be able to. This bond can be difficult to remove, depending on the level of strength of the adhesive.
This is a relatively simple explanation of adhesives. However, there are many forms of adhesives, each serving various purposes.
Adhesives, depending on their strength, have the capability to be used to serve multiple functions such as…
- DIY repair of objects
- Crafting
- Decoration
- Assembly
Is adhesive better than a glue gun?
A glue gun is a handy tool for arts projects and some repairing/DIY situations. However, the level of strength in regard to the sticking element may not be as strong as some adhesives.
Additionally, some glue applied with a glue gun can be reversed if the same or more heat is once again applied to the glue.
Is adhesive the same as glue?
In function, yes. However, before adhesives were commonplace, there was a difference between the two.
The word adhesive itself means “a substance used for sticking objects or materials together”. “Glue”, used to refer to an adhesive that was made from natural elements, whereas “adhesive” was made synthetically. Now, both terms are used interchangeably.
Why is adhesive/glue important?
Adhesive/glue saves time, and can save your items, that’s what makes it significant. Think about it like this, if there was no glue or adhesive available anywhere, people would have to likely opt for using nails of varying sizes instead. This can add extra time to crafting etc, which can easily be avoided.
Furthermore, adhesives can help to repair objects discreetly, this saves you having to lose precious ornaments, objects, or even footwear that can easily be recovered and repaired by some simple application of adhesive.
The DIY guide to maximising efficiency with adhesive tubes
Understandably, you want to get the most out of your adhesive, you don’t want to waste any, but you also want to make sure you use the right amount for the right situation. So what can you do to maximise efficiency?
Below are a few simple pointers to help you…
Test it
If it’s your first time buying a particular adhesive, it is a good idea to test its power before glueing anything else. So how do you test it? Ideally, getting some smaller pieces of what you eventually intend to glue together is a good way to begin.
Use the adhesive on these smaller pieces to gauge whether it has the right strength, or flexibility you are after.
Don’t overuse it
As much as our inner child may tempt us to use as much glue as possible, it could actually be detrimental. Using too much adhesive could make the adhesive spread to areas where it isn’t required, resulting in a sediment of adhesive forming that can impact the effectiveness of what you set out to achieve.
Be safe
Being safe when using adhesive means wearing the correct safety equipment, as exposure to skin or other areas could leave permanent damage. Keeping it away from the hands of children or other vulnerable people are also essential, as some glues can have psychoactive effects, as well as be harmful if swallowed.
Follow the guide
Most, if not all adhesives you purchase, will contain a list of appropriate things it can be used on. It is best not to try it on anything beyond those things, but if you have to, we again suggest you test it on a smaller piece before trying it out on what you intended to stick.
Where to buy the best DIY adhesives?
Sealant and Tools Direct provide a whole selection of adhesives. Here are four of our adhesives we sell that cover a range of uses.
- 151 Clear Glue Multi Purpose Extra Strong Adhesive £1.43 (not including VAT)
This clear adhesive is most appropriate for small household repairs, or instances of DIY crafting. Because the glue is clear, it provides a discreet way to make everyday repairs. Whether it is household repairs, model-making textiles and handcraft. 151 has you covered.
Suitable for :
- Paper
- Card
- Wood
- Metal
- Plastic
- Ceramics
- Fine China
- Leather
- Some Rubbers
- Vinyl
- Glass
- Cork
and much more.
Click here to view the full specifications, which includes bonding time and application methods.
- SOUDAL Ultra Repair Adhesive – £2.54 (not including VAT)
SOUDAL Ultra Repair Adhesive is a product that should be a standard in every home, whether you are in the trade or not. This incredible glue allows you to extend the lifespan of things such as your favourite shoes, trainers or work boots, in turn helping you to reduce waste.
SOUDAL Ultra Repair contains a high-tech hybrid polymer bonding adhesive, which basically means it isn’t like your bog-standard glue. It does not set fast, rather, it sets strong yet maintains a level of flexibility, ideal for objects that need a level of freedom of movement, but works just as well on objects that don’t.
This adhesive can be used for
- Shoe and trainer repair
- Leather materials
- Rubber
- Vinyl
- Porcelain
- Ceramics
- Wood
- Metal
- Plastic
Click here to purchase this adhesive or to view the full list of specifications.
- Everbuild 2 Stick Rapid Epoxy Tube Adhesive S2RAPEXTUBE – £2.80 (not including VAT)
This two-part clear adhesive system allows for an industrial strength adhesive that can set in just 4 minutes. Once fully set, the exceptional strength of the epoxy allows you to be able to drill, sand, machine, or paint once fully cured.
Suitable for:
- Bonding craft projects
- Metals
- Crockery
- Glass
- Wood
- Fine China
- Dry concrete
- Rubber
- Fabrics
- Crystal
- Jewellery (including precious stones)
- Various hard plastics
To view additional information, or to make a purchase of this product, click here.
- 151 Fantastic Elastic Flexible Glue MS Adhesive – £1.22 (Not including VAT)
151 Fantastic Flexible Glue provides a bonding adhesive specifically for projects in which stretch and movement are expected within or around the area being glued.
Using MS Polymer technology, the glue allows for bonding of two surfaces that are dissimilar, once dried it is transparent and odourless, making it ideal for discrete DIY projects and some repairs.
Additionally, upon drying it also offers a level of shock resistance as well some resistance to wet environments, in addition to environments with fluctuating temperatures. Bonding takes place within 5 minutes, and complete setting takes an hour to achieve.
All you need to do is:
- Prepare the surfaces and ensure they are clean and dry
- Apply a thin layer of adhesive to both surfaces
- Press both surfaces together and hold or clamp until the glue bonds
To find out more, or to make a purchase, simply click here.
Are there any alternatives to adhesives?
Yes, however, you could be hard-pressed to find any alternatives that match the effectiveness of an adhesive. Furthermore, the specific project you are working on will also affect what kind of alternatives you can use.
Here are some general alternatives to adhesives…
- Double-sided tape
- String/Rope or another similar material
- Pine Resin
- Sellotape
As mentioned, the effectiveness of these options compared to adhesives will be limited, and will vary depending on the project at hand.
Contact us today
Sealants and Tools Direct is the one-stop shop for anyone within the trade, or for those looking to conduct their own DIY. We encourage anyone with any questions about products they are interested in, or already purchased from us, to get in contact if you have any questions.
We endeavour to not only provide the right products for you, but also provide the best guidance possible. Within this blog, we hope to have given you the best possible DIY guide to maximising efficiency with adhesive tubes.
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