Glue - the magic trio

All you ever wanted to know about glue but were afraid to ask.

Well, more like the little I know about glue in hopes it helps.

Pepper asked me a couple of post ago if Fray Stop works.  Me, being me, set off thinking about all the various glues I have used over the years.... and there were many.  Now I use just three (if you don't count using up some leftovers of other things - hence the Fray Stop mention.

I will start with the ubiquitous PVA which pretty much does everything.

My first glue

The basic pot of PVA comes in all shapes and sizes so, clearly, if you are going to use it for just about everything buy a reasonable size pot...... not too big because over time it will begin to thicken.  That's not a tragedy as you can let it down with a little water but why make yourself work every time.

Poly Vinvyl Acetate (C4H602)n.

All the usual glues are PVA in various guises:

• wood glue
• white glue
• carpenters glue - yes even the yellow stuff
• school glue
• Elmers glue
• etc etc

The problem you will have is trying to decide if any of these have been tweaked in any way that may or may not help your project - have they been made waterproof? do they have added gloss? how thick or thin are they? do they have some sort of rapid bond added?  To be honest after years of buying a specific glue for every specific job I have come to the conclusion it really doesn't matter and an all purpose straight forward PVA works just fine.  I do tend to buy white wood glue as that is probably PVA at its thickest - after that I can let it down with water depending on its use,

So I use it for 

• gluing wood as it is
• let it down a little bit for paper jobs
• mix it 50:50 with water if I want to prime a surface before painting
• watered down for decoupage finishing like you would use mod podge
• bit thicker for sealing floors and tiles (adding gloss if needed)
• you can make your own Mod Podge with 1 cup PVA and 1/3rd cup water.  Add water based gloss varnish if you want a shiny finish.
• the Mod Podge mix also works like Fray Stop and will glue fabric and stop frayed edges.  It won't be waterproof though and so will wash out if you wash the item.
• I have watered it down a little to use as wallpaper paste but here is my exception to my rule I do prefer border paste already made up for wallpapering it seems to go on easier.

My second glue

Being kind I will give manufacturers the benefit of the doubt and assume they tweak PVA in subtle ways to make a glue for a specific job but as the ones I have used aren't inclined to tell us anywhere what their glue is actually made of I have my doubts and think I am buying PVA with differing degress of water content.

I do use super-glue in any circumstances where PVA won't bond a particular material or where I need an instant and strong grip - like putting up ceiling lights.  It must be gel - the runny stuff is fatal in mini settings.  Any make will do.

My third glue

If you do have a peculiar job to do - like sticking leather to glass (why would you???) and wonder what glue you might need then I recommend Deluxe Materials.  They have a huge range and their site is full of useful information and any glue I have had from them has been excellent.