If your looking to buy glue you have probably found that there are countless different brands and types out there, well we here at Bumblebee Craft have made this quick guide so you will know everything you need to about which glue is best for which project, and of course whats the best glue that will do for almost everything.
The best glue for all-round crafting is polyurethane it has multiple uses in craft and can bond light wood, card, paper, plastics and much more. But when it comes to adhesives there is no one size fits all glue. Our favourite brand of Polyurethane glue is UHU multipurpose.
Read this article to find out all you need to know about the different types of glues and adhesives so you can make a more informed decision on your next crafting project.
First let’s take a look at the different types of glue
White craft glue / PVA
White craft glue is one of the most commonly used glues in the craft world. It’s a clear drying glue normally used to bond paper and card it’s the best for kids craft as it is water based and easy to clean it will wash off hands and clothes with relative ease.
The down sides to pva are its set time (1 hour to set 24 hours to cure) and that it is quite a lightweight glue meaning its not the strongest hold.
Hot glue / glue gun
A glue gun is an essential tool we think every crafter should own, If your looking to buy a glue gun you should make sure it fits comfortably in your hand and the trigger is easy to pull. Cordless guns are best, no wires to get in the way! Hot glue will work for most craft projects but wont hold in high temperatures, it’s brilliant for filling in cracks and bonding heavier card. It’s not very good to use with kids, leaves strings of hot glue and you could burn yourself.
Hot glue also tends to weaken over time meaning for anything that’s going to be used hot glue is not ideal, but it’s perfect for cards and display pieces one of the main pluses is that it sets solid in minutes.
Spray adhesive
Spray adhesive can be used to bind many materials including card, paper, films and velum and some fabrics. It is a very useful glue to have in your tool kit but its not the easiest to be accurate with so for intricate detailed projects this glue isn’t the right one. Also remember it is a spray so if using in a confined space you should wear a mask and there will be a smell. In my personal opinion I don’t like spray glue it’s messy and hard to clean but it does have its uses in the craft world.
Fabric adhesive
There are many different types of fabric glues including polyvinyl actane (PVA), spray adhesives and polyurethane. The glue you need for fabric entirely depends on your project, if your making clothes you can get glues that won’t come off in the wash. If your making headbands or just mending hems you may be okay with a PVA or polyurethane glue.
Super glue
Super glues have an almost instant contact bond that is super strong! Most of us have used super glue to fix something around the house, it’s really good for use in light wood and leather crafts as well as DIY repairs. Super glue is definitely overkill for using on card making or paper crafts. But it does have its uses in a crafters tool box and can bond anything from heavy card to metal. Super glue won’t work very well on fabric as it sets rock solid.
Pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA)
Pressure sensitive adhesives for example glue dots and glue tape have been used in craft for a long time and are one of the best options for paper and card crafts. Glue dots are good because they eliminate mess and you don’t have to wait for glue to dry. Glue tape is amazing when you need a straight line of glue for precise and intricate crafts. I would definitely recommend PSA to anybody who makes cards, you will be surprised how much easier than PVA they can be.
Glue stick
Glue sticks can only really be used for paper crafts and light card work. They are best for kids as there is very little mess and most are non toxic. they also do have there uses in a crafters tool kit but dont be using a glue stick for anything heavy as it isn’t very strong. Its positives are that its water based and dries clear so any mistakes will be unnoticeable.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane is a real multi use glue and is what we would call an essential crafting tool. It can bond most materials including light wood, card, paper, plastics and even ceramic. You can get polyurethane in one and two part options, meaning you can mix it up yourself or buy it already mixed. It dose take a while to cure (about 24 hours) but once it does its very strong.
It can be toxic so we wouldn’t advice using this glue when crafting with the kids, also it probably won’t wash out but can be removed with solvents before its fully cured.
Epoxy
Epoxies are usually two parts and can be used for bonding in lots of harder heavier projects. There are absolutely loads of crafts you can do with epoxy but do be careful it is toxic, you should use a mask and only use it outdoors or in a well ventilated area. Epoxy can be used to bind wood, metal and plastics and it sets rock solid. If you think epoxy is the adhesive for you we advice you do some more research. There is too much to say about this one here.
Glue pen
Glue pens are normally used in card making and paper crafts, they aren’t very strong bond but they will hold paper to card and are brilliant for use in intricate work. You can also use it to draw lines then add glitter to make really pretty words or patterns. They are also not bad for kids to use relatively easy and mess free and can be lots of fun!
Now we know the different types of glue, we can make a more informed decision on our next project.
The table below compares the most common types of glue and crafting projects and we scored them out of 10.
| Glue types / projects | Card making | Fabric crafts | Paper crafts | Light wood and leather crafts |
| White glue / PVA | 9/10 | 7/10 | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Glue stick | 8/10 | 1/10 | 8/10 | 1/10 |
| Polyurethane | 9/10 | 6/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Spray adhesive | 6/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 |
| Hot glue | 8/10 | 4/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 |
The best brands for all your craft glue needs
- UHU multi purpose adhesive is our all time favourite polyurethane adhesive.
- Tacky glue adhesive has been a favorite of ours and lots of other crafters around the world for years
- Bostik white glue is a brilliant craft glue for making cards and paper crafts
- Modge podge is a well known craft adhesive and we think it does live up to the hype
- E6000 craft adhesive plus is our top pick for tough jobs
Take a look at any of the adhesives listed above by clicking the name or click here to shop glue on amazon.
Glue brands to avoid
Here’s our list of glue brands we have used in the past that just don’t live up to our expectations of them.
- Ghost bond supreme we have used this fabric glue a number of times and it’s hit or miss whether it arrives as a liquid or one solid lump.
- The ad tech glue gun is also one to avoid. It’s not glue but it did fall apart in about ten minutes.
- Gloy glue sticks are also useless not even sticky and dries out after one to two uses
I hope the list above helps you to not make the same mistakes we did with these products.
Thank you for reading our article all about craft glue, we hope you found it helpful and if you have any questions or comments please let us know below. We love hearing from you.
