Glass is a beautiful material. It’s transparent or translucent, depending on how it’s made, and it can be shaped into many different forms and sizes. This makes the material perfect for dinnerware, ornaments, decorations, and the like. They also serve more functional needs such as materials for windows, panes, and more. Unfortunately, glass has one major flaw – it’s easy to break, and you need some of the best glass glue products to fix them.
There’s a good chance that you’ve accidentally dropped glassware at least once in your life. And even if you haven’t, you probably know how brittle the material actually is. Fortunately, there are products designed to help fix up the glass as if they were good as new. These best glass glue products are guaranteed to help keep all your glassware intact.
Need something tough, fast-acting, and easy to use? Rhino Glue Gel is a great place to start. The glue gel formula is commercial grade, meaning that it’s designed to be tough and resilient. The glue comes in a 40-gram bottle, and it’s clear, too, so it’ll be very, very difficult to spot with the naked eye when applied onto the glass. The bottle has a nice little lid that allows for repeated use of the product.
Interestingly, the glue gel isn’t just great for glass – it bonds to wood, metal, ceramic, rubber, and plastic, too. That covers most surfaces and objects out there, so you can use the glue on more than just glass whenever you feel the need to do so. Unfortunately, the glue isn’t exactly food-safe, so don’t use it on any glass dinnerware or china that you may plan on using in the future.
This glass glue product doesn’t come in a bottle – rather, it comes in more of a past-type container design, with a needle for more precise application of the adhesive. The adhesive can be opened again after use, and there isn’t an issue with gagging when used. It works on various materials, including wood, glass, and metal, among others. Possible applications for the adhesive are in the fields of electronics, toys, and more.
The adhesive isn’t just tough, either. It’s elastic, too. The material can stretch up to 900% of its original length and it won’t break. This makes it great for sealing up areas that see a lot of tension and action, which normally would break apart other adhesives over time. Like the other super glue, it isn’t ideal for dinnerware, but for other glass applications, you can bet on its effectiveness.
Gorilla Glue is another popular brand for glue products, and they’re more well-known for the more industrial-type adhesives. This glue formula is clear, making it ideal for sealing up and fixing glass items. Even when dried, you can barely notice it, which is great for the transparent nature of many glass items. The product is non-foaming as well, making the application of the product incredibly simple.
But that’s not all. The formula is water-resistant, too. You can use it to patch up objects that get immersed in water regularly, and not worry about the adhesive wearing off. Note that while the product is water-resistant, however, that it doesn’t necessarily become safe for dinnerware. Sure, it can handle getting washed and cleaned, but the glue isn’t exactly food-safe, so you probably don’t want to risk it.
Like the Elmer’s glue product we reviewed earlier, this glue product is made specifically for glass products. The glue is dishwasher safe, so you can apply it on broken dishes, wait for it to dry, and give the dishes a good washing. The formula is also crystal-clear, which is very important if you want to make sure the glassware looks good as new.
The glue product is made for glass and glass only, but there’s another restriction – it’s meant for indoor use, not exterior surfaces. So, if you were planning on fixing up a broken window pane, you’re probably better off using superglue instead for that. Just be sure to use a clear formula if you do.
Elmer’s is a popular glue company that you may be familiar with if you’ve bought paper glue for a project or for your kids. It turns out they make more than just paper glue, too, with this china and glass cement mix. The term “cement” may make it sound like it’s visible when dried, but rest assured that it does become clear when dried, so it’s barely noticeable when settled.
The great thing about this product is that it’s designed and made specifically for china and glass – especially china and glass used as dinnerware. The formula is non-toxic, so you don’t have to worry about getting poisoned or anything similar. It’s also dishwasher safe, so you can place your fixed-up glassware and chine right back in the dishwasher with no problems at all. The cement mixture isn’t ideal for anything other than china or glass, but it’s exceptional at what it does.
Glass glue is useful for fixing up precious china and everyday glassware, but are you sure you’re buying the right product for the right purpose? Is it safe for dishwashers and/or dinnerware? We’re here to give you some insights so you can easily purchase glass glue without professional assistance.
Glass glue refers to any adhesive or glue-like product that’s designed to hold or bond any glass surface to another surface, typically glass as well. While most super glue products can be considered glass glue due to their adhesive strength, glass glue is not necessarily super glue, as some adhesives aren’t ideal for outdoor and external usage.
The color of the formula is very important when it comes to using glass glue. Glass, as you know, can be transparent or translucent, but in most cases, it is transparent. This makes it very easy to spot any object or substance that isn’t clear in nature, and if you’re using glue that has a solid color, it’s bound to be spotted in-between glass. For some applications, this may be fine, but if you’re working with glassware or decorations, it’s a nuisance to look at.
That’s why most glass glue products are made with clear formulas. The formula dries up and becomes nearly indistinguishable from the surrounding glass. And while it isn’t impossible to notice, you’d have to really go out of your way to look for it. When fixing up glass products and objects, you almost always want to use a clear formula.
There may be some exceptions to this, however. For example, if you only use glass glue for the sake of its adhesive properties, and you don’t care much for its looks, then you should be fine with just about any glue. In fact, this can allow you to use more general-use superglue, which is tougher and can be applied on other surfaces, too, making it very versatile. If looks are something you don’t worry about, you shouldn’t really concern yourself with color, either.
Adhesives can hold objects together, but that doesn’t mean they don’t wear off over time. This may not be a problem when fixing, say, a windowpane, but this can be a problem if you’re fixing up a dish or glass. If the adhesive isn’t food-safe, then it can possibly contaminate any food or liquid that it comes with, making it dangerous as an adhesive for glassware and dinnerware.
Fortunately, glass glue products made specifically for glass are generally food and dishwasher-safe. You won’t have to worry about getting sick after using your fixed-up glassware. However, be sure to check the product labels to ensure that what you’re buying is food-safe. As a general rule of thumb, general superglue isn’t food-safe, so you’d best go for specialized glass glue.
Open the bottle or needle and apply a small amount of glue to the surface. Ideally, you want to place the glue along the center of the damaged area, not on the sides. The glue may look thin now, but it’ll spread out once it gets pressed between two surfaces, which will allow it to cover more ground. Putting too much will result in glue spilling out of where you’re applying it, which can be a nightmare to deal with if not addressed immediately.
Once you’ve applied the glue and attached the glass to the other surface, adjust it so that it fits perfectly and holds. The amount of time required to hold the glass can vary from product to product – some will require you mere seconds, whereas others need a minute or more for the glue to settle. Be sure to make as little movement as possible while holding to minimize any unwanted errors.
Finally, all that’s left is for you to wait. Ideally, you don’t want to suspend the object in such a way that gravity can apply pressure on the glued area. Resting it on a surface is ideal. Let the object rest for a few hours or overnight, depending on what the product suggests. Once that’s done, you should have the glass glued firmly in place.
This was mentioned earlier, but when applying glass glue, be sure to apply it on the center of the surface you’re applying on, not on the sides. If the area is large, then apply it close to the edge, but not too close. You want to give allowance for the glue to spread when it’s pressed thin. This will maximize the area that’s being glued while also preventing any excess glue from spilling out.
Once you’re done using the glass glue, be sure to wipe the tip clean and close it. Any residual glue can effectively seal the opening of the bottle or needle, which will make it impossible to reuse. Even if there isn’t any residual glue, the glue inside could harden if exposed to air, so be sure to close the lid or needle as soon as possible.
A: Some glass glue products are, but not all of them. Be sure to read the product labels.
A: Adhesives such as superglue can be applied on glue, wood, and cement alike, but glass glue isn’t ideal for surfaces other than glue or china.
A: Unless explicitly mentioned on the product label, it is not recommended to assume that a glass glue product is dishwasher safe.