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Glass glue: Your comprehensive guide

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When you need to glue something onto glass, ordinary adhesives may not hold up. Glass glue is a specialty product. Read on to find out what the best glue for glass is and how to achieve great results.

What type of glue to use on glass

Whether you want to repair a broken glass item, or glue something to glass, such as your car’s rear-view mirror, you might be wondering what glue to use on glass.

The glass adhesive must be formulated to adhere to glass, of course, but it also has to be transparent, and it should resist expanding or contracting from temperature changes. It also should be water and moisture resistant, since many applications for glass glue will need to stand up to water at some point. A glue that will hold up to UV light exposure is also important in some settings.

The tip of a tube filled with Loctite glue is held against the broken edge of a blue glass vase.
Glass adhesives must be transparent, resist expanding or contracting, and also water- and UV-resistant

Regular super glue formulations will generally stick to glass but are not recommended because they may fail over time. Your best bet is to use a glue for glass, a product that is specifically intended for that purpose.

Glass glue: Tips for successful bonds

Here are some pointers to help you achieve the best bonds possible when gluing to glass. First, let’s look at how to repair broken glass or a glass item.

  1. Lay out the pieces to be glued together. Make sure they are clean and free of greasy residue and dust. Also, confirm they are close fitting.
  2. Apply a small amount of the glass glue to one surface. Use the minimum amount needed to get the job done. Too much glue will create a mess that you will have to clean up later.
  3. Fit the pieces together and hold them until the glue sets, or, if possible, position the item so that it is secure while the glass glue dries.
  4. After the glue has set, wipe away any that has seeped out of the crack with a cloth dampened with acetone.

If your project involves gluing glass to glass or metal to glass, it is crucial to remove any residue or impurity on the glass. Commercial glass cleaner or rubbing alcohol should do the trick in most cases. Also, check the area of the object to be glued to glass to make sure it is also clean and sound.

A hand holds the upper part of a broken blue vase over the bottom one.
Make sure that the parts you are going to glue together are clean and fit together well

Once everything is ready, apply some glass glue to the object and press it into place. It is very important that the item stays perfectly still until the glue sets. If any glass glue seeps out around the edges, wipe it away with a cloth dampened with acetone.

The best glue for glass

Super Glue Glass is the product of choice for instant, crystal clear bonds to glass and metal surfaces. It is specially formulated to bond to all types of glass including crystal, stained glass, tinted glass, and blown glass. It sets in seconds and dries transparent for nearly invisible bonds.

Products used

  • LOCTITE Super Glue Glass

    LOCTITE Super Glue Glass: Perfect for glass repairs! Bonds glass to glass, metal, stained, and tinted glass. Dries transparent for invisible, strong bonds.

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