Need to use jewelry glue for your beading project and don’t know which one to choose? Here’s a guide that will help you select the perfect adhesive.
Sometimes it’s necessary to use adhesive for your beading projects. You might want to add glue-in stones, secure a knot in a piece of cord or attach a finding e.g. a glue-in clasp.
Choosing the right glue is important to ensure your work is secure. However, there are so many different types of jewelry glue available that it can be tough to know which is the best one for a particular use.
Below is a list of common adhesives and the best time to use each one.
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How To Select The Best Jewelry Glue
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E6000
E6000 is a popular all-purpose glue because it has a very strong bond and can be used on both porous and non-porous materials e.g. glass, wood, fabric, beads etc.
There are several kinds of this particular glue, each with its own list of materials it works best with. They also have varying drying times, ranging from a few minutes to several hours.
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Some varieties of this adhesive.g. E6000 Jewelry and Bead are flexible after drying, making them good for use on fabrics or for securing knots.
Also, good to note is the color of the glue after drying. Some dry clear, while others are colored. Decide what will work best for your particular needs before purchasing.
Epoxy
Epoxy is a multi-purpose heavy-duty adhesive.
There are two types — 220 and 330. Both are appropriate for adhering non-porous materials e.g. stone, ceramics, metals and cabachons.
Epoxy 220 takes much longer to dry, dries with a transparent brown colour and has no shipping restrictions. It results in one of the strongest bonds you can get.
Epoxy 330 dries clear with a blue tint in a much shorter time frame and does have shipping restrictions.
Jeweler’s Cement
G.S Hypo Cement jewelry glue is perfect for detailed work using small beads and embellishments.
It dries quickly, clear and produces a strong bond.
This glue can be used on non-porous materials e.g. painted or sealed woods, metals, glass, beads, ceramics, plastics.
G.S Hypo Fabric Cement is perfect for leather, cord, paper and more. Fabrics are washable after the glue has dried for 24 hours.
If you’re creating an applique, need to secure cord ends or knots, this is a good solution.
Fast-Acting Jewelry Glue
There are some occasions where you’ll need a glue that dries instantly:
- When you don’t have time to wait for the glue to dry
- You can’t clamp the beads into place
- You need to secure beads to a vertical surface
These adhesives usually have a thin consistency allowing them to dry quickly. Depending on your needs, you’ll want one that dries clear, is fully cured in a few hours and has a very strong bond.
If you have a glue at home and want to make sure it’s right for the job, check this list. It will give you all the pertinent details you need.
Jewelry glue is one thing that I usually have on hand. Here are some other tools that are nice to have as well.
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