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Welcome to our big superglue test 2022. Here we present all the superglues we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the web.
We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best superglue for you.
You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should definitely pay attention to if you want to buy a superglue.
Contents
- 1 Weekly newsletter with the best personal finance tips
- 2 Summary
- 3 The Best Superglue in the United Kingdom: Our Choices
- 4 Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying superglue
- 4.1 When should you use superglue?
- 4.2 What properties should superglue have?
- 4.3 For which materials is superglue suitable?
- 4.4 What are the advantages and disadvantages of superglues?
- 4.5 What should you look for when buying?
- 4.6 How much does superglue cost?
- 4.7 What is the alternative to superglue?
- 5 Decision: What types of superglue are there and which one is right for you?
- 6 Buying criteria: These are the factors you can use to compare and evaluate superglues
Summary
- Superglues are ideal for repairs or small bonding tasks in the shortest possible time.
- The strong and fast-drying strength of superglues is advantageous for applying them to various materials such as plastic, rubber or wood.
- Depending on the viscosity and packaging form, superglue is suitable in every possible situation to glue something within seconds and to fix it well.
The Best Superglue in the United Kingdom: Our Choices
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying superglue
When should you use superglue?
You should be careful that the glue does not come into contact with your skin or eyelids, as these can stick together in a very short time.
Instant glue is indispensable in the home, office or workshop, where it is often used for small repairs or quick fixes. The quick drying and strong durability are the great advantages of superglues.
The fact that the glue sticks to all kinds of surfaces and materials is another bonus point. Because of these positive properties, the adhesive is also often used in industry.
Superglues are also suitable for the acute treatment of small cuts. This method was already used in war to stop soldiers from bleeding profusely. Today, there are adhesives specially produced in medicine that are intended for healing open wounds.
What properties should superglue have?
Broadly speaking, superglues should be quick-drying, i.e. either within seconds up to a maximum of 60 seconds the adhesive should be cured because it reacts immediately on contact with the air.
The areas of application are universal. The adhesive is mainly used for ceramics, plastics, wood and rubber. It is also suitable for rough or smooth surfaces. There are also special superglues for plastic and glass.
Caution! Avoid contact of the superglue with the skin or eyes.
Handling should be easy and quick. Make sure that your fingers do not touch the glue, because it hardens in seconds. Above all, don't get the glue in your eyelids. If this happens, please seek medical attention immediately before you injure yourself further.
Another property of instant glue is its strength. After the glue has cured in seconds, the bond is very strong.
Against high temperature and high humidity, however, the superglue is no longer so strong. From a temperature of approx. 180 degrees, the bond dissolves. Thus they become liquid again.
If the adhesive remains under high humidity for a longer period of time, it also dissolves. Therefore, the superglue is particularly suitable for fast and rather short-term temperatures.
Superglues are generally all the same, but there are also different types of adhesives, which distinguish them on the basis of materials, viscosity, drying time and strength.
For which materials is superglue suitable?
People like to repair their favourite cup or jewellery with superglue. But if you want to glue larger surfaces together, it is better to use contact adhesives and all-purpose adhesives.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of superglues?
In damp rooms with high temperatures, the glue may come loose after a while and the glued surfaces may fall apart. Therefore, for building projects where a long-lasting result is desired, other alternatives should be used.
To give you a better overview, we have listed the advantages and disadvantages of superglue for you here:
What should you look for when buying?
A good superglue should have the following properties:
- Time indication of the drying time
- Strength of the strength
- Indication of the quantity
- whether it is shock- and/or water-resistant
- which material it is suitable for
- transparent or not
- Viscosity of the adhesive
- Information about the temperature resistance
- Application for indoor and/or outdoor use
Furthermore, you could also pay attention to whether the adhesive is dishwasher-safe, vibration-damping and has a leak-proof housing.
How much does superglue cost?
| brand | price |
|---|---|
| Pattex | 4,59€ (10g) |
| UHU | 7,52€ (10g) |
| DIP Tools | 14,99€ (40g) |
What is the alternative to superglue?
These are made for specific materials and score with their stronger and long-term adhesive power on larger surfaces. You can find an overview here:
- All-purpose adhesive
- Contact adhesive
- Wood glue
- Assembly adhesives for metal, ceramics, wood and sealants
- Special and repair adhesives
- Two-component adhesives
- Radiation-curing adhesives
- Hot glue or hot glue gun
Decision: What types of superglue are there and which one is right for you?
Most people are surprised to hear that superglues can be divided into different categories. Manufacturers like UHU and Pattex sell superglues for specialised materials, for example for shoes, rubber or metal.
The most popular is probably the 100% superglue, which can be used for pretty much all materials in the home.
Superglues can be distinguished not only by their suitability for different materials, but also by their viscosity. These can be differentiated from each other according to the consistency of the adhesive.
There are thin, viscous and gel-like instant adhesives on the market
What are the advantages and disadvantages of low-viscosity instant glues?
This type of instant glue is by far the most common and also the most popular. The thin liquid is particularly suitable for smooth and larger surfaces, because the liquid adhesive can be easily spread over wider surfaces with a brush or spatula.
It is important that the surfaces to be glued lie flat, as this prevents the liquid adhesive from running away. Thin layers should be applied here to strengthen the adhesive bond. Superglue is particularly popular for repairs with wood or plastic.
The thinner the adhesive layer, the stronger the bonding strength.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of viscous superglue?
This middle grade of adhesive is ideal for sloping and vertical surfaces. Because the liquid is more viscous, the adhesive does not run away as quickly as the thin-bodied superglue.
Here you can also apply thicker layers. Popular in the field of model building, because here the superglue is elastic enough to glue even tricky areas.
Therefore it is especially recommended for flexible materials.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of gel-like/viscous superglue?
This highly viscous superglue is a tough and gel-like adhesive. It is primarily used for rough and porous surfaces.
It is not suitable for precise and small glued areas because the gel-like nature of the adhesive makes it difficult to deform and therefore not as flexible as the thin-bodied or viscous superglue.
One advantage for the thick liquid is that the glue does not drip when gluing and is therefore very suitable for clean work. The superglue allows you to glue uneven flatness.
The difference between this glue and, for example, contact and/or assembly glue is that this superglue cannot fill or compress gaps or holes. In this case, other special adhesives should be used.
| Viscosity | suitable surfaces |
|---|---|
| thin-bodied | large, smooth surfaces |
| viscous | vertical, sloping surfaces |
| thick/gel-like | rough, porous surfaces |
Buying criteria: These are the factors you can use to compare and evaluate superglues
In the following, we will show you which factors you can use to decide between a variety of superglues.
In summary, these are:
- Packaging form
- Drying time
- Viscosity
- Durability / strength
- Temperature resistance
Packaging shape
An important detail that just as many forget is the shape or features of the packaging of superglue. This criterion should be taken into account if you know your (gluing) intention in advance.
The typical shape of superglue is a tube with a small cap so that you can glue small areas precisely. If you want to glue somewhat larger areas, superglues that are made with a brush for application are suitable.
There are also superglues in a dispenser, which make it much easier to apply the desired amount.
Drying time
The most important thing about superglue is the fast drying time, which the name already tells us.
On average, the curing time of (liquid) superglues is between 20 and 60 seconds, depending on the amount applied and the material being glued.
It is important to read the information on the adhesive itself, as this will give more detailed instructions on how the curing process works. Although the adhesive may appear to dry in just a few minutes, the bonded area will not be 100% loadable for one or more hours.
This prevents the adhesive, which is still liquid on the inside, from detaching from the materials or breaking the bond.
Viscosity
Besides the packaging form and the drying time, the viscosity also plays a role. In the chapter of the decision section, the three different forms of viscosity (low viscosity, viscous, gel-like) of instant adhesives are discussed in more detail.
Depending on your project, you should pay attention to the type of superglue, as these can be helpful when gluing. For example, gel superglue is perfect for home crafts as it does not drip and is great for rough surfaces.
In most cases, thin-bodied superglue is best for any project. Because of its flexible elasticity and universal application range, it is especially good for gluing small and angled corners.
Durability / strength
A durable result is what you want from superglues. Therefore, the strength of the instant glue is a decisive criterion. Because you want fast and strong results.
The superglue already reacts with the air in seconds and hardens in a few minutes.
To achieve the best result, you should extend the drying time to about one hour to ensure that the adhesive has also hardened on the inside.
Only then is the object loadable, before that it is already glued, but there is no guarantee that this will last long. You should read the reviews of various customers on different instant adhesives before making a decision.
Temperature resistance
Another criterion that plays a role in industry is the temperature resistance of superglues. Normal superglue joints dissolve at a temperature of 180 degrees or higher.
At minus 50 degrees, the glued joint could break. Since these are rather improbable temperatures in normal households, they are important in industry or for professional work.
Here, you should pay attention to the product properties of the superglues sold, because these indicate the temperature limits of the adhesive.
Image source: 123rf.com / 111081713
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