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Some adhesives become hard and brittle after they dry, while other types remain pliable after they dry. This makes different adhesives better for different projects. See, if you were to fix a broken cabinet joint with, you would want to use an adhesive that stiffens when it dries; not one that remains flexible. However, if you are gluing two different materials then a more flexible adhesive would make sense because they will expand and contract differently. A stiff drying glue would too easily break away from the material.





You will want an adhesive that is resistant to chemicals if the material you are gluing will be subject to any chemicals. Your kitchen counter is a great example of this. It is a surface that is heavily exposed to household cleaners that containt chemicals. It would be a bad idea to use an adhesive that is not chemical resistant.





Also an important consideration when choosing an adhesive is your environment. An example would be an area of high humidity or moisture. You will want to choose an adhesive that is waterproof for this environment.





Because of so many different adhesives and project, not all adhesives can be used for all projects.

• Hot glue is a common type of glue that must be used with a hot glue gun. It's a medium strength glue which dries quickly It's most often used for craft and hobby projects.


• Epoxy glue is another type of adhesive and it must be mixed before it can be used. This is strong bonding glue that is used on non-porous material, with the exception of plastic. You don't want to use epoxy glue on plastic because it will dissolve it.


• When bonding surfaces where clamping is not an option, use contact cement. Once applied, the bond is permanent and the glue remains strong.


• White glue is a moderate strength adhesive. Because this glue is not water repellant it is best used on paper and cloth.


• Animal glue is the first glue that people used. In liquid form, Animal glue can be applied cold or hot. This is a very strong type of glue that is used in projects such as building furniture.

There are many types of adhesives and finding the right glue for your project can make all the difference in if that glue will hold long term. Many adhesives are toxic and some are also flammable, so when using glue make sure that you read the directions carefully to avoid injury.