Contact adhesives

Well, maybe I'm exaggerating just a little bit,

But without modern adhesives, Much of the woodworking D.i.y and craft projects we take for granted today would not stay together.

Special glues hold our woodworking and craft projects together, our cars, our counter tops, our furniture and our computers.

Adhesives allow thin woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects made of different materials to be bonded together in ways that are impossible with mechanical fasteners.

Thin materials used in woodworking and craft projects all demand creative fastening... and glues are often the best choice.

For woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects the words glue and "adhesive" are often used interchangeably. To set the technical record straight glue is defined as:

"... A hard, brittle gelatin made by boiling animal skins, bones, hoofs, etc. to a jelly: when heated in water, it forms a sticky viscous liquid used to stick things together"
Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary

On the other hand,when working at your woodworking and craft project "adhesive" is any product, including glue, that can be used to bond two separate objects together.

Unfortunately, no one adhesive works in all woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects though some may be used in all sorts of situations.
Fun, right? The woodworking, craft and D.i.y handyman carries a variety of different adhesives in his bag of tricks. .

Contact adhesive for your woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects also fondly known as "contact cement"... is a special adhesive for a special purpose. When spread on a surface, it dries by the quick evaporation of a flammable solvent.

Like other adhesives used for your woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects it sticks things together, but has a unique characteristic for your woodworking and craft projects that no other adhesive shares.

For a period of time after it appears to be completely dry and no longer tacky, it will still stick to itself with abandon! This makes it an excellent adhesive for woodworking and D.i.y craftsmen to glue things together where materials are nonporous.

For woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects, the most common use of contact adhesive are for plastic laminate counter tops in kitchens and in bathrooms.

Envision the perplexing problems woodworking, D.i.y and craft people have solved by using this product.

If you have two very wide pieces of material and both have limited porosity... particle board (the standard counter top substrate) and plastic laminate. Virtually every other adhesive used for woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects would fail because the glue would never dry... the moisture or solvent could not escape from between them.

Drying would take so long, that special clamps would be needed to keep your woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects in contact for the lengthy drying period. Since the contact adhesive is already dry before assembly this problem for most woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects is... well... not a problem!

Once the contact adhesive is applied to both surfaces of your woodworking and craft project and allowed to dry, the actual assembly of the two parts takes but a few minutes, and the counter top is usable immediately!

Of course, there is no room for error when working on your woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects when applying contact adhesive. Once it sticks, it is stuck for good!

Disassembling woodworking and craft projects glued with contact adhesive usually requires damaging one or both of them.

And does, it stick fast... momentary contact is all that is needed for adhesion, making positioning and planning for most all woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects vitally important for success!

Contact adhesive can be finicky when not used correctly.

Most problems woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects people have with contact adhesive is failure caused by:

1) Not allowing the adhesive to dry fully before assembly.
2) Waiting too long before assembly.
3) Applying too thick a coating of adhesive.
4) Not applying enough adhesive.

When used on a porous or semi porous woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects such as wood or plywood.
A first "priming" coat of contact adhesive may be needed to preseal the material.
Otherwise, some woodworking, D.i.y or craft project may absorb too much adhesive to form a strong bond.

This prime coat is followed by a second gluing coat.

Follow the label directions when working on your woodworking and craft projects concerning drying times, application thickness, and using the proper tools this will keep you on the right track when working on your woodworking,D.i.y and craft project.

Contact adhesive is available in the traditional solvent-based formula and a newer water-based formula.
Solvent-based contact adhesive used in woodworking, D.i.y and craft projects dries in less than 15 minutes but releases a highly flammable solvent into the air.

Precautions when working on your woodworking, D.i.y and craft workshop must be taken to assure adequate ventilation to prevent accidental ignition of the fumes.

Read the label for all precautions!

And again,

Until next, time, enjoy your woodworking and craft time.