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Adhesives at Dragon’s Lair Beads

Adhesives are used to hold things together, nothing like stating the obvious, sorry. But not all adhesives are the same. You need different glues for different applications and surfaces. So here is what to use and how to use it.

E6000

We use it for putting Ultra Suede onto stone cabs or polymer clay cabs. You can also use it for attaching rocks to metal or glass to metal such as when using bails.

Pros
Dries clear and quickly, a favorite of jewelry designers, it is also washer and dryer safe. As this glue is acid free it can be used on photos when scrap-booking. It is also good for use in automobiles and wood working.

Cons
Unpleasant odor, too fast drying time, can damage some materials such as foil on rhinestones. Follow the directions. Not recommended for use by children.
$8.45
Mini $2.30

Gem Tac

We use it for, attaching crystals to fabric, wood, plastic, glass, and metal. You can also use it for attaching fabric or beads among other things to most surfaces such as lamp shades, clay pots or windows.

Pros
It is easy to use and to clean up, very little odor, non-toxic, dries crystal clear. Safe for children.

Cons
Do not dry clean.
$7.80

Hypo Cement

We use this for sealing knots when we are doing pearl knotting.
$7.90

Zap A Gap

We use this for filling thick gaps in knots.
$9.20

Beacon 527

This is a multi use glue.
$10.00

What adhesives not to use

Cyanoacrylate glue or instant glue, otherwise known as Crazy glue or Super glue; This adhesive is subject to breaking under extreme temperatures or from dropping as it can be brittle. If you are using this glue and become stuck to whatever, we have all seen those jokes, use nail polish remover or acetone to break down the glue.

Hot Glue, it loses its bond quickly although in an emergency it can be a quick fix. It is easy to get burned.

Glue with Acetone as it breaks down over time.

Tips on how to glue

Clean the surface before you glue

- Wood can use a light sand, or use a soft cloth.
- Resin or plastic can be cleaned with a baby wipe and dried with a soft cloth. No acetone (nail polish remover).
- Metal and Glass can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol or acetone to remove grease.

Tips for gluing

- Practice on a small test area
- Use just enough glue to cover the back of a crystal or bead when it is set down but not enough to squelch out
- Keep hand and tools clean, baby wipes work well
- Use tooth picks, tweezers, disposable glue containers
- If mixing glue use correct quantities and don’t use if the set time has expired
- Take your time

We will be moving to Pay Pal in the Fall and we are hoping to make ordering easier for you.

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