Both Gorilla Glue and Liquid Nails are popular options when it comes to adhesives. But which one is better? Here is a detailed comparison between Gorilla Glue and Liquid Nails to help you decide which adhesive is right for your project.
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What is Gorilla Glue?
Gorilla Glue is a polyurethane-based adhesive known for its incredible bonding power and versatility. It is water-resistant and can bond wood, stone, metal, ceramic, foam, glass and more. Here are some key features of Gorilla Glue:
- Extremely strong adhesive power – Can hold up to 4400 lbs per square inch
- Expands 3-4 times when cured, filling gaps as it dries
- 100% waterproof when cured
- Dries tan in color
- Bonds virtually anything including wood, stone, metal, ceramic, foam, glass etc.
- Cures in 1-2 hours but takes 24 hours to fully cure
Gorilla Glue is ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications. It provides incredibly strong bonds on a wide variety of materials. However, Gorilla Glue foams and expands as it dries, so some care needs to be taken when using it.
What is Liquid Nails?
Liquid Nails is a construction adhesive made by the company Liquid Nails. It is a latex-based adhesive available in a caulking tube. Here are the key features of Liquid Nails adhesive:
- Strong adhesive power – Up to 500 lbs per square inch bond strength
- Water resistant when cured
- Bonds to wood, drywall, plaster, paneling, trim molding and more
- Does not foam or expand
- Dries clear in color
- Cures fully in 24 hours
- Easy to dispense from caulking gun tube
Liquid Nails is ideal for indoor applications like installing trim, molding, panels and attaching drywall. It provides a strong bond without foaming or expanding as it dries.
Comparing Bonding Strength
One of the biggest differences between Gorilla Glue and Liquid Nails is their bond strength:
| Adhesive | Bond Strength |
|---|---|
| Gorilla Glue | 4400 psi |
| Liquid Nails | 500 psi |
With a bond strength of 4400 pounds per square inch (psi), Gorilla Glue is nearly 9 times stronger than Liquid Nails at 500 psi. This makes Gorilla Glue the clear winner when it comes to bonding power.
Water Resistance
Both adhesives are water resistant when fully cured:
- Gorilla Glue – 100% waterproof when cured
- Liquid Nails – Water resistant when cured
Gorilla Glue is completely waterproof when fully cured, while Liquid Nails is water resistant but not 100% waterproof. So Gorilla Glue performs better when it comes to water resistance.
Materials Bonded
Gorilla Glue can bond a wider range of materials than Liquid Nails:
| Adhesive | Materials Bonded |
|---|---|
| Gorilla Glue | Wood, stone, metal, ceramic, foam, glass and more |
| Liquid Nails | Wood, drywall, plaster, paneling, trim molding |
Gorilla Glue can bond wood, stone, metal, ceramic, foam, glass and many other materials. Liquid Nails works best on common construction materials like wood, drywall, plaster, paneling and trim molding.
Cure Time
Here is how the cure times compare between the two adhesives:
- Gorilla Glue – Cures in 1-2 hours, fully cures in 24 hours
- Liquid Nails – Fully cures in 24 hours
Gorilla Glue cures more quickly, in just 1-2 hours. But it still takes a full 24 hours to fully cure and reach maximum strength. Liquid Nails only requires 24 hours to fully cure.
Foaming & Expansion
A key difference between the adhesives is that Gorilla Glue expands significantly as it cures:
- Gorilla Glue – Expands 3-4 times as it cures, foams out
- Liquid Nails – Does not foam or expand
Gorilla Glue foams and expands up to 3-4 times as it dries. This allows it to fill gaps but requires care to avoid squeeze out. Liquid Nails does not foam or expand at all as it cures.
Color When Cured
The adhesives can be differentiated based on their color once fully cured:
- Gorilla Glue – Dries to a tan color
- Liquid Nails – Dries clear
Gorilla Glue dries to a tan color, while Liquid Nails dries perfectly clear. So if visibility of the adhesive is important, Liquid Nails would be the better choice.
Ease of Use
Both adhesives are relatively easy to use:
- Gorilla Glue – Apply glue directly from bottle, clamps recommended as it cures
- Liquid Nails – Dispense from caulking gun tube, no clamps needed as it cures
Gorilla Glue can be applied directly from the bottle, but clamps may be needed to hold materials in place as it expands and cures. Liquid Nails is dispensed from a caulking gun tube and usually does not require clamps as it cures.
Cost Comparison
On average, Gorilla Glue is slightly more expensive than Liquid Nails per ounce:
| Adhesive | Average Cost (per fluid ounce) |
|---|---|
| Gorilla Glue | $0.37 |
| Liquid Nails | $0.27 |
However, prices can vary depending on the size and specific product line. In general, expect to pay around 25-50% more for Gorilla Glue over a comparable Liquid Nails adhesive.
Major Differences
To summarize, here are the major differences between Gorilla Glue and Liquid Nails:
| Gorilla Glue | Liquid Nails |
|---|---|
| – Significantly stronger bond | – Lower bond strength |
| – Foams and expands as it cures | – Does not foam or expand |
| – 100% waterproof when cured | – Water resistant when cured |
| – Bonds almost any material | – Best for common construction materials |
| – Cures faster | – Slower curing time |
| – More expensive per ounce | – More affordable price per ounce |
Primary Applications
Based on their characteristics and performance, here are the primary applications for each adhesive:
Gorilla Glue
- Outdoor projects exposed to weather
- Bonding dissimilar materials like metal to wood
- Filling large gaps in joints
- Applications requiring incredibly strong bonds
Liquid Nails
- Installing trim, crowns and other moldings
- Attaching drywall and paneling
- Indoor projects with normal bonding strength needs
- Applications where expansion is problematic
Conclusion
In summary, Gorilla Glue is the clear winner when it comes to strength and versatility. The incredible bonding power of Gorilla Glue makes it ideal for heavy duty applications both indoors and out. It can bond to almost any material and is completely waterproof when cured.
Liquid Nails offers a strong wood adhesive solution without the foaming expansion of Gorilla Glue. It works very well for common indoor applications like installing trim, drywall and other construction materials. Liquid Nails is quicker and easier to apply than Gorilla Glue.
For most heavy duty bonding needs, Gorilla Glue is the better choice. But for more run-of-the-mill indoor projects, Liquid Nails can be a great option. Consider the specific requirements of your project and adhesive characteristics when deciding between the two.