Liquid nails and glue are both adhesive products used for home improvement and construction projects. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses depending on the material and project at hand. This article will compare liquid nails vs glue to help you determine which is the better choice for your needs.
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What is Liquid Nails?
Liquid nails is a construction adhesive made of synthetic rubber and resins. It comes in a caulking tube or cartridge that allows it to be easily dispensed in beads or lines along the materials being bonded.
Some key features of liquid nails:
– Strong adhesive power on a variety of materials including wood, drywall, concrete, tile, paneling, foamboard, etc.
– Waterproof and resistant to both interior and exterior applications
– Bonds surfaces together to create a tight seal
– Remains somewhat flexible when dry allowing for expansion and contraction
– Available in different formulations for specific applications (construction, paneling, flooring, etc)
Advantages of Liquid Nails
– Very strong bond strength – Liquid nails forms a super tight bond between surfaces resulting in a permanent hold. This makes it ideal for heavy objects.
– Bonds uneven and porous surfaces – It can bond rough or irregular materials where traditional glue may not work as well. The thick consistency allows it to seep into pores.
– Fills gaps for a tighter seal – The paste-like formula also enables liquid nails to fill in any cracks or gaps between materials helping to create a waterproof seal.
– Versatile bonds – Liquid nail adhesive sticks to and bonds most common construction materials such as wood, drywall, concrete, metals, tile, and more.
– Waterproof and weather resistant – It creates a waterproof, rust proof seal that holds up to moisture and extreme temps.
Disadvantages of Liquid Nails
– Messier application – Dispensing liquid nails can be messier due to its thick consistency. It requires an applicator gun and tends to ooze out and drip.
– Longer drying time – Liquid nails takes longer to fully cure than other adhesives, typically 24-72 hours or longer depending on conditions. This makes projects take more time.
– Difficult to remove or reposition – Once applied, liquid nails forms a permanent bond and is extremely hard to remove or reposition.
– Contains toxic chemicals – The ingredients in liquid nails like acetone and petroleum distillates require proper ventilation during application and disposal.
– Can damage surfaces – If excess adhesive gets onto surfaces it can be difficult to remove and may damage the finish.
What is Glue?
Glue is a more general term used to describe adhesives made from natural or synthetic polymers. Traditional glues are water-based and commonly used for arts, crafts, woodworking projects.
Types of glue include:
– White glue or PVA – made from polyvinyl acetate, safe for kids’ projects
– Hot glue – sticky when melted and dries quickly
– Epoxy – extra strong two-part glue used for heavy materials
– Super glue or cyanoacrylate – fast drying glue for light materials
– Spray adhesive – temporary glue applied from an aerosol can
Advantages of Glue
– Easy to apply – Most glues can simply be squeezed out of a bottle and spread on surfaces with no tool required. No mixing or loading into dispensers.
– Fast drying times – Many glues like super glue or hot glue set and dry extremely fast from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Allows projects to be completed quickly.
– Easy cleanup – Excess wet glue can usually be wiped up easily with a damp cloth. Dried excess glue can be scraped or sanded off.
– Versatile – There are many types of glue tailored to different materials from wood to plastic to fabric and more.
– Non-toxic – Most standard glue types like white glue have very low fume and toxicity levels compared to liquid nails. Safer for indoor use.
Disadvantages of Glue
– Less bonding strength – Traditional white glues do not create an extremely strong permanent bond. They can loosen over time or when exposed to water/moisture.
– Can warp porous materials – Glues soaked into porous surfaces like wood or paper can cause swelling, warping or buckling.
– Won’t fill gaps – Glues have less thickness and cannot fill cracks or gaps between materials. This can result in weaker bonding.
– Temperature sensitive – Glue bonds can weaken or fail when exposed to extreme cold, heat or frequent temperature changes.
– Less waterproof – Few glues offer waterproofing ability. Exposure to water/moisture significantly weakens or breaks glue bonds.
Comparing Bonding Strength
One of the biggest considerations when selecting an adhesive is the strength of the bond it creates. For heavy-duty applications liquid nails forms an extremely strong permanent bond that glue cannot match.
The table below compares typical shear strength measured in pounds per square inch (PSI) between liquid nails and popular glue types:
| Adhesive | Shear Strength (PSI) |
|---|---|
| Liquid Nails Heavy Duty | Over 200 PSI |
| Liquid Nails for Subfloors | Over 150 PSI |
| Liquid Nails Paneling & Molding | Over 100 PSI |
| Liquid Nails Construction Adhesive | Over 100 PSI |
| White Glue | Up to 1000 PSI |
| Hot Glue | Around 250 PSI |
| Epoxy | 500-4000 PSI |
As the numbers show, liquid nails provides a significantly stronger bond in terms of PSI compared to standard white glue. Even when comparing to the strongest epoxy, liquid nails still rates higher in shear strength.
The only glue coming close is hot glue, but its strength can vary widely based on formulations. Hot glue and epoxy may be able to match liquid nails in certain situations, but for most applications liquid nails creates a superior permanent bond.
Comparing Dry Times
Another major difference between liquid nails and glue is drying time. Glue typically dries extremely fast allowing projects to be completed quickly while liquid nails takes significantly longer to fully cure.
Here is a comparison of approximate drying times:
| Adhesive | Dry Time |
|---|---|
| White Glue | 5-10 minutes |
| Hot Glue | 30 seconds to 5 minutes |
| Epoxy | 5-30 minutes |
| Super Glue | 30-60 seconds |
| Liquid Nails | 24-72 hours |
Standard glues gain an initial bond within a few minutes although maximum strength may take longer. In contrast liquid nails remains somewhat soft and must dry for a full 24 hours at least before materials can be used.
Glue’s faster dry time allows for quicker repairs and project turnaround. Liquid nails trades speed for maximum bonding strength.
Comparing Applications
Liquid nails and glue also differ in terms of suitable applications and material compatibility.
Some ideal uses for liquid nails include:
– Bonding subfloor panels
– Installing tub surrounds
– Attaching wall panels
– Mounting carpets and tiles
– Anchoring drywall
Liquid nails works on most common building materials except polyethylene and polypropylene plastic.
Some ideal uses for standard glue include:
– Gluing wood joints
– Bookbinding
– Paper crafts
– Laminating
– Assembling models
– Household repairs
Glue works on porous materials like wood, paper, cardboard, cloth, etc. Specialty glues work on plastics, glass, and metals.
Outdoor and Wet Applications
For any project exposed to moisture or outdoors, liquid nails is the better choice. Its waterproof properties allow it to withstand rain, snow, and humidity. Glue will fail quickly under the same conditions.
This makes liquid nails ideal for:
– Decks
– Fences
– Siding
– Trim
– Outdoor fixtures
Glue has very limited water resistance. It can only be used for indoor applications or at least covered and protected outdoor uses.
Comparing Cost
In general liquid nails has a higher material cost compared to basic white glue. But costs can vary widely based on brand, volume, and specific adhesive type.
Here are some approximate costs:
– Small 4-8oz bottle of white glue – $1 to $3
– 16oz liquid nails – $5 to $10
– 10oz epoxy resin – $15 to $30
Glue goes further since it is applied in a thin layer vs the thicker beads of liquid nails. Small glue bottles can often complete multiple projects.
It takes about 30-35 tubes of liquid nails for a 3,000 square foot home construction project. So costs add up quickly.
For heavy-duty jobs, the higher strength of liquid nails makes it worth the extra expense compared to repeatedly using weaker glue. But for lightweight crafts and repairs, glue is the more economical choice.
Ease of Use
Glue products tend to have greater ease of use compared to liquid nails:
– Glue can simply be squeezed out of a bottle. Liquid nails requires an applicator gun.
– Glue usually goes on smoothly with less mess or dripping. Liquid nails is thicker and stickier.
– Excess glue wipes away easily before drying. Excess liquid nails is near impossible to remove.
However, liquid nails self-leveling formula makes application neater than it would seem for such a thick adhesive. It helps fill gaps smoothly and evenly.
For very large jobs, a liquid nails adhesives dispenser tool can make application much faster and easier.
Safety
Glue is generally safer than liquid nails in terms of fumes and toxicity. Especially white school glue which is non-toxic when dry. Other adhesives like epoxy or super glue still require good ventilation but not quite as much as liquid nails.
Always check the product safety warnings. Liquid nails often contains acetone, volatile organic compounds, and other hazardous ingredients. Proper gloves, masks, and ventilation are needed to prevent inhaling fumes.
Once fully cured, any residual liquid nails is non-toxic. But the long drying time means exposure risk to fumes during application.
Liquid nails also carries more risk of getting onto the skin or into the eyes causing irritation. So gloves and eye protection should always be worn.
Conclusion
For heavy-duty building projects, liquid nails is the clear winner in terms of bonding strength and durability. It forms incredibly strong, permanent bonds that hold up to moisture and weather. Liquid nails can bond far heavier materials with less chance of failure compared to white glue.
Glue works fine for light-duty repairs, crafts, hobbies, and indoor projects. It dries faster but the bond is weaker. Glue is not recommended for any outdoor or wet environments.
Liquid nail’s performance comes at the cost of slower dry times, messier application, and stronger fumes. For quick minor indoor repairs, glue may be more convenient.
In summary:
– Liquid nails has superior bonding strength especially for porous and uneven surfaces
– Glue dries significantly faster than liquid nails
– Liquid nails withstands outdoor and wet environments. Glue fails quickly with moisture.
– Glue is easier to apply and cleaner. Liquid nails requires an applicator gun.
– Liquid nails costs substantially more than basic glue
For most heavy-duty construction and remodeling projects, the extra strength and performance of liquid nails makes it well worth the additional cost. It ultimately provides longer-lasting bonds less likely to fail or need repairs. But for simple lightweight projects, inexpensive glue is easier to use.
Decide based on your specific application whether maximum strength or convenience is more important. For demanding professional jobs where performance is critical, liquid nails is usually the best option. For simple home crafts and repairs that only need a basic adhesive, popular white glue is perfectly fine.