Clear glues have clear advantages, the biggest being invisible bonds. After all, it would be a shame if a prominent seam detracted from the otherwise spotless results of your next DIY project. Read on to find out about products that form invisible bonds.
Clear adhesives, such as clear glues and clear silicone glues, are available for a wide variety of surfaces from porcelain to rubber and rigid PVC. However, not every product is suitable for all needs. Which one should you choose?
There are a number of clear super glues which are transparent when dry, including Loctite Super Glue Longneck Bottle. You can apply it to an extensive range of surfaces from costume jewelry to chipboard and fabric; watch this short video to find out more. Clear silicone glue, on the other hand, is ideal for metal, glass, rubber, tile, and imperfect surfaces, and also suitable for materials that expand and contract. Clear glues like Loctite Extreme Glue, which mixes the strength of polyurethane and the versatility of polyoxysilane, are durable and versatile and are best suited for repairs, crafts, and building jobs.
Prepare your work area and surface. No matter whether you use clear silicone glue or clear glue, make sure your project area is clean. Also, the surfaces you want to bond have to be clean, dry, and free of contaminants. Also ensure the temperature in the working area suits your product.
Have fun, but stay safe! Like many adhesives, clear glues can irritate your skin and eyes, so only work in a well-ventilated area. Wear gloves and wash your hands after use.
Application. Apply a thin layer of clear glue to one surface. Bond the parts immediately after applying the adhesive and hold or clamp them together (before skin formation), following the manufacturer’s instructions. Very porous materials will probably require a thicker layer of adhesive, and you may need to apply it to both surfaces.
Moisten the surfaces. If both surfaces are non-porous, you may need to pre-wet them with a damp cloth; check the manufacturer’s instructions. Absorbent surfaces are normally water-permeable and do not require pre-moistening.
Let it dry. The adhesive will reach its maximum strength after it has fully cured.
Apply the silicone. If you use a product like Loctite Clear Silicone Waterproof Sealant, apply it to one of the surfaces you want to bond.
Lightly roughen the surfaces. This improves your results if you are bonding tile, porcelain, or bonding rubber or surfaces.
Clamp and dry. Press the materials together and clamp them together for the full cure time, as specified by the manufacturer.
Clean up your work area and tools. Clean tools and adhesive residue immediately with mineral spirits (clear silicone glue) or using alcohol, acetone or cleaner’s naphtha (clear glue). You can carefully cut away cured sealant with a sharp-edged tool.