The Sticky Issue of Adhesives, Glues and Tapes

Give me a good glue and I'll rule the world!

Well, maybe I'm exaggerating just a little bit, but without modern adhesives, much of what we take for granted today would not stay together. Special glues hold our cars, our countertops, our furniture and our computers together. Adhesives allow thin things made of different materials to be bonded together in ways that are impossible with mechanical fasteners. Thin materials most of all demand creative fastening... and glues are often the best choice.

The words "glue" and "adhesive" are oft used interchangeably.   To set the technical record straight (even though I still reserve the "creative license"  to call an adhesive a glue and vice versa), 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

Just makes you want to dance with the chickens, doesn't it?  On the other hand, "adhesive" is any product, including glue, that can be used to bond two separate objects together. Unfortunately, no one adhesive works in all situations, though some may be used in all sorts of situations. Fun, right? The Natural Handyman carries a variety of different adhesives in his bag of tricks.  Here is where you can take a peek inside... just keep these secrets between me and you.  Happy gluing!!

Hot melt adhesive... when you should use it

Loving duct tape means never having to say you're sorry... when it fails!

The scoop on epoxy?

Auto body filler... a.k.a. Bondo... a winner for wood gluing and tough repairs

With all these other great glues, why should I even have wood glue around?

Caulks can be used as glues... sometimes

Contact adhesive... a glue with a mission

Cyanoacrylate adhesives, a.k.a. "SuperGlue" (Oh... and how do I get my stuck fingers apart?)

Constructive uses for construction adhesives

What is GOOP?

Okay, I can't stand it any longer!! What is your FAMOUS GLUE TRICK, NH??