Many individuals enjoy working with acrylics because of their versatility and availability. Unfortunately, not all types of glue work properly with the durable, nonporous material. To find the best glue for your acrylics, you need to understand the different types of glue, as well as what application method would be the most effective. Instead of leaving you on your own when it comes to finding an effective option for your projects, we’ve developed this guide to help you identify the best glue for acrylic that are currently available.
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- Affordable
- Strong bond
- You get a lot of product
- Ideal for many types of plastic
- Fast setting
- Good working time
- Easy application
- Strong bond
- Very resistant
- Temperature resistant
- Solvent resistant
- Waterproof
- Includes a 60 day guarantee
- Thick viscosity
- Rapid drying
- Dries in 5 seconds
- High tensile strength
- Dries clear
- Dries rapidly
- Dries clear
- Effective in numerous environments
- Not affected by solvents
- Easy to apply
- Durable
- Strong and durable
- Fast drying
- Suitable for all types of acrylics
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
- Thin formula
- Precision applicator
- Fast drying
This solvent based glue dries as the solvent evaporates out of it into the air. What’s nice is that you get a working time of up to two minutes, so you can reposition materials as needed. That being said, this stuff takes up to 72 hours to achieve 80% strength and up to four days to achieve a full cure. Therefore, yes, you will need to clamp the materials together for several days.
However, once it is cured, it is totally waterproof. It is temperature resistant, it has extreme tensile strength and great weight bearing capabilities too, not to mention that it is also resistant to solvents. The fine applicator nozzle for precision application is something that definitely helps make life a bit easier as well. The fact that it is very thin also makes it easy to apply.
Pros:
- Easy to apply with precision
- Super strong
- Resistant to virtually everything
Cons:
- Very long curing time
Glue for Acrylic – Buying Guide
When choosing the right glue for acrylics, it’s important to know what type of glue would work best for you. Here is some basic information to help you make the right decision.
Acrylic can refer to a broad range of materials, including fake nails, fabric, and plastics. However, when someone refers to glue for basic acrylic, they want a substance which will stick to plastics. Acrylics are thermoplastics or thermosettling plastics which are used in numerous substances. There are numerous types of acrylics, so you need to know what type you are working with before choosing a glue that will work properly.
Because of their synthetic nature, sometimes glue struggle to adhere to the surface of acrylic materials. For this reason, it is important to know the types of glue and which one will work the best for your project.
Types of Glue for Acrylic Plexiglass
One of the most important things that you need to know here is that there are a few different types of glue that you can use to bond acrylic plexiglass together. Let’s take a look at the three major types of glue that you can use for this project.
Cyanoacrylate Adhesives
For those of you don’t that don’t know, this is simply a fancy way of saying super glue. Yes, super Glue is a fine option to go with when you are bonding two pieces of acrylic together. Super Glue clear is very differently and it has the ability to bond many different materials together, but also forms a very durable bond that can handle a lot of weight.
Although with that said, in no way is it impact resistant. This type of glue forms quite a long lasting bond that is resistant to temperatures, moisture and some chemicals too. With that being said, it does not have the ability to bond to extremely smooth surfaces, which can be problematic when it comes to acrylic and plexiglass.
Solvent-Based Glues
Another option that you have to go with is a solvent based glue or solvent based adhesive. The good thing about solvent based adhesives is that they are able to bond with virtually all materials and they do form an extremely strong bond. Moreover, solvent based adhesives tend to end themselves be resistant to solvents, water, and temperatures. In terms of bonding acrylic, this is a perfectly fine option to go with, but do keep in mind that this type of glue tends to be expensive, very harmful to the environment, and it is not healthy for humans either.
Acrylic Plexiglass Cement
Perhaps the best option that you have to go with his actual acrylic plexiglass cement, which as you can probably tell by the name, is specially designed just for this purpose. The biggest advantage that you get here is that this type of adhesive is specially formulated to adhere very well to all types of plastic.
OK, so there are reports of different varieties of acrylic plexiglass cement out there, but the bottom line is that mostly all of them should work on most types of plastic. If you need a clear and high strength bond that dries quickly and looks nice, then this is a fantastic option to consider. When it comes down to it, actual acrylic cement is the best option for gluing plexiglass.
How to Bond Plexiglass – Step by Step
What we want to do right now is to provide you with a step-by-step instructional on how to bond plexiglass together. It may seem like a difficult task, but if you have the right kind of glue then it’s actually very easy. Now, with everything that we have said here today, we do not really recommend using super Glue over solvent based glues or actual acrylic plexiglass cement. Therefore, for the purposes of this article, we are talking about solvent based glues and acrylic cement.
Step 1: Prepare the Surface
First, you just want to wipe down both pieces of acrylic with a wet cloth and then dry them. You do not want there to be any kind of debris present when you go to apply the glue. This is extremely important because if there is any kind of debris present, not only will the glue not bond properly, but it also won’t look nice.
Step 2: Hold the Acrylic Together
Now what is quite odd about bonding acrylic together is that unlike when you are going other things together, you actually put the two pieces of acrylic together 1st and then insert the glue in between the joint. With any other glue you apply the glue 1st and then stick the two pieces together. But with this kind of project you have to attach the two pieces 1st and then squeeze the glue out in between the two pieces. Make sure that you only apply it sparingly.
Step 3: Clamp & Wait
Once the glue has been inserted between the two pieces of acrylic or practically glass, all you can do is clamp it together and wait for the cement or glue to dry. Depending on the conditions, this could take up to 24 or even 48 hours.
The Best Glue for Acrylic
The top best product [hide]
Weld-On 4 Acrylic Adhesive
This is a large batch of solvent glue that creates permanent bonds and, for the price, you are getting an excellent deal overall. Still, there are some downsides to using this product, mainly concerning messiness and difficulty placing the product.
You must get the product from the initial can-style packaging into the applicator bottle for each use. This can be messy in itself, but a bigger problem arises when attempting to clean the excess product from the applicator for future use if you need to do so. The applicator is prone to causing the product inside to dry out over time, so leaving it in is not necessarily an option unless you use this product regularly.
That being said, many reviewers and users report this product works well with other application methods and that this entire issue can be remedied by skipping the applicator bottle and working with the product directly. For the strength and permanence of the bond, many believe this product is wholly worth it.
SCIGRIP 16 Acrylic Cement
What's nice is that this stuff has a really fast setting time with a working time of about 6 minutes, so you have a bit of time to reposition things as needed.
Keep in mind that this product will achieve roughly 80% strength in 24 hours with a full cure being achieved in about 48 hours maximum. The plastics that this product is best used with are PVC, ABS, styrene, butyrate, and polycarbonate. Just keep in mind that it sticks best to porous surfaces, but doesn't do too well with non porous surfaces.
- Good setting time
- High strength
- Low VOC
IPS Weld-On 16 Acrylic Plastic Cement
What you might really like about this product is that here is very quickly, usually within just a few hours. Then you might the other thing you might like here is how this product comes, complete with a very fine and precise applicator cap. This means that you can use it without making much of a master using too much in one spot.
- Fast curing
- High strength
- For many types of plastic
J-B Weld 50133 Plastic Bonder Structural Adhesive
It's waterproof, it's resistant to virtually all solvents, and it handles heat really well too. The downside here is that you will need to clamp the materials together and you will need to wait for at least 30 hours to achieve a full cure. Do also keep in mind that this product can be used on thermoset and carbon fiber composites, on thermoplastics, coated metal, plastics and PVC, concrete, ceramic tile, fiberglass and aluminum.
Something else you might like about this product is that it comes with a resealable cap, so it won't leak or dry out. It's one of the only types of epoxy that you'll actually be able to use more than once without the syringe sticking shut.
- Good working time
- High strength bond
- Temperature and solvent resistant
Glue Masters Professional Grade Cyanoacrylate – Super Glue for Acrylics
- Shock resistant
- Versatile
- Easy to apply
Gorilla 7700104 Super Glue Gel
The gel formula combined with the no run cap allows you to confidently address the repair or project without worrying about messes or dripping, creating a safe, clean workspace without errors of excessive product waste.
Additionally, this product is an incredibly fast setting, drying in less than a minute. The bond is immovable at this point but does require more time to fully cure into a permanent adhesion, which is true with most glue products.
As a whole, this glue is a great option to have on hand for a wide range of adhesive needs, especially if you work with acrylic, which is a bit notorious for being finicky when it comes to bonding agents. You cannot go wrong with this fantastic option, especially for the price for the volume of contents in the bottle!
Aron Alpha Type 232 Instant Adhesive – Rapid Drying Glue for Acrylics
- Extremely strong
- Fast drying
- Suitable for nonporous materials
Loctite Clear Silicone – Clear Drying Glue for Acrylics
This is one of the only glues which is considered fully waterproof and works well at keeping out the elements. It also dries clear and is impact resistant despite being flexible. While it takes 24 hours to fully clear, it dries in less than 5 minutes and can be used in a broad range of temperatures and environments. It is made from 100% silicone. If you want flexibility for your acrylic project, this is a great glue.
- Waterproof
- Easy to apply
- Shock resistant
Loctite Epoxy Plastic Bonder – Epoxy Bonder for Acrylics
- Resistant to moisture
- Resistant to humidity
- Bonds multiple acrylic types
3M Scotch-Weld Plastic & Rubber Instant Adhesive – Low Viscosity Glue for Acrylics
- Precise application
- Dries rapidly
- Low viscosity
Glue for Acrylic FAQ
Do I need to use a solvent glue when working with acrylics?
How long does the glue take to cure?
Can I use solvent-based glue on laser-cut extruded acrylic?
Should I wear rubber gloves when working with acrylic glue?
Conclusion
Working with acrylics is challenging but rewarding. This unique category of materials provides you with many options for projects, but does require you use the right type of glue. When you are looking for the best glue for standard acrylics, we recommend the Aron Alpha Type 232 Instant Adhesive. This adhesive is easy to use and creates a tight bond in minutes, helping you prep and finish the rest of your project. If this style is too strong for you, using Glue Masters Professional Grade Cyanoacrylate would also be an excellent choice.
