Whether you are doing some small repairs, a DIY project, or some crafts, something you might need to do is to bond aluminum together. Finding the right glue for aluminum can be quite a challenge because there are so many options to pick from. Today we are here to help you find the best glue for aluminum.
Click here to skip to our recommended pick!
- Very strong
- Works on many surfaces
- Resistant to heat and chemicals
- Very strong
- Ideal for metal repairs
- Can be worked with once cured
- Great for various metals
- High tensile strength
- High temperature resistance
- Highly resistant to chemicals
- Does not shrink
- Can be worked with once cured
- Quick setting
- Temperature resistant
- High tensile strength
- Works with many materials
- High tensile strength
- High temperature resistance
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
JB Weld 8281 Steel Reinforced Epoxy
If you are looking for the best glue for aluminum, you need to choose options that are of the cyanoacrylates glue family. This is actually the technical term for adhesives that are commonly referred to as super glue.
Cyanoacrylates are very strong and fast acting adhesives and it works when the molecules come in contact with water. When they come in contact with water, they form very strong chains, which in turn form what is essentially a plastic mesh. At this point, the best glue for aluminum is JB Weld.
When it comes to the best glue for aluminum, we do think that JB Weld is the best, and this is due to a number of reasons. First of all, it can be used on virtually any surface and to bond many materials together. This includes metal, PVC, plastic, wood, concrete, ceramic, tile, and fiberglass.
This is a simple two part epoxy. Take both tubes, mix an equal amount of both tubes together, and then use the mixture to bond aluminum. As far as two part epoxies go, cyanoacrylates like JB Weld are quite easy to use.
What is impressive about JB Weld is that it has an extremely high tensile strength and can withstand up to 5,020 PSI, which is a lot indeed. It is said that the bond which this particular super glue forms is stronger than steel.
It can hold a whole lot of weight, not to mention that it is resistant to high temperatures up to nearly 300 Celsius, so heat won’t degrade it either.
Although JB Weld does take a while to cure, once it is cured, it is also totally waterproof, as well as resistant to chemicals, acids, and even petroleum. It’s also a good option because it can be drilled, sanded, painted, and more, all once it is totally cured.
Top Features
- Works on many surfaces
- Waterproof
- Resistant to heat, petroleum, chemicals, and acid
- Steel reinforced
- High tensile strength
- Can be manipulated after drying
Glue for Aluminum – Buying Guide
Before you start buying just any old glue for metal, here we have a short buying guide for you, so you know exactly what to look for.
Are you short on time or just want a quick answer?
Check out our list below for a summary of our results.
- J-B Weld 8281 Professional Size Steel Reinforced Epoxy (Our Overall #1 Pick)
- 3M Marine Adhesive Sealant
- Hy-Poxy H-450 Alumbond
- Permatex Permapoxy
- Loctite Epoxy Weld Bonding Compound
- J-B Weld 8276 KwikWeld Reinforced Epoxy
- J-B Weld 8272 MarineWeld Marine Epoxy
Types of Glue for Aluminum
There are 3 main types of glue that you could use to bond aluminum to aluminum, or even to bond aluminum to steel, and for bonding aluminum to plastic.
Adhesives
Adhesives are perhaps the simplest of the glues that can be used for aluminum. These come in various types, ones that dry flexible or rigid, ones that set fast or slow, and ones that dry with color or transparent. These generally have a high resistance to chemicals and heat, although their bond strength may not be as high as with the other types.
Epoxies
This type of glue is often used with metal. These are usually part of a 2 part system, one part being the resin and the other being the hardener. These can be a bit messy because the 2 parts need to be mixed first.
However, this two part system forms an incredibly strong bond with extreme tensile strength. This type of glue for aluminum doesn’t always cure very quickly, but once cured, it is incredibly strong and resistant to many things. The strongest epoxy for metal has high tensile strength.
Super Glue
Super glues, also known as cyanoacrylates, is perhaps the best type of metal glue to use. This type of glue is often used because it has the ability to bond with many materials including things like wood, plastics, rubber, fabric, metal, tile, ceramic, fiberglass, and more. These generally dry and cure fast, they often dry clear, and they have great tensile strength too.
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What is the Best Type of Glue for Aluminum?
Most experts would agree that single component adhesives are best for bonding metal to metal, such as for bonding aluminum to aluminum.
Single component epoxies, as well as single component super glue, such as the JB Weld Epoxy we have looked at today, are great options to go with.
That being said, super glue (cyanoacrylates), single component adhesives, two component adhesives, and structural acrylics are all options you have at your disposal here.
On a side note, did you know that there is glue out there that can withstand several thousand pounds of pressure? Yes, that is right! For instance, the number one pick we have gone with today can hold up over 5,000 pounds!
How to Glue Aluminum to Aluminum
Bonding aluminum together with glue is actually not very difficult. You really just have to make sure that both pieces of aluminum are clean and dry, then glue them according to the instructions on the specific adhesive that you have purchased.
For the most part, this will mean applying a minimal amount of glue to one of the surfaces, pressing both surfaces together, and unless it is super fast drying and curing glue, you may have to clamp the two parts together until the glue cures.
If you are using very fast curing super glue, be sure to work fast, as the super glue will start to harden as soon as it comes out of the tube or bottle. Below, we have included a detailed video on how to bond aluminum with adhesives.
Safety Tips for Gluing Aluminum
Here we have a few safety tips for you to follow while bonding aluminum to other pieces of aluminum, or to any other type of surface.
- We would strongly recommend wearing some sort of gloves while working with adhesives, particularly fast drying super glues. They will bond with skin.
- You may also want to wear some form of eye protection to prevent any glue from getting into your eyes.
- Always wear old clothing that you don’t mind getting ruined by glue. Most adhesives will not simply come off in the washing machine.
- Always read the label of the specific glue you have. There are a select few products out there that require the user to wear a face mask or respirator. Either way, try to use super glue in a well ventilated area to prevent inhaling any fumes.
The Best Glue for Aluminum
Let’s take a look at the 7 best glues for aluminum right now.
The top best product [hide]
J-B Weld 8281 Professional Size Steel Reinforced Epoxy
This glue has an extremely high tensile strength of over 5,000 pounds once cured. Moreover, it is also 100% waterproof, it is resistant to very high temperatures, and resistant to chemicals, acids, and petroleum too. Keep in mind that this is a two part epoxy, so it does need to be mixed right before use. Also, keep in mind that it can take up to 24 hours to cure.
- 2 part epoxy
- Steel reinforced
- Great tensile strength
- Can be painted/sanded/drilled once cured
- Waterproof
- Heat resistant
3M Marine Adhesive Sealant
This stuff is made with a polyurethane polymer that is resistant to weather and salt water. One thing to keep in mind is that it may degrade if exposed to too much sunlight, so it should only be used where the sun cannot reach it. Although it does not require mixing, this adhesive may take up to 7 days to fully cure.
- Requires no mixing
- 100% waterproof
- Easy to apply
Hy-Poxy H-450 Alumbond
Keep in mind that once cured, this glue will remain grey in color, but it can be drilled, tapped, sanded, threaded, and painted. This is a non-magnetic and non-rusting aluminum finish.
- Extreme tensile strength
- Designed specifically for aluminum
- Can be drilled, tapped, sanded, and painted
Permatex Permapoxy
This stuff cures very quickly, within about 15 minutes, and it does not require clamping either. The syringe dispenser accurately dispenses equal parts of the resin and hardener, allowing for easy and precise mixing. This glue has incredible temperature resistance once cured, it has a tensile strength of 4,500 pounds, and it can be drilled, tapped, threaded, painted, and sanded once cured.
- Works on various metals
- Very strong
- Temperature resistant
- Cures fast
Loctite Epoxy Weld Bonding Compound
- Resistant to chemicals
- Works on most metals
- Non-shrinking
J-B Weld 8276 KwikWeld Reinforced Epoxy
- Fast curing
- Works with many materials
- High tensile strength
J-B Weld 8272 MarineWeld Marine Epoxy
- Meant for marine applications
- Workable when cured
- Waterproof
Final Verdict
When it comes down to it, if you need the best glue for aluminum, we would of course recommend our own top pick of the day. However, with that being said, we do think that any of the products from JB-Weld, that have been reviewed today, are all prime choices to keep in mind.
