Whether you are building something for your kitchen, doing arts and crafts, or anything in between, cork is always a handy material. It’s super heat resistant, it’s hydrophobic, and it has many uses both in and out of the house. That said, sticking pieces of cork to each other or to other materials can be a bit tricky. This is what we are here for today, to help you find the best glue for cork out there.
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- Expands into materials
- Waterproof
- Indoor and outdoor use
- Dries relatively fast
- Fast bonding
- Permanent bond
- Very strong bond
- Great for high traffic areas
- Impact resistant
- Good for large projects
- For porous and non-porous materials
- Resists moisture and mold
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Gorilla White Waterproof Polyurethane Glue
Our number one choice for the best glue for cork is Gorilla White Waterproof Polyurethane Glue, a special type of wood glue designed to be waterproof and to form a very strong bond. This is a very strong and affordable glue that can be used for cork, various types of wood, and more.
- 100% waterproof
- Dries white
- Can be used for cork, wood, stone, metal, ceramic, foam, and much more
- Expands to form a strong bond
- Easy to apply
There are a few different reasons why we think that Gorilla White Waterproof Polyurethane Glue is the best choice to go with.
For one, the fact that it can be used for so many different materials. This means that you can use this glue to stick cork to virtually anything else, which comes in handy for repairs, construction, and crafts alike.
Moreover, the fact that this glue is 100% waterproof is a big deal too, because it means that it can be used both outdoors and indoors, as well as for high traffic areas that may get wet from time to time.
What also stands out about Gorilla White Waterproof Polyurethane Glue is that it expands up to three times after having been applied, which means that it works well for tight spaces, especially for super porous materials like cork.
You may not like how this glue requires about two hours of clamping, to allow it to dry, as well as the fact that it dries white.
Glue for Cork: Buying Guide
Before you go out and start buying glue for your cork related projects, let’s first take a look at some very interesting and useful facts that you might like and need to know.
What is Cork?
Before we can talk about what the best glue for cork is, it would probably be helpful for you to know what cork actually is. Well, cork is made out of the phellem layer of tree bark, specifically the cork oak tree.
This phellem layer of bark is harvested, processed, and pressed together. One thing you might be familiar with is the cork potholder, something you use to put hot pots on counters and tables without damaging the surface beneath.
What is Cork Glue?
Are you short on time or just want a quick answer?
Check out our list below for a summary of our results.
- Gorilla White Waterproof Polyurethane Glue (Our Overall #1 Pick)
- Weldwood Original Contact Cement
- E6000 Craft Adhesive
- Gorilla Super Glue Gel
- Liquid Nails Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive
- Roberts Cork Underlayment Adhesive
Technically speaking, there is no such thing as cork glue per say. This is not like with wood, where you have wood glue. That being said, since cork is technically made out of wood, or at least related to it, one of the go-to choices for gluing it is wood glue. However, for the most part, people usually choose to go with some sort of contact cement adhesive to glue cork to other materials.
Types of Glue for Cork
As mentioned above, there are a few different types of glue that can be used for cork. Right now, we want to take a look at each of them and why you might choose them.
Contact Cement
The first and most popular glue choice for cork is contact cement. Now, keep in mind that this is technically not cement, but rather a neoprene rubber adhesive that dries very fast, it dries flexible, and it creates a permanent bond.
The reason why it is so popular for cork is because, for one, it generally bonds on contact, and moreover it dries very fast, thus reducing or even eliminating the need for clamping.
There is also the fact that contact cement adheres to nearly everything, and it is waterproof too. That said, contact cement does not do well in the sunlight, so it should not be used for outdoor projects.
Wood Glue
The next option you have at your disposal is some good old wood glue, scientifically known as PVA or polyvinyl acetate.
Wood glue is ideal to use for smaller projects that involve cork, especially because it has a relatively thick and viscous nature, so it sticks well, yet is also thin enough to run into those little cracks and crevices that cork features.
Moreover, wood glue has a long working time, so it is easy to apply and to adjust before it dries, although you will probably need to do some clamping. Finally, wood glue can also be waterproof depending on the type you use and can potentially be used for outdoor projects.
Liquid Nails
Liquid nails is a special type of heavy duty construction adhesive. It’s almost like super glue that comes in a caulking tube. This stuff is perfect for outdoor use, as it resists sunlight, temperature, and moisture very well.
It also forms a very strong and tough bond that is impact resistant, with a working time of about ten minutes. If you have big construction jobs to do that involve cork, liquid nails might be your best bet.
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How to Glue Cork
Gluing cork is not very hard at all. You simply have to choose the right glue, apply the appropriate amount as instructed by the label, clamp the pieces together if need be, and then let the glue dry. For a more detailed and thorough explanation of how to glue cork, check out this video.
This video illustrates how to use glue for a cork board. Here we have another video that can come in handy if you need to glue cork to wood.
Safety Tips
To keep you safe, let’s quickly go over a few important safety tips for gluing cork.
- Always wear eye protection to keep glue out of your eyes.
- Always work in a well ventilated area to avoid inhaling fumes.
- Always wear gloves to keep glue off your hands.
- Wearing old clothes doesn’t hurt either.
The Best Glue for Cork
The top best product [hide]
Gorilla White Waterproof Polyurethane Glue
You may also like how this glue can stick to virtually any kind of material, and yes, this includes cork. Moreover, because of the expanding nature of this glue, it works very well for porous materials like cork. The design of the bottle and the viscosity of this glue also make it very easy to apply. Now, this glue does dry twice as fast as other similar products, but it will still require about two hours of clamping.
- Waterproof
- Expanding
- Adheres to many materials
- Good for porous materials
Weldwood Original Contact Cement
Weldwood Original Contact Cement is designed for large scale application and gluing, such as if you wanted to glue down a floor’s worth of cork tiles onto a wooden subfloor.
One of the reasons why this choice is so popular is because it can bond to a variety of porous and non-porous materials. This stuff features a really strong bond, and it’s quite tacky too.
It sticks really fast, and once it bonds, which is almost instantly, that bond is permanent. Let’s keep in mind that this product is resistant to heat and water, so it can be used indoors and outdoors. That said, it’s not completely waterproof.
- Large quantity
- Permanent bond
- Bonds on contact
- Good for porous and non-porous materials
E6000 Craft Adhesive
E6000 is the perfect option for small crafts. It comes in a small bottle that makes it easy to dispense, and dispensing is made accurate thanks to the thin nozzle.
This glue sticks to virtually anything and everything, and therefore it is ideal for cork and all sorts of projects.
This stuff forms a very permanent bond that remains flexible, heat resistant, and completely waterproof too. There’s also the fact that it dries very quickly and does not require clamping.
- Industrial strength
- Waterproof
- Temperature proof
- Dries quite flexible
Gorilla Super Glue Gel
This Gorilla super glue is perfect for bonding plastic, wood, metal, ceramic, rubber, leather, paper and more. It dries and bonds within 30 seconds, which is great for small crafts, plus it doesn’t need any clamping.
Although this product may not be 100% waterproof, it does dry clear, flexible, and with great impact resistance. The small bottle is easy to hold and the applicator tip makes it easy to apply small amounts with precision.
- No run
- Fast setting
- Impact resistant
- For many materials
Liquid Nails Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive
This product is very easy to apply with a caulking gun, and thanks to its thin tip, applying it with precision is doable as well. This product is designed for relatively large scale use, for something like bonding cork tiles to a plywood subfloor.
This glue is very strong and it forms a near permanent bond that has plenty of flexibility, impact resistance, and water resistance too. If you need to glue big and heavy materials, this construction adhesive is the way to go. That said, it does take some time to dry.
- For heavy duty use
- Water resistant
- Durable bond
- Good impact resistance
Roberts Cork Underlayment Adhesive
- Adheres to many materials
- Mold and mildew resistant
- Good for cork underlayment
When it comes to gluing cork to cork and to other materials, there are some questions you may have, and right now, we will do our very best to answer them.
FAQ
Does PVA glue stick on cork?
How do you attach wood to cork?
Does Gorilla Glue work on cork?
What is the best glue to use on wine corks?
Conclusion
Once again, the number one best glue for cork is Gorilla White Waterproof Polyurethane Glue. It’s strong, it’s water resistant, it and it works great for all sorts of materials too. Just remember what your primary purpose is, and this should help you choose the right product for the task at hand.
