One of the most common repair jobs is bonding plastic to metal. Starting from our homes to industries and workplaces, plastic to metal bonding for repair is essential. But depending on the instance at hand, the quality and bonding strength of the glue required can fluctuate greatly. In today’s article, we will give a rundown of the best glue for plastic to metal that we have tested. As usual, we will also provide you with a buying guide and FAQs section for general advice and tips. Let’s get started!
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- Clear drying
- Gives you ample to work with it
- Ideal for repairs, crafts, and more
- Works with virtually every material
- Heat resistant
- Waterproof
- Non-shrinking
- Self-mixing syringe
- Precise applicator tip
- Ease of use allows for less work and repair downtime
- Easy to apply with no clamping needed
- Very useful for projects involving multiple metals
- The tried and true classic squeeze bottle ensures ease of use
- The pin cap doesn’t clog, which removes the hassle of unclogging the mouth before every use
- An excellent choice for quick repairs as it dries fast
- Resistant to rough elements and paintable
- The high-temperature resistance ensures excellent performance for years down the line
- Bonds substrates very effectively
- The bonding strength of the adhesive is permanent
- Allows for quick and clean jewelry repairs
- The applicator trip is small, allowing you to squeeze the exact amount
- Super-strong bonding strength
- Works well with different types of materials
- Quick-drying and the fast-curing
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
When comes to the best glue for bonding plastic to metal, various epoxies are best to use. Epoxies generally consist of two components, a resin and a hardener. These are kept in separate bottles or compartments in a syringe.
When the two components mix together, they create a thermosetting chemical reaction that causes the mixture to harden. These tend to have great chemical and solvent resistance, water resistance, and heat resistance too.
Our number one top pick for the best plastic to metal glue is Gorilla 2 Part Epoxy. There are a few key features to be aware of.
- Permanent bond
- High tensile strength
- Ideal for repairs and gap filling
Gorilla 2 part epoxy glue is ideal for bonding metal to plastic, as it can be used for a wide variety of materials. It works for plastic, metal, wood, ceramic, tile, fiberglass, and more.
This glue sets in about 5 minutes, but takes about 24 hours to cure. This allows for plenty of time to work with it and to position pieces before the glue hardens.
The resin and hardener are each contained in a separate compartment of a syringe, thus keeping them apart prior to use.
The syringe features 1 push stopper, thus allowing the components to be evenly dispensed at once. However, do remember that some mixing is required before the glue can be applied to any surface.
This glue dries clear for easy finishing. It also forms a very durable bond that is ideal for repairs, for crafts, and more. Moreover, once cured, this glue is resistant to solvents, heat, and water.
Types of Glue for Plastic to Metal
Are you short on time or just want a quick answer?
Check out our list below for a summary of our results.
- Gorilla 2 Part Epoxy
- Gorilla All Purpose Epoxy Putty Stick
- Loctite Epoxy Five Minute Instant Mix
- Permatex 84209 PermaPoxy 4 Minute Multi-Metal Epoxy
- Loctite Liquid Professional Super Glue 20-Gram Bottle
- E-6000 Adhesive
- Aleene's Jewelry & Metal Instant Adhesive
- Technicqll Very Strong Epoxy Adhesive Glue
There are a few different types of glue that can be used to bond plastic and metal together. Some of these include epoxy, superglue, PVC adhesive. If you want an overview of the advantages and disadvantages for each type, see below.
Epoxy
The strongest type of glue for metal to plastic is epoxy. Epoxy is a two-part liquid adhesive that cures when mixed.
This material can be used in a variety of applications where it is desirable to have the adhesive on only one side. It cures quickly and has high tensile strength, good environmental resistance (in most cases), corrosion resistance, adheres well to both metals and plastics, resists aging from UV light exposure as well as moisture exposure for some time. However, this type of glue will not bond metal that has been galvanized or coated with zinc oxide paint because these coatings prevent rusting by reacting specifically with iron or steel metal surfaces.
Materials That Can Be Bonded with Epoxy:
- Plastic to aluminum
- Plastic to brass
- Plastic to bronze
Superglue
The second type of strong glue for metal to plastic is superglue or cyanoacrylate. This form of glue is a very quick and inexpensive way to bond plastics and metals together. This type of adhesive also has good tensile strength, corrosion resistance, adheres well to both metal and plastic surfaces as well as resists aging from UV light exposure for some time. The main downside with this type of glue is that it can be brittle when used on thin pieces or too much pressure is applied in the bonding process.
PVC Adhesive
The third option for strong glue for metal to plastic is PVC adhesive (polyvinyl chloride). This type of glue will stick readily at room temperature but requires heat activation due to its low viscosity. It offers high tear strength, excellent adhesion properties, chemical resistant properties because it contains no organic solvents, and resists moisture. The downside to this type of glue is that it has a relatively high shrinkage rate which can cause stress on the joint as well as its susceptibility to UV light (low resistance).
Best Glue for Plastic to Metal
Below is a rundown of the 5 best glue for plastic to metal bonding available online. The picks are based on our own tests and other user reviews online.
The top best product [hide]
Gorilla 2 Part Epoxy
This glue takes rouhgly 5 minutes to set and begin to harden. This means that you have a bit of time to work with it before it hardens, thus reducing pressure. It will take up to 24 hours to cure, but once it is cured, it forms an extremely strong bond.
This glue is also ideal because it dries clear, making it perfect for crafts and repairs where you don’t want to be able to see the glue when the project it is done. It can also be sanded down once cured. To ensure a long-lasting and stable bond, this glue is highly resistant to water, chemicals, and solvents.
- Easy-to-use syringe
- Clear drying
- 5 minute set
Gorilla All Purpose Epoxy Putty Stick
It is very easy to work with. Simply cut off the required amount for the application at hand, knead it for about a minute to heat it up a bit, apply it to the surfaces being bonded, and allow it to cure. It takes about 10 minutes to set, so you do have ample time for position, but it may take quite a while for it to cure totally.
That said, this putty is totally waterproof, has great heat resistance, it has extreme tensile strength, it can resist a lot of pressure and movement, and is just really strong overall. It may even be used for auto repairs and plumbing applications.
- Mess free
- 10 minute set
- Ideal for many surface types
Loctite Epoxy Five Minute Instant Mix
This glue sets in about 5 minutes, so it should be quite easy to work with. Once cured, it has a very high tensile strength and can resist great impacts.
You can use this Loctite product for bonding metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramic, concrete, porcelain, and more. It is totally waterproof, and once cured, it can also be sanded and painted, plus it does not shrink as it dries. This glue is also resistant to most common solvents.
- Self-mixing
- Waterproof
- High tensile strength
Permatex 84209 PermaPoxy 4 Minute Multi-Metal Epoxy
Loctite Liquid Professional Super Glue 20-Gram Bottle
E-6000 Adhesive
Aleene's Jewelry & Metal Instant Adhesive
Technicqll Very Strong Epoxy Adhesive Glue
How to Glue Metal to Plastic – Complete Guide
Step 1: Make sure it is not rusty or has any type of corrosion. Use a putty knife or similar object to scrape off any remaining debris, make sure it’s completely smooth
Step 2: Apply liquid degreaser before applying the adhesive so that it is invisible and there are no irregularities in texture for bonding surfaces together. For best results use Use multipurpose solvent, the great thing about it is that it evaporates. Degreaser need for cleaning the surface to be glued, so that there’s no residual oils or liquids.
Step 3: Now we need two-component epoxy glue. Two-component epoxy glue contains two tubes of liquid gel which you need to mix together for it to work properly. This is in contrast with standard adhesives like superglue and hot glue which are solid prepolymers made from synthetic polymers and organic solvents.
- Stay the resin portion until it’s smooth and free of bubbles.
- Next, add the hardener has been left in the resin container so everything fits.
- Now the two parts are combined give them a good stir.
Step 4: Now you’re ready to apply the glue for metal and plastic. Is highly viscous and it can be easily applied with the included spatula to horizontal or vertical surfaces.
Safety Precautions
To keep you safe and secure, let’s quickly go over a few important safety tips for working with glue that can bond metal to plastic.
- Always work in a well ventilated area to ensure that you do not inhale any fumes.
- If using industrial adhesives, you may need to wear a respirator to prevent lung damage.
- Always wear gloves to prevent super glue and epoxies from bonding with the skin.
- Remember that a small amount will go a long way.
- You may also consider wearing protective eyewear to keep glue out of your eyes.
- Keep all such products away from pets and children.
Glue For Plastic to Metal – Buying Guide
Keep multi-material bonding in mind when making your purchase
One of the first things that you should keep in mind when buying glue for bonding hard materials is how widely applicable it is. Since the bonding strength, you are looking for needs to be strong enough to bond two hard materials, the glue should work effectively with multiple materials like wood, glass, metal, etc. The bond needs to be strong enough to handle drilling, filing and other extra stress – fresh off the bonding process. But sometimes, depending on your requirements, particular selections need to be made based on relative surface energy, elastic modulus and thermal expansion of the bonding materials. Plastics require different bonding agents based on HSE (High Surface Energy) or LSE (Low Surface Energy).
Common types of glues used for plastic to metal bonding
The most common types of glues available on the market for public purchase are tube-based glue and two-part epoxy putties. While both types are effective, the mixture based epoxy putties generally have more bonding strength than the tube based-glue, unless the former is industrial grade. Tube-based glue are best for small and intricate repairs, as the nozzle is generally small enough to reach small cracks and gaps. These types of glue are most popular for crafts and small-item repair, like miniature models. These types of glue are comparatively easy to get off your skin. The putty based adhesives for plastic to metal are more commonly used for large repairs and handymen work. The application process needs more care, but the bond is capable of withstanding rough weather and extreme temperatures. Compared to tube-based glue, putty-based glue are more sticky and difficult to get off skin or clothes. Base your purchase on what your actual needs are.
How to pre-prepare surface for bonding with professional-grade glue
With some putty based adhesives, preparing the mixture alone is not enough. You also need to prepare the surfaces that are going to be bonded so that the process is done properly and effectively. This basically boils down to cleaning the surface properly and sometimes varnishing and dusting as well. Cleaning the surface with sandpaper or steel wool is very effective and is done by professional handymen. But never the less, it is advisable to follow the instruction manual as closely as possible.
FAQ
What are metal glues and how many types are there?
What is a control applicator?
How to avoid skin spills?
Conclusion
So there you go – our picks for the best glue for plastic to metal available online. If you opened this article hoping for some good tips and recommendations, we hope the content and reviews were helpful to you. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
