Puzzled about how to keep your finished puzzle together? Then learn how to glue puzzles so you can frame, hang, and admire your achievements. After all, many puzzles are like works of art when completed. Keep reading to find out how to glue jigsaw puzzles together.
You can use several types of adhesive to glue puzzles, but special puzzle glues are a great option. They combine adhesive with lacquer that gives your project a beautiful finish and are specially formulated so they neither flake nor cloud nor damage the pieces.
Clear liquid adhesives, such as wood glues, are good alternatives for gluing puzzles together. When selecting your liquid adhesive, make sure it does not have any coloring that could impact the appearance of your puzzle; many products dry translucent yellow.
You can also reach for spray adhesives like Loctite Spray Adhesive Multi Purpose. The adhesive will not bleed through, wrinkle, or curl your puzzle pieces and sets in only 10 minutes. What is more, it dries transparent and will not yellow as it ages, meaning your puzzle will look pristine for many years.
You need the following materials to glue puzzles:
- adhesive
- parchment or wax paper
- sponge or brush
- cloth and books as weights (optional)
- Prepare your work surface. Work on a large surface and on top of parchment/wax paper. Carefully slide the paper under your puzzle.
- Prepare the puzzle. Remove any lint/dirt from the surface and flatten it as much as you can.
- Carefully apply the glue. Use as little glue as possible to avoid curling during and after drying. Pour some glue onto the center of your puzzle and spread it outwards as evenly as possible with the sponge/brush, covering every piece. Work gently to avoid damaging the puzzle.
- Remove excess glue. Use your sponge/brush to remove excess glue from the surface.
- Let it dry. Check your product’s instructions for information on drying time.
- Glue the back. Carefully remove the puzzle from the wax/parchment paper and flip it over. Lay it face down on the paper and repeat steps 3 to 5.
Tip: Gluing the back of the puzzle increases its stability and can get rid of curled edges.
7. Flatten it. If your puzzle still has buckles, cover the puzzle with a cloth and weigh it down with books overnight.
Choose a sturdy, thin foam board backing and a mount that showcases your puzzle. Select a frame before mounting.
To glue a puzzle for framing, you need the following:
- foam board backing
- cutting mat
- metal straight edge
- utility/craft knife
- pencil
- cloth and books
1. Cut the backing. Cut the foam board so it fills the frame using a utility/craft knife, cutting mat, and metal straightedge.
2. Make your mark. Lightly mark where you want to position your puzzle on the backing.
3. Glue the puzzle to the backing. Apply glue to the back of the puzzle as explained above and attach it to the backing, aligning it with your markings.
4. Ensure strong bonds. Cover the project with a cloth and place books on it to ensure the puzzle bonds to the backing.
5. Let it dry. Check your product’s instructions for information on drying time.
6. Frame it. Place the backing and puzzle in a frame, and trim off any excess backing.