Wondering how to glue plastic together? Most plastic objects are a simple fix, as it’s just a matter of using the right adhesive. Read on to find out how to glue plastic to plastic, step by step.
There are so many kinds of plastic, used in such a variety of ways, that it can be hard to know which glue to use. The “best way to glue plastic” all depends on the project.
As a general rule, for any heavy-duty plastic repair that involves surfaces exposed to water, pressure or high temperatures, you should choose an appropriate construction adhesive. For example, if you’re working with PVC pipes, you’ll need an adhesive specifically designed for that purpose.
However, the good news is that for most standard fixes around the house, you can bond plastic to plastic with a super glue like Loctite Super Glue Gel Control. It’s ideal for quickly repairing plastic objects like toys, accessories or decorations.
A high-quality plastic adhesive gives new life to your items in just a few minutes
Another option, which works even with tricky plastics like polyethylene, is Loctite Plastics Bonding System.
In the sections below we’ll show you exactly how to glue plastic together with both of these adhesives, so you can get started now.
Super glues are compatible with most hard plastics, such as acrylic and polystyrene.
You can usually identify which kind of plastic the object is made from. Check the recycling symbol (the little triangle) on the object, or the packaging, and look up the meaning of the number or letters. For instance, a recycling symbol with “6” or “PS” means “polystyrene.” That means you can use super glue.
If you’re unable to identify the plastic, see the section below, and find out how to glue plastic with a specialized plastic adhesive.
On the other hand, if you’ve identified the plastic and are confident that it’s compatible with super glue, you can start gluing!
We recommend a quality, easy-to-use super glue like Loctite Super Glue Gel Control. It has a precise applicator, so there’s no need to worry about making a mess.
Here’s how to glue plastic to plastic with super glue:
- Safety first. Make sure the room is well-ventilated. Consider wearing gloves.
- Prepare the plastic surfaces. They should be completely clean and dry. Pre-fit the parts.
- Apply the super glue. Squeeze the bottle to apply a small amount of glue on one of the plastic surfaces.
- Press the surfaces together immediately. Keep the two plastic surfaces pressed together for 15-30 seconds.
- Leave to dry. For best results, leave the plastic undisturbed for 10 minutes. The adhesive will be fully cured within 24 hours.
- Clean up. Meanwhile, clean up any excess wet adhesive with a tissue. You can remove dried adhesive with acetone or a sharp blade, but take care not to damage the plastic.
Repair cherished everyday objects permanently with plastic glue
If you’re not sure which plastic you’re working with, you should use a specialized plastic adhesive to be on the safe side.
Loctite Plastics Bonding System is a high strength, versatile glue that works with all plastics – even hard-to-bond materials like polyethylene and polypropylene. It’s quick and easy to use and dries transparent. All things considered, it’s one of the best ways to glue plastic.
Loctite Plastics Bonding System comes with two parts – an adhesive, and an activator which can be applied first when bonding difficult plastics like polyethylene.
Here’s how to glue plastic together:
- Safety first. Work in a well-ventilated space. Wear gloves, or wash hands afterwards.
- Prepare the plastic surfaces. They should be clean and dry. To improve adhesion, you can roughen the plastic with sandpaper.
- To glue most plastics, you can just use the adhesive. Use a small amount of adhesive on one plastic surface.
- To glue hard-to-bond plastics use the activator first, then the adhesive. Apply the activator to both plastic surfaces. Leave it to dry for 1 minute. Then apply a small amount of the adhesive to one of the surfaces.
- After applying the adhesive, press the surfaces together. Hold them in place for around 30 seconds while the bond sets.
- Leave to dry. Wait at least 10 minutes, or for best results, leave to dry overnight. The adhesive may take up to 24 hours to cure fully.
- Clean up. Use a tissue to clean up any excess wet adhesive. Dried adhesive can be removed with acetone or a sharp blade, but this may damage the plastic.