Unfortunately, there is no set time at which glue dries. There are so many different factors that go into this time that it would be nearly impossible to come up with a set time for every single type of glue out there. Of course, the type of glue that you use makes a huge difference in how long it takes to dry. The climate and temperature can also make a difference as well as what you are trying to use the glue on. Because of how many different factors there are with regard to glue’s drying time, it is much easier to look at the drying times by the type of glue that you are using.
How Long Does Glue Take to Dry?
What Types of Glues Are There?
Simply put, these are the types of glues that you should know about so that you can prepare your projects and crafts around their drying times:
- White craft glue
- Wood glue
- PVAs
- Superglue
- Gorilla Glue
- UHU Glue
- Krazy Glue
How Long Does White Craft Glue Take to Dry?
White craft glue, most often called Elmer’s Glue, is one of the most commonly used glues out there. It’s usually used in crafts for young children and it can sometimes be used in other situations as well. Of course, the amount of time that it takes for Elmer’s Glue to dry varies based on a few things. This type of glue in particular is used in children’s crafts because of its low toxicity and the fact that if it is spilled, it’s pretty easy to clean up. As long as the project is clamped together for a bit, the glue should be able to set in the position that you want it to set in.
In the end, white craft glue is going to take about one hour to properly set. It will not be at its full strength until it has completely dried, which takes about 24 hours in total. This means that you can probably set the craft in a safe area after about an hour and leave it there until the glue has completely dried.
How Long Does Wood Glue Take to Dry?
Wood glue, as you might be able to imagine, is a type of glue that is made specifically to work with wood. This is perfect for when you are trying to secure pieces of wood together or if you are trying to attach something to a piece of wood. Wood glue is also able to stand up to use better, which is important with some projects. More often than not, it is stronger than craft glue, which is good. One thing that you will need to keep in mind when searching for wood glue is that some types of wood glue are better suited to interior conditions whereas others are better suited to outdoor weather conditions, although this has little bearing on how long it takes the glue to dry.
Thankfully, most wood glue will set in less than an hour, which means that you do not have to clamp your project together for very long. You should be wary about the fact that it can take about 24 hours for it to reach its full strength, though, so it would be best to keep your project in a safe place until those 24 hours have passed to ensure that it will be as stable and structurally sound as possible.
If you’re interested in reading about the best types of wood glue for your project, click here to go to a post I wrote on that exact topic.
How Long Does It Take for PVAs to Dry?
This question is harder to answer as PVAs are a type of adhesive and not a type of glue. PVAs, more specifically polyvinyl acetates, are the common adhesive in many kinds of wood and project glues. It is stronger than typical white craft glue and it is also a bit more difficult to work with. In a way, you can think of PVA glue as being an upgraded form of craft glue and they come in several different forms. They can be used for book binding and box sealing. The wood glue variant is, well, a wood glue. The water-resistant variant is best used outside where the glue might be prone to rainwater. It should not be submerged in water, though.
As for how long this type of glue takes to dry, it is quite similar to other glues in this area. Usually, the glue will completely set in about an hour or so, meaning that you will have to keep the project clamped for a fair bit of time. After that first hour has passed, you should wait a full 24 hours before doing anything else with it. During those 24 hours, the glue will completely dry and harden, binding the two objects together.
How Long Does Superglue Take to Dry?
Superglue is a specific type of adhesive known as cyanoacrylate. It bonds extremely quickly to surfaces, so much so that it can be hazardous when working with bare skin. It is sometimes even used to seal small cuts shut on the skin, although this carries risks of its own. With that being said, it bonds quickly and dries even more quickly so if you have it at your disposal and your project can handle this type of adhesive, it is the fastest way to get the job done.
Depending on which specific type of superglue you are working with, it can take seconds or minutes for it to completely set. Once it has set into place, it will be completely dry within a few more minutes. If you accidentally get it into a surface that you don’t want it on, you can often wipe it off with acetone as long as you don’t leave it to set. I’ve talked in more detail about 5 great options for super glue right here.
How Long Does Gorilla Glue Take to Dry?
Gorilla Glue is a popular brand of glue that has earned its fame for being incredibly durable and long-lasting. It is a good all-purpose type of glue that can be used for many different purposes. Some people use it as their go-to when something needs to be glued together. Other people simply use the wood glue variants. No matter what your reasoning is for using Gorilla Glue specifically, you should know exactly how long it should take for it to bond and dry.
Typically, you will have about 10 to 15 minutes to work with the glue before it begins to bond and set into place. You should keep your project clamped for about one to two hours when you are working in a 68- to 120-degree (Fahrenheit) environment; room temperature is often best. In about one to two more hours, it should be about 80% cured and the remaining 20% will happen over the course of the next 24 hours.
If you’d like to see how Gorilla glue and super glue compare in more detail, check out this article I put together on that topic.
How Long Does UHU Glue Take to Dry?
UHU Glue is another popular brand of glue that has many different products for you to choose from. One of the most popular products that they offer is their superglue, which follows most superglue rules. Aside from this, they specialize in all-purpose glues that are fairly standard. They do better than many white craft glues while giving you the durability and stability that you always want from your glue.
Going by the universal glue that UHU is known for, you can usually expect the final bonding strength to take a little bit more than 24 hours to fully develop, meaning that this is not the glue that you should be using if you are in a rush. In fact, only about two-thirds of the full strength will be obtained after the 24-hour period. This is definitely something to consider if you are gluing something together that needs to be done in a certain amount of time.
How Long Does Krazy Glue Take to Dry?
Krazy Glue is another type of universal glue that has many all-purpose applications, meaning that it is one that you are sure to have somewhere in your house or in your tool bag. Having an all-purpose glue is always a good idea even if you don’t anticipate breaking things regularly. With that being said, Krazy Glue also comes in a variety of formulations including craft glues and gels; however, by looking at the universal glue, you should be able to get a good idea on how long it takes Krazy Glue to dry.
Thankfully, Krazy Glue dries a little bit more quickly than UHU glue as one of its specialties is being a “fast-acting adhesive”. The only thing that you will need is water to act as the catalyst for the glue and you will have an industrial-strength adhesive on your hands. Once you clamp the pieces together for about 30 seconds and ensure that they are stable, you can let go and wait a few minutes. This will allow the Krazy glue to set. If you want to make sure that you get the most strength out of your glue, you should allow it to stay put overnight, which typically means about eight to ten hours.
Conclusion
All in all, these are just some of the drying times that you can expect if you’re going to be doing some DIY around the house. Generally, glue will take from several hours to dry, up to a day or so. If you’re having a hard time waiting for your glue to dry, I wrote an article here about six different ways you can make your glue dry faster.
