Super glue is one of the strongest and most powerful adhesives available for home use. Depending on your age, you might remember seeing the old ads for Krazy Glue that ran during the 1980s. Those ads showed a man gluing his helmet to a metal beam, which then carried him across a construction site. Super glue today has a number of different uses. Some medical offices and hospitals use cyanoacrylate to glue flaps of skin together after an accident. The glue will slowly wear off as the cut heals. You can also use the glue on different surfaces such as metal and wood.
Does Super Glue Work on Metal?
Many hobbyists want to know if super glue will work on metal. The short answer is yes, but the long answer is that it depends. You must buy the right type of adhesive for the job you have in mind. Non-porous surfaces such as metal are often too slick and will prevent the glue from creating the hold that you need. An epoxy that you mix together might be a better option for you. Super glue can come in handy when making some basic car repairs or doing some types of metal work.
Can Super Glue Work on Metal to Metal?
One reason you may not get the hold that you need is that you didn’t clean the metal pieces first. You must clean both pieces of metal first and remove any debris that you see. To create a rougher surface, you can use a simple piece of sandpaper. As you run the sandpaper over the metal, it creates grooves and patches that give the glue something to stick to and will create a better bond. Once you clean the metal with some soapy water, you’ll want to dry each piece thoroughly before using any sandpaper.
Tips for Using Super Glue on Metal
After creating a rough surface, you can apply a few small drops from the bottle to one piece of metal. Though you may feel tempted to add glue to both pieces, you should start with just one. This reduces the risk that you might use too much glue, which will stop the parts from sticking together. After gluing the metal pieces together, use clamps to secure the parts to each other. Clamping is an important step that helps create the tight and secure bond that you need. It may cut down on the drying time too.
Sometimes it’s easy to get carried away when using super glue. If that happened to you, check out our article on removing super glue from metal.
Stay Safe When Gluing Metal
To stay safe when using super glue with metal, you should only work in a well-ventilated area such as a larger room with a fan blowing and multiple windows open. You can also do your gluing outside. The more air that blows around your workspace, the fewer fumes you’ll inhale. You should also take a few minutes to wash your hands after you finish working to remove any glue on your skin. If you find that super glue doesn’t create the strong bond that you need when working with metal, you can try an epoxy instead.
