5 Best Glue for Fiberglass and Plastic in 2023
If you are a DIY fan, you know it is somewhat challenging to find adhesives for fiberglass and plastic. If you are not, the fact can be shocking for you.
Well, fiberglass and plastic are similar yet very different materials. Fiberglass is often called reinforced plastic with glass fiber incorporated into resin. We will get into the details later.
Nevertheless, both the material has very smooth surfaces and not every glue adheres to it.
However, finding the best glue for fiberglass and plastic is a tough thing these days. Read on and learn why you need sealants designed explicitly for the materials.
Need Quick Decision? just follow this table
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Benefits of Using Glue for Fiberglass
The use of fiberglass has skyrocketed in recent years for its lightweight and high strength properties. With the increasing use of composite material in every sector, from manufacturing to food processing, glues for fiberglass materials are also becoming widespread to bind the material with anything and everything.
In our everyday life, we use many different things that are made of composite material. So, when one breaks or damages, what do you do? Fix it with glue, right? But the glues meant for fiberglass expand beyond just fixing or repairing and provide a lot of other advantages. See for yourself.
Creates a Long-Lasting Bond
Increase the shelf life of your favorite item by just gluing it together. The glues for fiberglass form strong and durable bonds with anything it is applied on.
Weather and Heat Resistant
Even in extreme weather conditions, the adhesives are found to retain the bond strength. You can repair your door frames, window, automotive parts, and boats with ease, only by applying the glue.
Great for Load-Bearing Structures
The structures under load need something that provides robust bond strength and are elastic as well. These glues make a permanent bond in a structure that offers ample flexibility and toughness.
Perfect for All Kinds of DIY Projects
Take control of any DYI project that deals with stuff made of plastic and fiberglass. Enjoy the fun of creation with several types of glues for different purposes. And don’t worry, it practically never breaks.
Our Top 5 Best Glue for Fiberglass and Plastic
Below are five of the premium quality adhesives for fiberglass and plastic. The product is abundantly available, yet hard to find one that is suitable for your target material. So, check them out!
1. Loctite Clear Silicone Sealant
Not all the adhesives you’ll see are meant for fiberglass and plastic. These are special ones available in the market. We’re starting with a versatile adhesive from one of the most reliable brands, Loctite, that has been on the market with their quality products for about fifty years.
The multi-purpose sealant Loctite Clear Silicone is waterproof and weather-resistant as well. And it works on almost anything and everything. You can use it to bind plastic, glass, porcelain, stainless steel, aluminum, rubber, fiberglass, and tile.
Unlike the typical ones in the marketplace, this glue is extreme temperature and weather-resistant, and it performs the binding job both indoors and outdoors exceptionally well.
It can be used to repair windows, door frames, toys, gaskets, you just name it. And if your favorite leather boots have leaks, it can fix them too!
Also, the sealant works faster than other silicone adhesives, requires only 5-10 minutes to dry and 24 hours of curing to achieve the highest degree of bonding.
As we mentioned earlier, it is waterproof, so you can use it to bind cracks on an aquarium, whether freshwater or saltwater.
After you applied it on, it flexes with the material over time, making it impact resistant.
So, it won’t be wrong to call it a universal binding material, right? However, even the highest quality products come with limitations. The glue can’t work on harder surfaces like concrete, galvanized metal, marble, and limestone.
Nevertheless, the 2.7 oz tube can be an excellent addition to your home repairing tools.
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2. J-B Weld 50139 Plastic Bonder
Another sealant that performs exceptionally well in binding plastic and fiberglass is the J-B Weld Plastic Bonder. Apart from the two materials, it is compatible with metal, ceramic, and concrete.
The product comes with a two-part formula in a dual plunger for easy mixing of the formula in equal ratio. And the blended adhesive works as binding material and gap filler.
Whether you want something strong for your DIY projects or need fixing cracked plastic or fiberglass items, the J-B bonder will provide you with a robust bond of 3770 PSI.
Yes, that’s strong! And it works fast too. You need to give it only 15 minutes to set, and your broken piece of showpiece or vase will look just as new.
To some people mixing the adhesive can be a bit inconvenient. Well, it comes with a stir stick and a mixing tray. And the unique double syringe ensures you don’t mess up with the ratio. Just pour it on the tray, mix it properly and apply gently on the surface with the stirrer.
However, you need to be extra careful not to misapply it. The strong bond can be challenging to undo, and it’s long-lasting as well.
The resealable cap makes it suitable for using multiple times without leaking and drying out the formula.
Other than plastic and fiberglass, the heavy-duty sealant works effectively on PVC, thermoplastics, tile and ceramic, coated metals, and aluminum.
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3. Loctite - 1597701 Liquid Professional Super Glue
If you need a powerful adhesive to work on plastic and fiberglass effectively, check out the Loctite Liquid Super Glue – another quality product from the brand we’ve just reviewed on top. It comes in a small bottle with a long pinpoint nozzle to work with precision and delicacy.
The formula provides robust strength, and it works fast. Within a few seconds, it sets the broken items. Also, the transparent solution makes the item look as if nothing happened.
And it works on almost all kinds of materials, including paper, soft and hard plastic, metal, ceramic, rubber, wood, leather, and so on. So, one tiny bottle of glue is sure to fulfill all the repairing and fixing needs of your home.
If you love crafting and DIY, this can be your best friend. Build new showpieces or make something wonderful binding all the scraps. However, make sure to get everything in order because once you apply it on, it becomes nearly impossible to undo or reposition.
One of the problems with super glues is that the nozzle gets clogged for glue buildups. With this adhesive, you won’t have that issue because it includes a patented close-lock cap, ensuring no spillage and blocking.
Last but not least, the product is available in four variations, a single 20ml bottle or in packs of two, four, and twelve.
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4. J-B Weld 8272 MarineWeld Marine Epoxy
Moving on, we have another J-B Weld product, the J-B Weld Marine Epoxy – a heavy-duty adhesive not only for fiberglass and plastic but also for wood and metal.
The epoxy adhesive is waterproof and specializes in repairing all kinds of marine equipment like fixing boats, dock pieces, or other watercraft. It comes in two tubes as a two-part epoxy formula that needs to be mixed in equal parts.
After application, it takes about 4 to 6 hours to set. This means you will have sufficient time to adjust the parts or whatever you are binding in the right places before it hardens. After that, you need to give it 16 to 24 hours at room temperature for full curing, and it will attain a dark grey color.
We recommend not to fasten the curing time; it might weaken the bond. A fully cured joint or junction reaches a strength of 5020 PSI.
Fully cured MarineWeld becomes resistant to extreme temperatures and can withstand up to 550°F. Not only that, it makes the material resistant to acid, chemicals, and petroleum. So, full curing is indeed essential to get the best out of the adhesive. Not to mention, the strength remains invariant under the water as well.
If you find the mixing from two tubes to be a hassle for mixing, well, you can find the J-B MarineWeld in a double plunger with a mixing tray and stick as well, which takes about 5 minutes for setting and provides the strength of 2350 PSI after 1-hour of curing.
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5. CAT PALM B-7000 Adhesive, Multi-Function Glues
Our last product is the CAT PALM B-700, a powerhouse adhesive that binds almost anything and everything. Yes, that includes both plastic and fiberglass too. It’s virtually every craft lover’s favorite product for the range of versatility it provides.
The glue comes in a tube that has a fine needle for providing maximum precision when needed.
So, you can work with the highest degree of delicacy while fixing jewelry, mobile, and other electronic equipment, toys, fabric, leather bags, and shoes. It dries within 6 minutes after application and forms strong and permanent bonds.
And it performs equally well on all kinds of materials, including paper, rubber, glass, fiber, wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass, PVC, nylon, and the list will go on!
The formula is transparent, semi-fluid, and insoluble in water, meaning the bond won’t weaken underwater or in the presence of moisture. Also, it’s not harsh to your skin and hand like other super glues.
Unlike most superglues that offer very little flexibility, the CAT Palm can flex up to 900% of its length. Being highly elastic, it provides excellent impact resistance. And this adhesive’s expansion with the material increases the durability and capacity of the structures under load.
The product is available in two 25 milligram tubes or one 110 milligram tube.
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Best Glue for Fiberglass and Plastic Of Comparison Table
Product Name | Type | Setting Time | Weather/ Water Resistant | Compatible With |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Loctite Clear Silicone Waterproof Sealant | Silicone Sealant | 5-10 minutes | Waterproof, weather and temperature resistant | Glass, plastic, fiberglass, metal, porcelain wood, ceramic, rubber |
J-B Weld 50139 Plastic Bonder | Two-part epoxy | 15 minutes | Waterproof and UV-resistant | PVC, fiberglass, thermoplastics, tile and ceramic, coated metals, and aluminum |
Loctite - 1597701 Liquid Professional Super Glue | Superglue | 15-30 seconds | Resistant to very low temperature and moisture | Paper, soft and hard plastic, metal, ceramic, rubber, wood, leather |
J-B Weld 8272 MarineWeld Marine Epoxy | Two-part epoxy | 4-6 hours | Waterproof and high-temperature resistant | Plastic, fiberglass, wood, and metal. |
CAT PALM B-7000 Adhesive, Multi-Function Glues | Transparent semi-fluid | 6 minutes | Water-resistant | Paper, rubber, glass, fiber, wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass, PVC, nylon |
Things to Consider Before Buying Glue for Fiberglass
Getting an adhesive for fiberglass can be tricky. So, you might want to consider the following factors before buying one.
Usability
The first thing to consider before buying a fiberglass adhesive glue is whether it is usable on the surface or not. While glues come in all forms with a wide range of functionalities, not all of them work on fiberglass.
Fiberglass is otherwise known as glass-reinforced plastic, made by incorporating glass fibers into plastic or resin matrices. And it is used in many industries, including automotive, food processing, construction, and marine.
A lot of our day-to-day products are also made of the material. You may have several fiberglass car components in your car, bathtub, aquarium, showpieces, furniture, and other fittings in your home, made of the versatile material.
So, when it comes to getting glue for fiberglass, checking if it’s usable on the surface is not enough, you should also consider the purpose you need it for.
Generally, all plastic adhesives work on fiberglass as it’s only a fiber embedded plastic. Nevertheless, to state precisely, fiberglass adhesive glues can be of two types.
Two Parts Epoxy
These adhesives come in separate tubes or dual syringes and need mixing before application.
Epoxy adhesives work effectively for light and heavy-duty binding and need 5 minutes to 12 hours to set and can be incredibly strong. You can use them for small to large scale DIY projects, and most of them are water and temperature resistant.
Cyanoacrylate
These adhesives are also known as a fast binder or super glue. They work almost instantly and practically on all materials. They make the ideal binding material for home use, fixing all kinds of things that need repairing. However, check for whether the product is waterproof or not.
Other than these types of glue, polyurethane adhesives and structural acrylics offer high strength bonding in fiberglass.
Versatility
A versatile adhesive is one that performs equally well on various surfaces. As the glue should be compatible with all the materials you intend to bind, getting a product suitable for multiple surface types is indeed a smart choice. Otherwise, you will need a collection of different types of adhesives.
For instance, a typical glue can be suitable for fiberglass but not for metal. Well, that would be a problem when you try to adhere fiberglass to metal. So, choose one that you can use for multiple purposes.
Weatherproof
Yes, that’s an important consideration. You may have several indoor and outdoor equipment made of fiberglass. So, it’s crucial to look for if the glue is resistant to extreme weather conditions and the strength remains constant irrespective of the environmental conditions.
If you want something for fixing marine equipment or boat, make sure the bond doesn’t weaken underwater and is waterproof.
Ease of Use
A hard to use glue is never an ideal purchase. Working with adhesive is intricate and can cause an unpleasant occurrence if not handled properly. Some of your repairing jobs will require more precision than others. For those, you will need super glues with the right nozzle tip.
And while buying an epoxy adhesive, it is convenient to get one with dual syringes and a mixing tray to avoid the mess.
Whichever you use, make sure you don’t apply it on improper adjustments. Once set, it can be tough to remove it.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can you glue fiberglass to plastic?
The plastic bonders work on fiberglass also. However, a 2-part epoxy is preferred when you are repairing some automotive parts or your boat. This adhesive works on several surfaces and works exceptionally well when it comes to gluing glass to plastic.
2. Does Gorilla glue work on fiberglass?
Gorilla glues are widespread among industrial uses. The glue became very popular when first launched in 1994. It works on every kind of surface, specializes in binding metal and wood. The Gorilla epoxy glues are one of the toughest gap-filling two-part formulas, and it works with fiberglass as well.
3. Are plastic glue and fiberglass glue the same?
When you are binding fiberglass to plastic, we would say the same glue works for both materials.
However, if you are binding the two material with other things like metal or wood, the same glue which works for plastic may not function for fiberglass. Two-part epoxy is a winner, in that case, adhering to virtually every material.
4. Is super glue waterproof?
Well, super glues are not quite waterproof, but rather we can say they are water-resistant. This means the presence of water doesn't weaken the bond, and you can use it to repair water bowls and aquariums.
Despite being water-resistant, we wouldn’t recommend you to use it on substances that remain in the water or need to be dipped in water frequently. It can cause the glue to come off for constant exposure to water eventually.
6. What is the difference between super glue and epoxy glues?
While both the adhesives can work on the same material, there lies some fundamental difference between the two. The first noticeable one being, super glues are instant adhesive formulas, while epoxy comes in 2-parts, mostly in separate tubes to be mixed in the ratio of 1:1 before application.
Also, the epoxy glues need sufficient time to set and cure to achieve maximum strength.
Final Words
Glues aren’t hard to find, right? You can find tons of adhesives in various forms, containers, and formulas in the nearest store. But the real question is, will it work on plastic and fiberglass?
Well, we tried to answer all the questions that might come to your mind while buying an adhesive for the two materials. So, getting the best glue for fiberglass and plastic won’t be a problem for you now.
