Adhesives  (Glue to you lot)!       

P.V.A.  (polyvinyl acetate) There are two types interior and exterior.
Both are used for sticking wood to wood. Interior does not hold when it gets wet so anything to be made for outside needs exterior. Exterior is far more expensive than interior so you wouldn't use it for an inside piece of work. These glues need to be left overnight to dry. To look at it is a thick white cream.

EPOXY RESIN (one trade name is Araldite). These glues are two separate substances which do not harden unless you mix them together. Once mixed they will stick almost anything, wood to wood, metal to wood, wood to plastic, ceramic pots and so on. They are very expensive so you wouldn't use them if there was something cheaper you could use. These glues will harden in less than 15 minutes. To look at these substances are thick sticky liquids one which is clear and one which is yellow.

SUPERGLUE  Even more expensive than epoxy resin these glues will stick most surfaces which are fairly smooth and which will not allow the glue to 'soak in', such as glass, metal, plastic. They can also stick skin so you have to be careful. Once the glue is applied a slight pressure for about 10 seconds will produce a very strong joint. To look at superglue is a thin clear liquid.

RESIN WOOD GLUE (one trade name is Cascamite) Only used for sticking wood to wood, excellent for underwater use. Will fill small gaps. Usually comes in powder form and is mixed with water. Dries clear like glass.

IMPACT and CONTACT ADHESIVES Rubber based solutions which are applied to both surfaces. they are left to dry for about ten minutes and the surfaces brought together. The sticking is instant and you do not have time to 'adjust' work. Used for sticking tiles to floors, plastic laminates to kitchen surfaces and vinyl backed upholstery. These glues look like 'runny' rubber with a dangerous smell which can kill.

LATEX This type of glue is excellent for sticking most types of materials together. You put glue on both surfaces and allow to become touch dry then put the surfaces together.

POLYSTYRENE CEMENT Used for making models mainly or sticking polystyrene tiles (Impact adhesive melts polystyrene tiles). This glue is not particularly strong, but is ideal for sticking plastic to plastic when the joints are not going to be 'knocked about'.

TENSOL CEMENT Used to join acrylics particularly, acts like a 'weld'