What Is The Best Glue For Foam?!

The one question I'm asked more than any other is "What is the best glue for foam?" So in this video, I put a few of the most often suggested glues to the test, plus a new suggestion, to see which glue is best once and for all.

Including white Gorilla Glue, Great Stuff expanding foam, Liquid Nails project adhesive, and Titebond 3 wood glue.

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[bilbo]

Looks like I chose the wrong week to stop sniffing glue...

[speedandstyletony]

Another thing to test glues for is if they can be cut with hot wire after glue has set!

[stevehyt]

More tips for Gorilla Glue: (1) Use a stick or brush to make a film on the whole part to avoid glued/unglued areas maximizing the bond and minimizing between-part gaps. (2) For smaller parts just breathe heavily on the glue instead of adding water. The moisture in you breath seems to do the trick. (3) Finally, clamping or a lot of weigh is helpful, because the glue wants to expand.

[buildingrobotswithactobotics]

Great information! Wish I had seen this back in 2020. I love working with the pink insulation board. Nice information for those of us working on projects using it.

[jc]

Both 3M and Gorilla Glue Spray adhesives work great with foam and set up very quickly.

[susanowen]

Very informative! I wouldn't have thought to consider how well it carves, so I'm particularly glad you included that criteria in your judging.

[jeffjohnson]

Love the vids and tips, and always blown away by your voice too. It’s perfect for narrating.

[dearhart]

So many product options and opinions. These videos are great!! I just purchased StyroGoo from Hot Wire Foam because I am really looking for a “guaranteed” not going anywhere deal. First time using it, so fingers crossed!!!

[LordHog]

Nice comparison. I immediately thought of Todd from project farm and while not nearly as in depth this is great informative video

[CaravanFarms]

I use both of them. I like the Greatstuff for pieces that I need fill as well as glue... like bits with pipe through them!

[jeffreywarrenpark]

Both Gorilla Glue and Great Stuff do have some very basic similiarities, being they are both urethane-based glues. As such, the addition of moisture will help both cure quicker. And, for the best bond with both of them, it helps to roughen up both sides of what you want to bond together. This will in turn provide more surface for the adhesives to grab onto. And, both adhesives WILL foam as they cure, (being that Great Stuff is a foam to begin with, it will obviously foam more).

[Quaght]

Great test! All of them had parts that had no adhesive and seemed to be relying on about 1/4" to maybe 3/4" of adhesive surface area. I'd really like to see an "ease of coverage" test, where you try to spread the glue on the surface to get more coverage. Also, maybe some spray adhesives to test out! And maybe a hot wire test to see how well they cut.

[shannondh]

Thanks for another great tutorial. I watched another Youtuber who used Great Stuff with foam board. He sprayed. pressed together, then took apart and pressed together again. Said it took the expand out but kept the bond properties.

[scottlymbery]

thanks again, have been using spray foam for quite a while because I've found it bonds really well. Will give the gorilla glue a shot now :) mostly because of the clean up!

[capnskustomworks]

I absolutely love Titebond III on foam, but only on two cut surfaces so that it gets a little air mixed in the process and can cure well. I’ll share that in trying to adhere the factory faces like that, I have had good results with the foam-specific 3M 78 spray. They did pop apart eventually, but it took over a decade in weather. Once one did it on its own due to exposure I found I was able to force the other few slabs that had been left in the same condition to separate nearly perfectly cleanly (I was repurposing them anyway), but a few spots stayed thoroughly adhered and broke chunks off between them, so I was very impressed to see that kind of result after so long! (We’re in the Midwest US for weather context.)

[PMichaels]

What a terrific test! You are such a treasure to the maker community… I can see where Great Stuff would be nice especially to fill gaps and/or help make more structure. But for quick gluing of pieces, I’d go Gorilla Glue all day long. Great Stuff can be messy and as you said, you need to clue it up pronto or you will risk ruining the rest of the can. Best of all, though, is that it’s nice to know we have options. Thanks for doing this test and sharing the results! This channel is so awesome! 👍🏼

[anthonygee]

I like to use wood glue, Titebond specifically, for sealing the outside the foam for painting. Can’t say I’ve ever tried to use it for actual adhesion though, pretty much for the same conclusion you came to here.

[memal]

Great video idea! Helps to see someone do some testing to help make a choice!

[kristinmoore]

I've always used gorilla glue and love it. I've used multiple versions. Great informative video!

[Richardmaclachlan]

My recommendation if using the spray foam (great stuff) for big glue ups or you do a lot of glue ups is to get the dispensing gun that take the screw on canisters. They have a adjuster to allow small beads or large beads of foam. You also don’t have to clean them right away, as the foam is sealed in the tube of the gun.