Plastic resin glue is a type of adhesive that primarily is used with wood, but it also has many other uses. Keeping its common use with wood in mind, the color or staining of plastic resin glue usually is important, because few people want the glue to be noticeable. Some plastic resin glues must be manually activated with water and, while this may make a stronger bond, some people may not want to go through this process. There are both slow- and quick-setting resin glues, and each has different characteristics. Users can choose between interior and exterior resin glues, and should select one based on their needs.
As with other glues, plastic resin glue usually has a color — even transparent glue tends to have some color to it. People normally do not want the glue to be noticeable, so choosing a resin glue that mixes in with the substrate usually is a good idea. Some resin glues are made to mix in with any color, while some are made for light or dark substrates.
When using plastic resin glue, some brands must be manually activated while others are ready to use. If the glue does not need to be activated, then it can be used immediately, but this type normally costs more. Manual activation is done by adding water to resin glue powder — the ratio usually is 60 percent water and 40 percent glue, but each glue is different — and it may form a stronger bond. At the same time, this takes longer and the user can mess up the water-to-resin glue ratio.
Another consideration is how long the plastic resin glue takes to set. Both quick- and slow-setting resin glues are available. Slow-setting resin glue takes longer to work but almost always forms a stronger bond than quick-setting resin glue. If the user does not have the time to wait for the glue to harden, or if he can allow some leeway in the bond’s strength, then quick-setting glue may be better.
While plastic resin glue often is tough and resilient, it normally is categorized by interior and exterior usage. Interior-use glue would be for inside tables and chairs, while exterior-use glue would be for items outside the house or on a boat. Both are normally waterproof, but the exterior variety tends to be more waterproof. These glues often are around the same price, so it often comes down to where the item will be used.