I’m going to break it to you straight away, there is no set time that glue dries to. There are so many variables and different factors to take into account that it’s almost impossible to come up with an exact set time for every single type of glue out there.
The type of glue being used makes a huge difference over how long it takes to dry. The climate you are in, the temperature of the room also makes a difference, plus the type of surface you are using the glue on will also affect it’s drying time.
Because there are so many different factors affecting glue’s drying time, it’s much easier to look at the drying times by the type of glue you are using.
How Long Does It Take Glue to Dry?
What Types of Glues Are There?
There are a fair few types of glues out there, but these are the most common that you’ll come across when working on your projects and crafts, so I’ve focused on their drying times.
- White craft glue
- Wood glue
- PVAs
- Superglue
- Gorilla Glue
- UHU Glue
- Krazy Glue
How Long Does White Craft Glue Take to Dry?
White craft glue, which is most commonly Elmer’s Glue, is one of the most commonly used glues on the market. It’s used in crafts for young children and can be used in other situations as well.
Of course, working out how long for Elmer’s glue to dry will vary based on a few things. This type of glue is commonly used in children’s crafts because of its low toxicity and because if it’s spilled, it’s very easy to clean up.
AS long as you hold the project perhaps clamp it together for a while, the glue should set in the position that you set it in.
Ok, so how long will white craft glue take to try? It takes approximately one hour to properly set. Though it won’t be at its full holding strength until it has completely dried which takes around 24 hours in total.
I suggest you set the craft down in a safe place for at least an hour for it to set, and perhaps leave it there for 24 hours to ensure the glue has completely dried.
How Long Does Wood Glue Take to Dry?
Wood glue is a glue that’s specifically designed to work with wood. This type of glue is perfect when you need to secure two pieces of wood together or if you are trying to attach something to a piece of wood.
Wood glue can handle abuse better than some glues and is typically strong that craft glue, and trust me, that’s a good thing. One thing to bear in mind when searching for wood glue is that some glues are better suited for indoor applications, and others can handle outdoor weather conditions, Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue for example. Though this has little bearing on how long it takes for the wood glue to dry.
Like craft glue, wood glue will typically set within an hour (though there are catalysts to speed that up), which means that you do not need to keep your project clamped together for a long time. Though it does take around 24 hours for the glue to reach its full strength and to dry completely.
I suggest you keep your project in a safe place for 24 hours to ensure that it’s stable and as structurally sound as possible.
Also, note that there is a difference between glue-ups happening with end grain and the face. These will affect the strength of the hold.
How Long Does It Take for PVAs to Dry?
This question is harder to answer than you might think. This is because PVA’s are a type of adhesive and not a type of glue. PVAs, more specifically polyvinyl acetates, are the most common type of adhesive found in wood and project glues.
It’s stronger than your regular white craft glue and is more challenging to work with. The way I look at it is that PVA glue is an upgraded version of craft glue, and these comes in several versions.
They can be used for bookbinding and also box sealing. The wood glue variety is, well, a wood glue. The more water-resistant versions are best for outdoor use, where the glue is likely to get wet and subjected to rainwater.
I do suggest you don’t submerge these into water though.
Fortunately, when it comes to how long PVA takes to dry, it’s very similar to the other glues we’ve covered so far. Usually, this type of glue will have set in about an hour or so, after the first hour has passed, you should wait a full 24 hours before doing anything else with it.
During those 24 hours, the glue will completely dry and harden, bonding the two pieces together. This means you will need to keep your project clamped together for a longer period.
How Long Does Superglue Take to Dry?
Superglue is a wonder, I’ve sealed a few cuts over the years with it. This is a type of adhesive known as cyanoacrylate. It bonds incredibly quickly to surfaces, it can be hazardous when working with bare skin. As I mentioned, it’s sometimes used to seal small cuts shut on skin, though this does carry its own risks.
Super glue bonds quickly and dries even quicker, so if you have it at your disposal and your project can handle this type of adhesive, this is the fastest way to get the job done.
Depending on which type of superglue you are working with, it can take as little as a few seconds to dry or a few minutes to completely set.
If you accidentally get it onto a surface that you don’t want it on, you can often remove it with some acetone as long as you get to it quickly before it sets.
How Long Does Gorilla Glue Take to Dry?
Gorilla Glue is a very popular brand of glue that’s earned its popularity for being incredibly durable and long-lasting. This is a fantastic all-purpose glue that can be used for a wide variety of purposes.
Some people use this as their go-to when they need to bond something together. Other people use it’s wood glue variants for their wood projects.
No matter what you are looking to glue together, Gorilla Glue no doubt has an option for you, though, how long does it take for Gorilla Glue to dry and bond together?
You have around 10 to 15 minutes to work with the glue before it begins to bond and set into place. So you have ~15 minutes to get your project clamped up, after that it’ll take one to hours if you are working in an environment that’s between 68 to 120 degrees (Fahrenheit), this is the ideal room temperature for Gorilla Glue.
After another one to two hours, it’ll be able 80% cured, and the remaining 20% will happen over the following 24 hours.
How Long Does UHU Glue Take to Dry?
Another popular brand of glue is UHU Glue, this brand produces many different products for you to choose from. One of their most popular projects is superglue, which follows the same timelines, as I mentioned above, for the most part.
They also specialize in all-purpose glues that are fairly standard, They do offer a better quality white craft glues which give you excellent durability and stability for a craft glue.
Going by the universal glue that UHU is known for as this is the most commonly used product, you can usually expect the final bonding strength to take just over 24 hours. After this, the glue should have fully developed.
This means that if you are in a rush, this is not the glue to use! In fact, only two-thirds of the glue’s full strength will be reached after 24 hours. This something you need to bear in mind when you are gluing something together as this takes a while to cure.
How Long Does Krazy Glue Take to Dry?
Krazy Glue is yet another type of universal glue that has many all-purpose applications, this is one of those glues that you are sure to have somewhere in your house or tool bag.
Having an all-purpose glue is always a good idea, my wife’s food scales broke the other day, a little bit of glue, and they are like new.
Krazy glue comes in various formulations. These include craft glues and gels. However, we’ll look specifically at their universal glue as this is an excellent basis to use for how long it takes Krazy glue to dry.
You’ll be glad to know that Krazy glue dries a bit more quickly than UHU Glue, as one of its features is that it’s a “fast-acting adhesive”. The only thing you need is water, which will act as a catalyst for the glue. Combine the glue with water, and you have an industrial-strength adhesive on your hands.
One you clamp your workpieces together to keep them stable, in about 30 seconds, you can release the clamps, and within a few minutes, it will be dry.
These minutes will allow the glue to set up. If you want to get the most strength out of this glue, you should let it cure entirely overnight. Which means about 8-10 hours.
Wrap Up
Hopefully, I’ve been able to answer how long it takes for glue to dry, I’ve covered the most common glues you would use around your home. Obviously, drying times vary, but these will give you a good idea if you are going to be doing some DIY around your home.
Typically glue will take a few hours to a day to fully dry.
If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
