Surfaces

When concentrated in small areas, a clean cloth should be soaked in warm water and applied to the glue stain. Check the stain for softening after a couple hours. The softened glue should then be able to be wiped clean with a clean dry cloth. Repeat this procedure until all the glue has been removed.

Clothing

When dry, do not use hot water, dry cleaning solvents, a hot drum dryer or iron before the removal of the adhesive is complete, as they can fuse the adhesive film irreversibly, making removal impossible. Soaking in room temperature water for 24 hours or longer will help to redisperse or soften the film. After soaking, wash the fabric in a normal wash cycle and allow it to dry at room temperature. Check for discoloration and stiffness on drying. If so, repeat the process until the item is cleaned to your satisfaction.

Removal of Elmer's Rubber Cement can be accomplished using mineral spirits or rubber cement thinner. Apply the solvent to a clean cloth and place it on the glue for several hours. This will soften the glue which can then be removed with a clean dry cloth. Always test the solvent on an inconspicuous area first to check for compatibility issues.

Removal of Elmer's Rubber Cement can be accomplished using mineral spirits or rubber cement thinner. Apply the solvent to a clean cloth and place it on the glue for several hours. This will soften the glue which can then be removed with a clean dry cloth. Always test the solvent on an inconspicuous area first to check for compatibility issues.

When polyurethane glue has dried it becomes resistant to all chemicals and solvents. The only removal process available for that product is sanding or scraping.

The glue caps can actually be taken apart to help remove any blockage. Simply open the cap as far as it will go and then pull the orange part straight up and it should "pop" off. This should allow you to easily access any blockage. The blockage can be cleared with something like a toothpick or paper clip. You can also soak these separated parts in room temperature water which should help to more easily free up any blockage. Once clear, the orange part can simply be pressed/snapped back into position.

VIEW VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJIUelMmdEs

Elmer's Glues are chemical based. They are made or formulated from chemicals which are synthesized (created by Man). These chemicals were originally obtained or manufactured from petroleum, natural gas and other raw materials found in Nature. The exact formula and specific ingredients used in making Elmer's products are considered proprietary information, therefore, we cannot share those with you.

If you have a technical question about the materials included in one of our products, click here to go to the product index.

Elmer's products are carried by a variety of major mass retailers. In addition, they can be found in many hardware, grocery, drug and school and office retail locations. To find the closest location to buy a specific product, contact Elmer's Consumer Response at comments@elmers.com.

No, Elmer's does not use animals or animal parts to make glue. Our products are made from synthetic materials and are not derived from processing horses, cows or any other animals.

Although there are many ingredients used to make glue, most formulas contain something called polymers. A polymer is a large molecule that often is described as being a long molecular strand, much like spaghetti. Some polymers are naturally "sticky" depending on how they are made. Others require certain ingredients called tackifiers to make them sticky. One of our many challenges here at Elmer's is to be sure we have exactly the right balance of polymers and tackifiers to create a glue that is sticky and strong.

As long as the glue remains inside the bottle away from air it will remain fluid. Glue hardens when there is a loss of water from the formula. Exposure to the atmosphere will cause the water to evaporate and make the glue harden. That's why it is important to keep the cap on the glue bottle closed to prevent hardening or drying out.

Our products are derived from synthetic materials, not any type of animal or milk protein. Of course, if you experience any kind of allergic reaction, be sure to check with your doctor regardless of the type of product you are using.

If stored properly and capped tightly, Elmer's school glues and wood glues have an average shelf life of 2 years; Krazy Glue, also known as a cyanoacrylate, has a shelf life of approximately 12 - 18 months.

Just follow this recipe:

1. Paint the object or furniture with an acrylic craft paint. Let dry.
2. Cover the paint with a coat of Elmer's Glue-All glue.
3. While still wet, paint on another coat of a different color of acrylic paint. The painted item will begin to crackle as it dries.
4. When dry, cover with another coat of the Elmer's Glue-All as a sealer.

All of our products are gluten free except for the Elmer's Finger Paints. The finger paints contain wheat and oat products.

No. Most of our glues that are acid free are labeled as such. Some of our most popular acid free products include all of our glue stick, rubber cement and spray adhesive products.

Yes, Elmer’s is committed to giving back to the community in-kind and has established a community relations program that makes charitable contributions to qualified organizations. These donations are given to qualified 501c3 non-profit groups that have been pre-determined by Elmer’s management. However, based on this program policy, we can no longer consider independent requests for donations.

This is an all time favorite recipe but adult supervision is recommended. Children should not eat or drink any of the materials.

Supplies Needed:

• Borax
• Elmer’s Glue-All or School Glue
• Water
• Food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

4 oz of glue and 4 oz of water in a big bowl. Add 1-2 drops of food coloring if desired. In a separate container dissolve 1 Tbsp Borax into 4 oz of water. Slowly pour the Borax solution into the glue solution and mix until desired consistency is achieved. Slime will keep for weeks in a tightly closed plastic bag.

VIEW VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX9ShYMSCbY

You’ll mix equal parts of Elmer’s Glue-All and water together. Here are two of our favorite methods:

Layering Method

Start with a solid object or an inflated balloon and wrap it with layers of newspaper strips coated with glue. (Use wet, unglued strips for the first layer.) Dip the strips into a 50/50 mixture of Glue-All and water. Pull each strip between fingers to squeeze out excess water or brush a thicker mixture on one side of the strip. Build up four or more layers by alternating layers crosswise and up and down. When thoroughly dry, remove balloon, then paint and add features.

TIP: You can alternate black and white newspaper with colored comic pages to see which layer you are working on.

Pulp Method

Small bits of paper are soaked, boiled and strained to form a soft wet pulp. Elmer’s Glue-All is added, then mixture is shaped in a mold or over a form or wire screen to dry.

Making an excellent and inexpensive decoupage medium is easy with Elmer’s Glue-All and water. To make decoupage medium, use craft stick to mix together three parts Elmer's® Glue-All® with 1 part water in a paper cup. Stir well. Use sponge brush to spread mixture over surface. Papers may stretch or bubble up initially, so smooth out air from bubbles with finger and then go over area again with foam brush. Minor wrinkling will shrink and flatten as it dries. Let thoroughly dry over night and then spray surface with matte sealer.

TIPS:

• You can adjust the measurement of glue to water if necessary
• When cutting out intricate designs or special shapes, an X-ACTO knife works great!
• Magazines, greeting cards and pictures make great cutouts for a decoupage project

Supplies needed:

• 1 part Glue-All
• 1 part plain white flour
• 1 part cornstarch
• food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

Measure equal parts of each and combine in a big bowl. For best results use level measurements. Mix and knead till well blended. If too dry, add drop or two of glue; if too moist, sprinkle with flour and cornstarch, a little at a time. Modeled items may be baked in low oven (200°F or so) to speed drying. Glue Dough will keep for weeks in a tightly closed plastic bag.

VIEW VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKC-QMLe3ts

NOTE: ¼ cup glue, ¼ cup flour, ¼ cup cornstarch will create a tennis ball-sized yield

Tips & Techniques

You can mold & shape dough into figures or roll flat on a floured surface and use cookie cutters to cut desired shapes. To get colored dough, add a little food coloring or acrylic paint to the glue before mixing it in with the dry ingredients. You can also paint your dough creations with Glue Paint!

Supplies needed:

• 1 slice fresh white bread (crusts removed & finely crumbled)
• 1 Tbsp. Elmer’s Glue-All
• Food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

Mix well in a small bowl or plastic container, then knead for several minutes until soft and pliable (rolling helps). Can add in a drop or two of food coloring. Can be rolled out, molded into thin section, or pinched by hand to create shapes.

Supplies needed:

• Elmer’s Glue-All
• Food Coloring
• Paint brushes & bowls

Instructions:

Pour desired amount of Elmer’s Glue-All into bowl or container. Add food coloring to the glue. The more food coloring you add, the darker the paint will be. Mix glue & food coloring thoroughly. Use paintbrush to paint posters, t-shirts, projects, etc. You can also buy several bottles of Elmer’s Glue-All and mix the food coloring right in the glue bottle for easy storage and application.

VIEW VIDEO:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyBqGh46SSQ

Tips & Techniques:

Build up coats of glue paint for a ceramic-like finish- let each coat dry thoroughly before applying another. You can also create a sheer tinted glaze by diluting the glue paint mixture with water or make a clear glaze by omitting the food coloring. Thick layers of glue paint can be embedded with buttons, cut-outs or other small objects.

Washing & Clean Up Instructions:

Wash in warm water 1 to 2 times. Air dry. If residual color remains after the 2nd washing, repeat washing with a non-chlorine bleach additive. Whenever possible, clean up food coloring spills and excess glue paint immediately from fabrics and other surfaces. Protect fabrics and surfaces that cannot be laundered.

Supplies needed:

• ½ cup + 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 Tbsp. ground cloves
• ½ cup applesauce (this is the size of a single serving pack)
• 3 Tbsp. Elmer’s Glue-All

Instructions:

In a medium bowl, mix cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Add applesauce and glue. Work mixture with hands for 2-3 minutes, until dough is smooth. Divide into 4 portions. Roll out each portion to ¼” thickness. Cut dough with cookie cutters and make a small hole in top of each with a toothpick. Place cutouts on a wire rack to dry at room temperature for several days, turning once each day for even drying. When dry, thread string or ribbon through hole in each ornament. You can also use whole cloves as decoration and for additional scent. Makes about 32 ornaments, depending on size. NOTE: These are NOT edible.

If there is a crust on your wood filler, remove it first and just add a small amount of water to your filler and mix it thoroughly. Repeat this process until you get it to a workable consistency. Be sure not to add too much because that can ruin your wood filler.

Prepare the damaged area by removing loose paint and wood chunks. Sand all rough edges with medium grit sandpaper. Apply wood filler using a putty knife starting at the edge of the damaged area and pressing the filler into the damaged area. Overfill slightly to allow for shrinkage and sand the repair area flush. Shallow repairs can be sanded after 15 minutes and deep repairs after 2 -8 hours of drying.

Note: Ultimate Glue requires moisture to cure. Glue expands as it cures.

Porous/semi-porous surfaces:

Clean the surfaces and make sure they are properly aligned prior to bonding. Lightly dampen both surfaces about 1 minute before gluing. Apply a thin layer of glue to one side and clamp together for 1-4 hours.

Non-Porous surfaces:

Clean the surfaces and make sure they are properly aligned prior to bonding. Lightly dampen one surface and apply a thin layer of glue to the other and clamp together for 1-4 hours.

VIEW VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJWIPquAUY4

Using a scrap piece of wood, drill or otherwise create a hole in it. Apply the filler with a putty knife and let it dry thoroughly. Hand sand it with medium grit sandpaper (avoid high speed sanding). Apply desired stain by following the stain’s label instructions.

Use a disposable plastic cup for mixing resin and hardener together. Correct mix ratio is 7 drops of hardener per one tablespoon of resin or 14 drops of hardener per one fluid ounce of resin. Both components must be mixed thoroughly. Working time is 10-15 minutes and after that the mixture will cure rapidly.

Prepare surfaces by removing old caulk. Clean and dry surfaces thoroughly. Cut tip to desired bead size and squeeze out caulk into gap. Smooth the caulk bead with wet finger or tool. Clean excess with damp cloth before it dries. Allow caulk to dry for 24 hours before subjecting it to water spray.

Prepare the damaged area by removing loose paint and wood chunks. Sand all rough edges with medium grit sandpaper. Combine equal amounts of Part A and Part B onto a disposable plastic surface and mix together. Apply wood filler using a putty knife starting at the edge of the damaged area and pressing the filler into the damaged area. Overfill slightly to allow for shrinkage and sand the repair area flush. Let filler cure overnight and sand the excess with medium grit sand paper before applying desired finish.

Interior Application

Use interior wood glues for indoor gluing projects where protection from exterior exposure is not required. The temperature of all components must be above 55° F. Surfaces must be clean, dry and free of dried glue, oil and any coating. Parts should fit tight. Apply glue liberally and evenly to the surfaces to be bonded. Join parts and clamp together. Clamping pressure should bring surfaces together and there should be some glue squeezed out from the joint. Remove excess wet glue with clean, dry cloth. Clamp for one hour or more. Let dry for 24 hours before handling.

Exterior Applications

Exterior glues are designed to withstand outdoor weather elements such as temperature and moisture. The temperature of all components must be above 55° F. Surfaces must be clean, dry and free of dried glue, oil and any coating. Parts should fit tight. Apply glue liberally and evenly to the surfaces to be bonded. Join parts and clamp together. Clamping pressure should bring surfaces together and there should be some glue squeezed out from the joint. Remove excess wet glue with clean, dry cloth. Clamp for one hour or more. Let dry for 24 hours before handling.

Water-Based Wood Fillers

These fillers are designed for indoor applications for filling holes and gouges in wood. Water-based fillers are ready to use and do not require mixing hence they are more user-friendly. They can be sanded and stained and painted with latex or oil-based paints. Typical uses are for filling dents and holes in furniture, base boards and molding and kitchen cabinets.

Epoxy Wood Filler

These fillers offer superior outdoor performance with structural strength. They are more resilient and durable and adhere to variety of surfaces. Epoxy requires pre-mixing resin and hardener before use and has limited working time after mixing, typically 15-30 minutes. It may start hardening after two hours but it will take 24 hours to attain full strength. Typical uses are filling holes, dents, splits in wood on decks and outdoor furniture. These fillers are also great for building missing wood in rotted areas.

If your foam board is acid free it will be clearly marked as such.

An X-ACTO Utility Knife will give you a good, clean cut. Change the blade often to avoid ragged edges.