I’ve worked with a variety of adhesives over the years, and I can tell you that not all PVA glues are created equal. Some can handle moisture better, while others excel at bonding wood pieces. So, you might be asking, what’s the primary use of PVA glue?
Join me as I delve into whether Polyvinyl Acetate is the best choice for your arts and crafts project.
About PVA Glue
In 1912, a German chemist named Fritz Klatte discovered PVA. For those who don’t know, PVA stands for Polyvinyl Acetate. It’s a thermoplastic mixture categorized under polyvinyl ester.
PVA wood glue is manufactured through polymerized vinyl alcohol and is widely used in the industry for porous materials. Newbies may not be familiar with these PVA glues because they’re referred to as school glue, wood glue, carpenter’s glue, or white glue nowadays.
Notable Characteristics of PVA
It Dissolves in Water
Being water-soluble is one of the perks of using PVA glue in your DIY project. You can mix water with polyvinyl acetate if you need to apply a thin coat on porous materials. Trust me when we say that doing this will enhance the wetting properties of the PVA glue.
The wood glue should mix well in the water as long as you don’t pour it all at once. Add the water slowly and stir it well until it dissolves.
It's Non-Acidic
When you use polyvinyl acetate glue, it doesn’t alter the material’s pH balance. This versatile adhesive mixture is widely used in binding paper projects. Given its non-acidic properties, your arts and crafts materials won’t deteriorate upon contact.
It Turns Clear Once Dry
Another viable reason you should use PVA glue in your arts and crafts projects is its aesthetically pleasing appeal. Unlike regular craft glue that can turn yellow, the white PVA glue often dries clear.
Besides that, dried PVA glue remains flexible, making it suitable for a bookbinding or woodworking project.
It's Best for Porous Surfaces
If there are any materials PVA glue best sticks in, it’s the porous surfaces. After it dries clear, this PVA adhesive builds a strong bond into the material. This is highly advisable for DIY projects that use wood, cloth, paper, and cardboard.
It's Non-Toxic
You may be wondering why this adhesive material is called school glue. The real answer is that it’s composed of non-toxic elements less likely to irritate the skin.
On the other hand, just because it’s non-toxic doesn’t mean you should ingest it. So, when I let kids use these wood glues for their art projects, I always make sure to supervise them closely. It’s always better to be safe.
It's Odorless
Unlike polyurethane glue, polyvinyl acetates don’t have an unpleasant odor when applied. In fact, its dried form doesn’t have any scent at all. And because it doesn’t produce harmful fumes [1], PVA glue is safe for children’s use.
Different Types of PVA Glue
Wood Glue
As the name implies, wood glue is one of the types of glue utilized in projects that require combining pieces of wood. It’s easy to distinguish because it’s yellow glue. If you scan today’s woodworking market, you’ll notice that this yellow glue is also sold as carpenter’s glue.
Unlike other craft glue options, wood glue builds a stronger bond with the material when it dries. It can also be sanded once the permanent bond is formed. All you need to do is clamp the pieces of wood together during the drying process to push the PVA glue tips into its pores.
It’s also hard to ignore its level of durability when you glue pieces of wood together. In fact, the wood has more chance of breaking than the glue joint itself.
However, not all wood glue options are water-resistant. Should you need an adhesive for an outdoor woodworking or art project, PVA water-resistant glue is still the best choice.
White Glue
Materials with small pores, like paper and cloth, work well with white glue. Besides not having toxic fumes, one of its perks is it doesn’t turn yellow over time. Unfortunately, white glue products aren’t the same as water-resistant PVA glue, so outdoor projects aren’t the best venture to tackle for this option.
On the bright side, you can be sure that this glue product is more favored for child use than polyurethane glue or super glue. Besides kid-friendly art classes, professional crafters also use this type of PVA glue for furniture, cloth, and mosaic.
Water-Resistant Glue
This adhesive is a type of PVA glue suitable for outdoor use. While it might be easy to mix it up with waterproof PVA glue, water-resistant versions won’t dissolve when mixed with water. It’s an essential distinction to keep in mind.
True to its name, this adhesive can resist moisture from external elements. This means the adhesive can hold up under tough conditions. I’d personally recommend it for projects like benches, garden planters, or birdhouses.
Read More: What is UV Glue?
Is PVA Glue the same as Elmer’s Glue?
Before I clarify, it’s worth mentioning that Elmer’s Glue offers a range of adhesives. But if we’re discussing the one with the iconic bull logo, it’s safe to say it’s a PVA-based product.
But is Elmer’s Glue the same as PVA glue? Not exactly. Although it’s composed of PVA elements that make it easy to use and flexible, it’s not as strong as the wood or carpenter’s glue we discussed earlier.
Another notable difference between the two is that Elmer’s Glue turns yellow, and PVA glue doesn’t. Nevertheless, it’s an economical option and could be great for simple craft-making projects or repairs.
Uses of PVA Glues
DIY Crafts
Crafters of any age use white glue mainly because of its clear appearance. Its aesthetic value and strength make it a suitable adhesive for projects like scrapbooking. It’ll also stick well on fabric materials.
Woodworking
Since it has a strong bond when it dries, PVA glue is an essential adhesive in the woodworking scene. For many years, woodworkers have used this glue for furniture building, wood repairs, cabinetry, etc.
Did you know that you can also make wood filler using this mixture? You just need to mix PVA glue and sawdust, and you’ll be able to use them to fill gaps in the construction.
Bookbinding
People in the publishing industry call PVA “Hide Glue” mainly because it sticks very well in paper and leather materials. Its strong and flexible characteristics make it well-suited for assembling book pages into the spine and cover.
And because this adhesive is pH neutral, it helps keep the book pages white for the longest time.
School Projects
As previously mentioned, this glue is a non-toxic adhesive. Thanks to this, you don’t have to worry about your kid inhaling harmful fumes while doing school projects. Generally, this glue option works well with school materials like construction paper and wood sticks.
Wallpaper
By now, you should know that some PVA types work well with paper materials, and that’s why it’s also used as wallpaper adhesives. Its durability and resistance to moisture are two of the main reasons it won’t deteriorate that easily when applied with wallpapers.
Leather
You may not know, but leather is also a porous material. Applying PVA glue on its surface won’t break down the leather’s pH levels. Unlike other alternative adhesives, you don’t need to worry about damaging your leather bags or shoes when using this glue.
Other Notable Purposes
It may surprise you, but PVA can act as a drywall primer. On top of that, you can use this glue as an effective box-sealing and envelope adhesive.
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Benefits and Downsides of PVA Glue
Pros
- Budget-friendly and widely available in the market
- Strong enough to handle different materials
- Most of its available variations are not toxic
- Safe glue options for all age ranges
- A thick mixture but easy to spread out
Cons
- Only for porous surfaces
- It takes time to dry
How to Use White and Yellow PVA for Gluing Wood and Other Surfaces
White PVA Glue
- Put the adhesive mixture in the area where the two pieces will be joined.
- Connect the two pieces and apply minimal pressure to keep them intact.
- Wait 30 minutes to let the glue set and an hour for it to dry.
Yellow PVA Glue
- Apply a small amount of glue to one of the pieces you want to join. Then, spread it into a thin layer using a brush or paint scraper.
- Slowly push the materials together and rub them back and forth to eliminate trapped air.
- Keep them together with a clamp to solidify the bond.
- After 30 minutes, scrape the excess glue outside the joint.
- Please wait at least 24 hours before releasing the clamp.
PVA Glue Application Tips and Tricks
For a hassle-free experience, I’d suggest using PVA glue primarily on porous materials. Additionally, it’s a good idea to let the glue set in an air-conditioned room to ensure it dries correctly.
I also recommend using clamps when gluing pieces together to ensure a strong bond. Remember, applying a bit of pressure goes a long way.
It’s also worth noting that white glue variations tend to have a longer shelf life compared to the yellow ones. So, when I’m buying PVA products, always make a point to check the label first.
How Do You Remove PVA Glue?
Removing PVA glue should be easy as long as it’s not yet dry. However, you’ll encounter some difficulties if you’re removing dried glue. Here are the steps you can do depending on the material you’re handling.
Wood
If the dried glue you want to remove isn’t in the joint, you can use a paint scraper or wood sander to remove it. However, the removal will be complicated if the glue is already dried out in the material’s joint.
For this incident, you’ll have to make the glue soft via a heat gun or hairdryer. You can use these tools for a few minutes, but we advise caution as this could scorch your materials and cause accidents. After the glue softens, use a knife or scraper to remove it.
Clothes
Before you do anything, check any washing instructions labeled on the fabric. There are certain garments that’ll shrink when exposed to hot water, so it’s crucial to ensure that this won’t happen.
Next, pour warm water into a bowl or any clean container. Dip the cloth stained with PVA glue and let it sit for a few minutes. If you want, add soap or detergent to the water mixture and rub the fabric gently until the glue residues are removed.
Top PVA Glue Products in the Market Today
Elmer’s Liquid School Glue
The popularity of Elmer’s Liquid School Glue is highly justified because of its affordability and safe elements. Despite its wide availability, this brand doesn’t compromise its quality, which explains why schools and parents prefer them over other adhesives.
Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue
You can rely on Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue for exterior projects, as it’s a waterproof adhesive. It’s also been a popular choice for years since it binds with wood really well.
As one of the toughest options in the market, Titebond is also comparable to Gorilla Wood Glue, another staple option among woodworkers.
PVA Glue Alternatives Worth Trying
Polyurethane
It’s not a secret that polyurethane is more versatile than PVA glue, so it’s a wise alternative if you’re working on plastic or metal materials. It also expands faster and covers more surfaces, making it suitable for woodworking.
Epoxy
Another strong alternative to use is epoxy glue. It offers great adhesive even if the material is in frequent contact with water. However, this option is sold at a higher price range than PVA glue.
Conclusion
Now that you know what PVA glue is, you can determine if it’s a safe and effective option for your project.
I always recommend checking what kind of materials you’ll use it with, as it has specific surfaces where it works well. Nevertheless, I don’t doubt that you’ll find it useful in typical applications.
Robert Johnson is a passionate furniture maker & carpenter, sought after for his knowledge on the craft.
You’ve probably seen his down-to-earth wisdom in USA Today, Bobvila, Family Handyman, and The Spruce, where he has shared commentary and guidance on various woodworking topics.
Robert is the brain behind Sawinery, where he aims to share tips, tricks, and a passion for all things carpentry.
