Top 10 Best Glue Alternatives [With Handy Substitutes]

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During good times and bad, there may come a time when you need to have something like glue on hand. There are a lot of benefits to making your own glues at home.

1. Glues can be mixed in small batches so you don’t have to store glue for extended periods of time. If you don’t use it often, it can be dried up and unusable.
2. You can make some glues that can stay sealed and be used for up to a year.
3. You have some control over the ingredients so you know exactly what you are putting into your home.
4. Knowing how to make your own can make it easier to repair and put things together during hard times.

Cheap and easy to find goods may not be as available which makes repairing what you have a choice you are more likely to make.

Also Read: Survival Tips

The Recipes

Super Glue

Gum Arabic is an ingredient you see in a lot of foods but when you add a little glycerin and water you have a fantastic super glue that is capable of mending your pottery or plastics.

To make, combine 3 tbsp gum arabic, 1 tbsp glycerine, and 1/2 teaspoon water in a bowl.  Pour into an airtight container and use as needed for up to 1 year.

Simply glue, clamp if needed, and allow 24 hours before using and you will be amazed what this glue achieves without some of the noxious odors and volatile organic compounds that can be found in commercial super glues.

Flour and Water

A simple paste style glue can be made out of flour and water. This is fine to use for paper projects and typical kid crafts. Take flour and water and mix together to make a cream like consistency.

One of the best things about this paste is that it is so safe for even the youngest kids to use.

Cornstarch Glue

To make this glue you need cornstarch, light corn syrup, and white vinegar. Add ¾ cup water to a saucepan, ¼ cup cornstarch, and 1 tsp white vinegar and stir until smooth over medium heat until thick.

Take the container you are using for glue storage and add ¼ cup of cornstarch and ¼ of water and blend until smooth. Add the mixture in the saucepan into the container and stir as you do it until everything is smooth. Let cool off until room temperature is reached and then you are good to use it or store it in an airtight container for later use.

Lickable Glue

If you have ever wondered about the adhesives used on stamps and envelopes, well here is a recipe where you can make your own.

• White Vinegar 6 tbsp
• 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 2 tsp sugar
• Mint Or Vanilla Flavor

Boil vinegar in pan and add other ingredients. Brush on to items and let dry. You can then lick it or wet it later to activate the glue.

Bookbinders Glue

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 tsp alum
• 8 cups of water
• Optional: Clove Oil if you are going to store small jars of this glue.

This recipe makes a lot of glue but you can easily save it and preserve it in small mason jars in the 4-8 ounce size range.

Good Things To Keep On Hand For Adhesive Making

• Flour
• Alum
• Corn Syrup
• Salt
• Glycerin
• Gum Arabic
• Clove Oil
• Gelatin
• Containers With The Ability To Remain Airtight
• Squeeze Bottles For Dispensing Easily and Precisely

Stock Up On Duct Tape

Duct tape is fabulous stuff and can take care of your sticking together and patching things up needs in some case.

While glue won’t repair a torn vinyl seat, duct tape can come to the rescue. There are all kinds of fun patterns and colors of duct tape out there so the repair can sometimes be made to match.

Be Realistic About Your Glue

A lot of the glues I have given recipes for are not made for high strength applications. The super glue recipe is the strongest by far. Of course a lot of applications you don’t need a very high strength glue to get the job done.
There is something to be said for glues that are completely non toxic. Flour and water may get a bit dirty setting out but if a child eats some it is probably not going to do any harm.

Tips For Better Results

• Don’t use glue that shows signs of being past its prime. Clumps and flakiness are signs you need to mix up a fresh batch and toss the old one out.
• Allow curing time. When glue is allowed to dry for a longer time it will set up more solidly. Of course this only matters for when you are gluing objects that are going to be subject to stress. For pottery and delicate repairs you should allow at least 24 hours before moving.
• Clamping two objects together while gluing can form a stronger bond. This is commonly done when gluing wood.
• If gluing something again, make sure to clean off all the old glue first for a better bond. Leaving remainders is tempting if there is a lot of glue but save yourself the frustration later of having the bond fail and use a razor knife or scraper to get rid of big parts. Sand paper can be nice to have for removing the last little layer.
• Rough up surfaces. Having more surface area for a bond can be very helpful when trying to make it strong. This is also key when gluing really smooth objects together. Sand paper is ideal but anything you have is better than nothing.
• Make sure to use the right glue for the job. Paper glue is not going to be like a proper ceramic glue.

Also Read: The Adhesives and Glues Every Prepper Needs

Not everything is a candidate for repair by gluing. A lot of the unfortunate trouble that is caused by gluing projects occurs when something that is either beyond repair or that has a lot of stress put on it. Glue is only so strong so things that are under a lot of stress should be glued with caution.

Cheap Glue Options

Good oldElmer’s School Glue comes in a gallon container. It stays good indefinitely if not opened so you could definitely afford to put back a gallon or two for when you need it. You can use it to refill smaller containers. Keeping the larger container more sealed will keep it good longer.

Elmer’s Liquid School Glue

Wood Glue

I found that it has an excellent deal on wood glue in small containers so you don’t have to feel bad about opening up a large container for a minor repair. This can be very handy for furniture repairs during SHTF or just regular life.

Elmer’s Wood Glue

Velcro

I have to say that there are a lot of situations where Velcro may be a better alternative than glue. Velcro comes in various forms with some of it being rated to stick to itself. The stronger Velcros are pretty amazing and very affordable. I have to say that sometimes the adhesives that come with them are lacking a bit.

While I know I just said Velcro is a viable alternative to glue, it can be made that much better by using some strong glue to attach the backing. Using both can result in a lot of holding power that can stand up to more significant stress loads.

Epoxy

While this is something you definitely have to buy, epoxy can form a much stronger bond than a lot of traditional glues so it can be good to have when you have a particularly tough job to take on. This is usually a two tube concoction that you have to mix up and use immediately but there is nothing like it out there.

About Milk Glues

There are a lot of recipes out there that include milk as an ingredient. This makes a fine glue but do realize that it does not keep. Don’t mix up more glue with milk in it than you can use over a few days. If you forget and it starts to smell just toss it. You don’t want that odor getting into things.

Homemade Glues Are Less Harsh

If you have ever been kind of horrified at the odors of some glues then you might be pleasantly surprised what homemade glues have to offer in terms of low or non existent odor. You could even add some essential oils to them to create a much more pleasant gluing experience.

Let’s Share Recipes & Experiences

Ingenuity is a wonderful thing. We are curious to hear any glue recipes you might have or stories about what you did when you needed some glue but had to improvise with what you had on hand at the time. What alternatives have you used for when you needed to glue something?

I have to wonder what differences there are between name brand glue and store brands?

Author Bio: Samantha Biggers lives on a mountain in North Carolina with her husband and pack of loyal hounds in a house her husband and she built themselves. When not writing she is working in their vineyard, raising Shetland sheep, or helping her husband with whatever the farm and vineyard can throw at them. She an be reached at [email protected]

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