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There are a lot of different types of glue available in the market for people to use. These glues are generally used for multipurpose gluing works. They tend to differ in their strength and the type of materials they best work with. One such type of glue is PVA glue. It can at first appear as just about any type of glue that you can get at your local craft store.
However, there are some differences between PVA and normal glue. Also, certain materials work best with this type of glue. If you are looking for a special type of glue for your DIY projects or looking to simply fix something in your house, you might want to consider giving this glue a try.
In this article, we are going to talk about PVA glue and the wonderful things you didn’t know it could do. Read on to find out more.
What Is PVA Glue?
PVA stands for Polyvinyl Acetate. Sounds technical? Well not much since most glues are made from Polymers, while this type of glue is made from a type of synthetic polymer that also acts as a strong adhesive for porous materials. It was first introduced in the market almost 100 years back and has since become an important part of a carpenter’s toolbox.
PVA is most commonly used for woodworks and is also known as carpenter’s glue. It is used for pasting or securing porous materials like wood, clothing, paper among other items. It is extremely versatile and can be used on a lot of different surfaces and materials. And it is inexpensive and can be easily bought from your local carpenter store or even a craft store.
Benefits of using PVA Glue
- PVA cannot affect or interfere with the quality of material being used. It does not stain the papers it is sticking to and is used by artists to maintain the condition of their art pieces and papers. It also does not react with the paint and the color of the objects remains the same over time.
- PVA does not have any scent whatsoever and is also non-toxic. It can be safely handled by people without requiring gloves. The only time this glue can be toxic if it is ingested.
- It is also free of any acids, which are generally present in your average glue. Thus, it can be used safely for archiving documents and other important pieces of paper without it staining the sheets. It also dries up very quickly and does not leave a visible trace.
Thus, it is one of the most preferred forms of glue for artists who are looking to preserve their artworks and retain its value in the market.
Things you didn’t know about PVA glue
- PVA was first discovered in Germany by Fritz Klatte in 1912. It immediately became popular at that time since it did not give off dangerous fumes or smells like most glues in the market did at that time.
- This type of glue was first used by carpenters. It can be used on plywoods, MDFs, chipboards, and even real blocks and pieces of wood. It is stronger than other types of glues and also does not stain the wood surface.
If you are looking to fix the tabletops or want to stick something to your walls, PVA glue is the way to go. It will not stain your walls over time like normal glue and also has a very high bonding strength.
- PVA comes in a lot of types. Bet you probably didn’t know this. They are your regular PVA, PVA wood glue, and even PVA water-resistant glue.
Regular PVA is used for binding books, sealing boxes and also used for paints. The hold is permanent and also remains flexible over time unlike other types of glue which becomes brittle.
PVA wood glue is used exclusively for wooden surfaces and materials. The glue absorbs completely into the wood without deteriorating its quality. It provides a firm and solid hold.
PVA water-resistant glue is used in places that will be wet most of the time like bathroom fittings and taps. It can also withstand extremes of temperatures and finds a large number of industrial applications.
- If you want to dry your PVA glue quickly, you can try placing the object in an AC room. You can also use a blow dryer over the area you just glued. This helps to dry and set the glue much faster and also provides a stronger hold.
- PVA glue can also be used for leather and can come in useful if you are looking to customize your leather jackets and shoes. You can also use it for soles of shoes and sticking fabric to leather.
The glue does not react with the leather and also does not leave any stain on it. If you want to remove the glue later, you can use a solution of ethyl acetate to dissolve it. This makes the parts easy to remove
- Regular PVA is soluble in water. You can create the desired thickness of the glue using water as a thinner. Thus, you can end up using the glue according to your desired density and the surfaces or materials you want to work with.
- You can also use this glue as a varnish to preserve delicate items or pieces of art. It is non-reactive and the quality and color of the surface remain safe over time.
Final Thoughts
PVA Glue finds a host of applications due to its characteristics differing from the regular glue that you find in supermarkets or your local art store. If you didn’t know about this glue previously and what it could do, this article is going to
