Styrofoam, the lightweight material best known for use in insulation and packaging, is also a common material used in hobby and craft projects. Whether you're working on a project for school or just making your own fun craft, knowing how to glue Styrofoam to a variety of surfaces (including other Styrofoam surfaces) can help you create a project that's strong and sturdy (as sturdy as possible for something made of Styrofoam). See Step 1 below to get started!
Step
Part 1 of 3: Styrofoam Glue Table
While craft base glues are great for basic Styrofoam projects, a variety of specialty glues can create a very strong bond. Study the simple table below to find out the best adhesive for attaching Styrofoam to different types of surfaces in craft projects.
| Paper | Cloth | Wood | Metal | Glass | Styrofoam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-purpose Glue (example: Weldbond), Spray glue (example: 37MM), Hot glue | All Purpose Glue, Spray Glue, Hot Glue | Polyurethane Glue (example: Gorilla Glue), Hot Glue, Cement Glue | Metal epoxy, Epoxy putty, Hot glue | Epoxy, All-Purpose Glue, Spray Glue | All-purpose glue, Spray glue, Cement glue |
Part 2 of 3: Choosing the Right Glue
Step 1. Use basic craft glue for simple purposes
For simple art and craft projects, the easiest way to glue Styrofoam is usually to use the white glue commonly used in schools (such as, Elmer's, etc.) cardboard and wood. It's also usually the cheapest and easiest option, so it's the best choice for simple projects.
Note that school glue is cheap and sophisticated, but probably won't be as strong and durable as expensive specialty glues, so you might want to use it for projects where Styrofoam isn't stressed (e.g. Styrofoam airplanes, etc.)
Step 2. Use Styrofoam glue
Believe it or not, certain glues have been developed specifically for use with Styrofoam. This glue is sometimes sold as "Styroglue", which is usually affordable, but can also be harder to find than regular school glue. Usually Styrofoam glue can be purchased at many materials stores or art and craft stores.
If you're thinking about buying Styrofoam glue, check the label before buying. Some glues may be made for use with Styrofoam only, while others are suitable for bonding Styrofoam to other surfaces
Step 3. Use spray glue
Most aerosol glues (which are often available at hardware stores for Rp. 12,000, - or less per can) offer an easy way to glue Styrofoam. Sprays are typically used for a variety of home uses, and work on a variety of surfaces. For example, inexpensive multi-purpose glue is said to be able to bond Styrofoam to metal, plastic, paper, cardboard, and wood.
Step 4. Use a hot glue gun with a low temperature
An ordinary hot glue gun can work well for gluing Styrofoam on several surfaces such as paper, cardboard, wood and so on. But when using a hot glue gun on Styrofoam, colder is better. An extra hot glue gun can burn or melt the Styrofoam, which will give off noxious fumes.
While the steam produced by burning Styrofoam won't hurt you right away, it shouldn't be underestimated, as it contains a variety of toxic chemicals. Including styrene and benzene, which are suspected carcinogens (cancer-causing substances)
Step 5. Do not use special glue for certain materials
When gluing Styrofoam, you should avoid glues that are specifically made to work on certain materials other than Styrofoam (eg wood glue, fabric glue, glue and epoxy used for construction projects, etc.). While some of these types of glue "can" work with Styrofoam, many don't work any better than cheap basic craft glue, making them wasteful and inefficient. In addition, some choose special glues that can dissolve or melt Styrofoam and other plastics (see below).
Step 6. Do not use glue containing plastic solvents
Because Styrofoam is light and fragile, sometimes we forget that Styrofoam is a plastic product. Styrofoam is usually a "bubble" - that is plastic mixed with air, resulting in a lightweight product. Since Styrofoam is plastic-based, you should avoid using glues that contain ingredients that can break down the plastic. Using glue like that will damage your Styrofoam, turn it into a messy liquid and ruin your project.
For example, rubber cement, a fairly strong and flexible adhesive, often contains alcohol and acetone. Acetone is the active ingredient in nail polish remover, which can dissolve many types of plastic, making it a poor choice for Styrofoam. However, rubber cement that does not contain acetone can be used on Styrofoam
Part 3 of 3: Using Glue
Step 1. Clean and prepare your surface
Once you have the right glue, Styrofoam itself is pretty easy to work with - all you need to do is apply some glue to the Styrofoam, apply it to another surface, and wait for it to dry. However, before applying the glue, it would be better to clean the surface from dust and other things by wiping the surface with a clean and dry cloth. Applying glue on a dirty and dusty surface can interfere with the glue's work in gluing two surfaces so that the bond is not strong.
If you are gluing an uneven surface (such as a rough piece of wood with lots of pores), the glue's bond strength may be reduced. In this case, you can sand the surface to make it smoother and easier to glue - try using 200 grit or higher sandpaper
Step 2. Apply glue
When you are ready to start, apply glue to the surface of the Styrofoam. For a strong bond, apply glue tips and evenly over the entire surface. If you don't really need a strong bond, you can just apply glue in spots or stripes.
If you are working with very large Styrofoam, you can pour glue into the tray, and apply the glue with a paint brush. This will ensure that the glue is applied quickly and evenly, which will prevent the glue from drying in one area while the other has not been applied
Step 3. Glue the Styrofoam
When you're ready, stick the Styrofoam on another surface. Press carefully to make sure all the glue meets the other surface. Depending on the type of glue and the amount you're using, it usually takes at least a minute for the glue to set, so you can still slide the Styrofoam around to make changes.
To make it extra strong, you can add glue to the edges of the Styrofoam where the surfaces meet. Don't use more than a line of glue - too much will make the glue dry longer
Step 4. Wait for it to dry
The next thing you can do is wait! Depending on the size of the project, the type of glue and the amount of glue you're using, the time it takes for the glue to dry can vary from just a few minutes to a few hours. Don't interrupt the project while waiting for the glue to dry, or you may need to apply more glue and start drying the glue all over again. If necessary, use a sturdy object (like a book, box, etc.) to hold the project in place when the glue dries.
Step 5. Be careful with Styrofoam which is quite fragile
Most of the gluing methods discussed in this article for bonding Styrofoam produce a strong bond and will not fail under normal conditions once the glue has dried. The same is not true of Styrofoam itself, which is often a weak and brittle material. Remember to handle Styrofoam with care once it's completely dry - it's very easy to accidentally damage a Styrofoam project on walls, door frames and other impacts, with or without glue.
Tips
- If a piece of Styrofoam separates from the glued material, throw it away and start over. When a new layer of glue is applied to the Styrofoam whose previous glue has dried, the surface will not meet perfectly. The result is styrofoam, glue and the glued surface will not stick well.
- If the glue dries longer than expected when gluing two Styrofoam sheets together, you can use a toothpick to keep them from moving. Use a blow dryer on a low setting to speed up drying.
