EVA foam is a household name in the cosplay industry. You do not even need to have that much experience to know that it is an integral part of cosplay costumes and props.
The foam has also found its way into homes among crafty folks. It is the go-to foam for DIY costumes for kids, footwear, and giving structure to various crafts.
Well, EVA foam is lightweight, easy to cut and shape, and affordable too, which explains its popularity. But to work with it effectively, you must find an appropriate glue for the material.
If you are preparing for your next EVA foam project, you must be wondering:
What is the best glue for EVA foam? The best glue for EVA foam is contact cement, which has a superior hold and dries flexible. You will also have to consider what surface or material you will be bonding to the foam. The right glue should be compatible with both materials and create a strong bond.
Read on as we equip you with the information you need to select the best glue for EVA foam. We’ll also highlight 3 specific adhesive products that guarantee you success bonding EVA foam.
Glue For EVA Foam – Buyer’s Guide
There’s a wide variety of adhesives out there, and surprisingly, very many can bond EVA foam. But only a select few will last in the long run.
The best glue for EVA foam possesses specific qualities which are hard to find in one glue. Take a look at the attributes below to better understand what you should be looking for.
1. Strength
The best glue for EVA foam is a high-strength glue. Now there’s a lot of glues that will indeed bond the foam but can pull apart with minimal force.
Look for glues with incredible strength since the foam will be undergoing a lot of friction and movement once the project is complete.
2. Flexibility
You also want to check the glue’s flexibility once it dries. Glue that dries with good elasticity is the best for EVA foam.
As mentioned, EVA foam crafts like costumes undergo a lot of pressure and agitation, constantly being squished, flexed, and twisted. If the bond is brittle or weak, it definitely won’t hold up.
3. Value
Glue has never been a super expensive product for you to start worrying about the price. You can buy a bottle and use it multiple times.
But this isn’t always the case with EVA foam, which tends to absorb a lot of glue. This means you will need a copious amount. This is especially true if you’re creating a massive project like an adult costume.
The glues in small packages are the most accessible anyway. But buying several of them at once is not cost-effective and will inflate your budget very quickly.
Go for glue packaged in bigger cans or bottles for value. The cost per unit will be much cheaper. It’s better to have left over glue rather than insufficient glue.
4. Type Of Bond
Lastly, consider the type of bond. Do you intend to glue foam to foam or fabric to foam?
One glue may work perfectly, bonding two pieces of EVA foam but not fabric to foam. Another may perform wonderfully with thick fabrics but not sheer ones and vice versa.
So, based on this criteria, what is the best glue for EVA foam? Contact cement is the best glue for EVA foam. It is the most preferred glue by experienced foam crafters because it fits the profile described.
It is super strong, elastic when dry, affordable, comes in bigger cans, and is perfect for foam bonding without eating into it.
The 3 Best Glues For EVA Foam
Having established the correct type of glues to use with EVA foam, let’s get you even closer to finding the best product for your project.
There are so many glue brands out there, which makes it difficult for consumers to research them all and settle for one. Luckily, we already did the assignment for you.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Barge All Purpose Cement | Water and heat resistant, premium glue |
| 2. | Dap Weldwood Original Contact Cement | Flexible, cold/heat/water resistant |
| 3. | Bob Smith Industries Insta-Cure Glue | Quick-cure, thick, flexible |
1. Barge All-Purpose Cement
Barge contact cement is hands-down the best glue for EVA foam, and many experienced cosplayers swear by it.
It creates a virtually inseparable and highly flexible bond that can withstand multi-directional pressure. This amount of resilience makes it the perfect choice for the most durable crafts and costumes.
In addition, it dries reasonably fast and sets in 5-15 minutes as long as it is applied in thin coats. Therefore, you can put together your project fairly fast.
The product comes with a handy applicator for easy use. And since it is a high viscous glue, spreading it is not a messy task.
The Barger contact cement bond is water and heat-resistant. You can use it for exterior applications without worrying about it dissolving in the rain or melting in the sun.
Each can holds 32oz/1 quart of glue which is enough product for large projects. Plus, you can spray a little acetone in any leftover glue and store it for future use.
This is a really high-end superior quality glue. We highly recommend it for EVA foam in demanding applications where the bond’s tensile strength will be severely tested. Its durability is guaranteed.
The glue, however, has an undeniably offensive smell, thanks to the VOC content. You must use it in a well-ventilated space and wear a respirator during application.
2. Dap Weldwood Original Contact Cement
Coming in as a close second is the DAP contact cement. Although its fusible strength is not comparable to our number one choice, it comes pretty close in performance and still does a terrific job.
This contact cement makes a practically permanent yet flexible bond. It can stand up to both freezing and hot temperatures and even wetness.
You can throw your costume in the washing machine without a care that it will come apart. It is also packaged in a 16oz/1 pint can in case you feel a quart is too much.
The one drawback we would highlight is that it takes slightly longer to set. You could wait up to 20 minutes for this glue to hold.
3. Bob Smith Industries Insta-Cure Glue
We did mention that super glue is not the best glue for EVA foam. However, here is an exception.
Bob Smith InstaCure Gap filling super glue is not your ordinary super glue, and that’s why it’s made it to the list. This cyanoacrylate glue performs the best of all super glues and that’s because it has slightly unique features.
The glue is not brittle and has some give when it dries. This flexibility enables it to stand some degree of flexing and bending.
Another thing that makes InstaCure stand out from the rest is that it has triple the bond strength of other superglues. It doesn’t match up to contact cement, but it is seriously strong.
Furthermore, it dries the fastest, and in under one minute everything is set and secured tightly. This enables you to complete projects in a flash.
Application is such a breeze because it is nothing like the runny regular superglues you are used to. The consistency of this formula is somewhat on the thick side. The bottle tip is also designed for precision, so applications go smoothly.
Unfortunately, it comes in a 2 Oz bottle size only, which is kind of small. On the brighter side, it is adequate for small to medium EVA foam jobs, or the occasional hobbyist. You don’t want to buy an entire quart or pint of glue only for the rest to dry unused.
Related Questions
To wrap everything up, you can use any glue of choice for EVA foam; hot glue, gorilla glue, PVA glue. Most of these glues will work just fine but there are better options.
It is the resilience of the bond to heat, moisture, and, most significantly, mechanical stress that is the differentiating factor between good glue and the best glue.
Contact cement should be the best glue for EVA foam for its durability. Its strength is simply unrivaled.
What Is The Best Glue For Bonding Fabric To EVA Foam?
If you want to cover the EVA foam in fabric, you may want to consider a different glue from contact cement.
Hot glue is the best glue for fabric to foam bonding without damaging the fabric. It fuses well with a variety of materials, even the dense ones like denim or leather.
Nonetheless, hot glue could damage delicate fabrics and even melt the EVA foam if it is too hot. In this case, a double-sided adhesive is the better option. It is perfect for delicate fabrics.
Avoid tacky glue or fabric glue if you can, unless you’re going for a temporary hold. These don’t do well with EVA foam.
Can You Use Superglue On EVA Foam?
Yes, you could use superglue, but it won’t last when the flexing begins. At least not the regular ones.
It is common for people to turn to super glue to bond stuff. While it does fuse many surfaces reliably for most applications, it certainly isn’t meant for EVA foam bonding.
Superglue will adhere to the two foam surfaces well but, when dry, becomes brittle and cracks under pressure. So as soon as the foam undergoes all the squishing while in use, the superglue bond will give in.
If you must use superglue, then go for a brand that is formulated with special agents that give it flexibility after drying.
Up Next: How Strong Is Fabric Glue?
