The Gorilla Glue Company is one of the most well-known brands when it comes to super strong adhesives. Their glues work so well, it can be tempting to use them for any and all surfaces that you may need to use glue for, like wood, paper, metal, and even fabric.
So, can you use Gorilla glue on fabric? You can use Gorilla glue on fabric as long as you use their Gorilla Fabric Glue. Their other kinds of glue, such as super glue, are not advisable to work on fabric. They may cause fire or smoke if applied to fabrics.
If you need to add a quick hem in a pinch or add on some decorative rhinestones or buttons, it can be easier to use a little fabric glue instead of sewing them on. The important thing is to use the right fabric glue for the job.
Can You Use Gorilla Glue On Fabric?
Yes, you can use Gorilla glue on fabric, as long as it’s the Gorilla Fabric Glue. The Gorilla Fabric Glue is specifically formulated to be safe for use on fabrics. It will adhere properly to the material and create a strong hold.
Their fabric glue is created so that it forms a permanent bond in the fabric that will stay secure even through washing and drying.
It says that it sets quickly, but the instructions say that it takes a full 24 hours to cure, so keep this in mind. However, other types of Gorilla glue are not safe for use on fabrics.
They’re most known for their Gorilla Super Glue, which is what most people have lying around their house and what you may reach for if you want to use Gorilla glue on fabric.
Gorilla Super Glue, and other glues not rated for use on fabrics, create an exothermic reaction while drying. This means that the glue will produce and give off heat.
If applied to a fabric like cotton, that heat can cause the fabric to catch on fire or start releasing toxic smoke and fumes.
Gorilla glue that isn’t designed or specified for use on fabrics can cause disastrous results. So while you can use Gorilla glue on fabrics, it’s important to use only their Gorilla Fabric Glue.
What Fabrics Can You Use Gorilla Glue On?
When you use Gorilla Fabric Glue, you want to make sure you’re using it on fabrics that will bond well with it.
According to their product description, Gorilla Fabric Glue bonds with felt, denim, canvas, polyester, and cotton. It also works well with rhinestones, buttons, ribbons, beads, and sequins.
So, you can use Gorilla Fabric Glue on many fabric projects, whether you’re trying to create a quick hem or add a little pizzazz to the garment.
This glue may also work on other fabrics, but it’s not guaranteed. Try testing a small amount of this fabric glue on an unseen area of your fabric to see whether it will work well for your project.
Which Gorilla Glue Is Best For Fabric?
If you’re a brand loyalist and plan to only use Gorilla Glue for all your projects, then the only glue you can use on fabric is the Gorilla Fabric Glue.
As we mentioned above, this is the only type of Gorilla glue that is safe for use on fabrics. It works on most fabrics and embellishments, though it’s always best to do a test area to see how your fabric reacts and bonds with the adhesive.
Some people are a little wary of using Gorilla Fabric Glue as opposed to a more well-known fabric glue like Aleene’s.
If you’re unsure about using Gorilla Fabric Glue on your fabric project, check out the video below from Ginny Vie. She does a test of how this glue works on fabric and gives you tips of the best way to use it.
Ginny allows the glue a full 24 hours to cure completely before testing it out. Gorilla Fabric Glue is said to work in seconds, but it’s always best to allow an adhesive a longer amount of time to fully cure.
One thing about Gorilla Fabric Glue to keep in mind is that it gives off a strong odor. Be sure to use it in a well-ventilated area.
What Glue Holds Best On Fabric?
If you really need to use glue on fabric, we recommend using a fabric glue rather than a super glue or regular PVA glue.
There are several great fabric glues out there on the market, but to make it easy for you, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best fabric glues.
You can see some of these glues in action in the video below from Owen Clark. While he uses some glues we didn’t include, we still think this is a great video to show you how each fabric glue works.
We also included some other brands of fabric glue that he did not review in his video.
1. Aleene’s Fabric Fusion
Aleene’s is a highly popular craft and fabric glue brand. There are a lot of different glue types from Aleene’s, but the Aleene’s Fabric Fusion is the most commonly used for fabric projects.
This fabric glue works great on a wide variety of fabrics. Not only can it bond fabric to another fabric, but it can also bond with embellishments that you may want to add to the fabric.
It dries clear and is machine washable once fully cured.
While some fabric glues can become stiff once they’re dry, Aleene’s Fabric Fusion will still have some flexibility, making it more comfortable to wear once fully dry.
You can even adjust the tip of the bottle to help you control how much glue comes out as you apply.
2. Speed Sew
Speed Sew is another fantastic fabric glue option.
It works great on lots of different fabrics, including cotton, canvas, denim, and more. It’s rated to work on tents and drapes, furniture upholstery, shoes, and even carpets and curtains.
This fabric glue is a highly versatile and multi-purpose fabric glue that can give you a quick hem or repair a hole in your camping tent.
It creates a strong hold once dry. It’s machine washable and will create a permanent bond for your fabric.
3. Fabric Fuse
Fabric Fuse is another fabric glue option you can use.
It comes in a bottle that has a precision application tip to help you only apply small amounts where you want it. This works great for detailed application such as sequins, rhinestones, or beads.
It’s rated to bond fabric to fabric or fabric to embellishments, so you can use it for many different fabric projects.
This fabric glue dries clear, so even if some of it seeps around your sequin or rhinestone, it will dry clear and won’t be as noticeable.
It creates a permanent bond that will last even after you wash and dry your fabric.
4. Dritz Unique Stitch Stitchless Sewing
Dritz is a well-known brand in the fabric craft world. They have many different sewing accessories, including this no-sew Unique Stitch fabric glue.
This glue is specifically formulated to bond fabric to fabric. While we’re not sure if this will work well for rhinestones or other plastic embellishments, it would definitely work for ribbon, patches, bias tape, ric-rack, or other fabric embellishments.
It can provide you with an easy no-sew hem alternative too, so you can hem something quickly without having to pull out the sewing machine.
It’s fast drying and machine washable once cured.
6. Beacon Fabri-Tac
If you want a more versatile fabric glue, we recommend trying Fabri-Tac from Beacon. This fabric glue not only works well on fabrics, but can also bond with leather, wood, and glass.
This means you can not only bond fabric to itself, like for a hem, but you can also bond fabric to a wood or glass object to create a mixed-media craft project.
This glue is highly flammable, so be sure to use it in a safe area away from open flame or high heat.
Can You Use Super Glue As Fabric Glue?
Although it may be tempting to use super glue on fabric, we do not recommend using super glue as fabric glue.
Fabric glues are specifically formulated to bond well with fabrics. This means not only will it create a strong adhesive, but it will stand up against the routine washing and drying that fabrics go through.
Super glues aren’t made for this. They’re generally made to bond hard surfaces, like wood, glass, plastic, or ceramics. You won’t get the same flexibility in super glue as you would with fabric glues.
Additionally, as we mentioned earlier, some super glues have an exothermic curing reaction. This means that as they dry, they give off heat that can damage the fabric or cause a fire hazard.
When it comes to fabrics, it’s best to use fabric glue.
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