When it comes to crafting, having a high-quality adhesive that works well with your material is a must. Gorilla Glue and Loctite are two of the most well-known brands in the crafting industry. They’re both trusted and reliable adhesives that work well with materials of all kinds.
So, Gorilla Glue vs. Loctite, which one is better? Loctite glue is the winner if you want to bond non-porous materials like metal or plastic. However, if you’re working with wood or other porous materials, then Gorilla Glue is the clear winner.
So, what’s the difference between these two brands? And which one is right for you? Here are some of the things you should be aware of before deciding between Gorilla Glue and Loctite for your next project.
Loctite Glue
Loctite is a well-known adhesive brand. It was founded in 1954 and has been in the business of providing high-quality adhesive solutions for over 50 years.
Loctite Glue comes in a few variations, including superglue, which is good for quick repairs; general purpose glue, which is great for household use; and contact adhesive, which is designed for non-porous materials like metal and plastic.
If you need a thread locker, then Loctite is the best choice. Not only does it keep the bolt in place, but it also prevents corrosion and oxidation.
Regardless of the application, Loctite glue is known for its durability and weather resistance, which is why it’s the preferred glue for outdoor applications.
Gorilla Glue
Gorilla Glue, on the other hand, is a relatively new player in the market. The company was founded in 1994, but it has now become the main rival for Loctite glue.
Gorilla originally made polyurethane glue, but now, their product range is very wide, including general-purpose polyurethane glue, super glue, epoxy adhesives, construction adhesives, wood glue, and craft glues.
As you can imagine, there’s a Gorilla product for every project you can think of. However, wood glue is one product where Gorilla stands out from its competitors.
Similarities Between Gorilla and Loctite
There’s a reason why it’s so difficult to choose between these two brands. There are many similarities between their products, so let’s take a look at them below.
Use
As we’ve mentioned above, both Gorilla and Loctite have a wide range of products that are formulated for various materials and purposes, with various strengths.
Depending on the product that you have, as well as the application and material, the result may vary. Later, we’ll compare how these two brands perform for each type of material.
Price
The price of Gorilla and Loctite products is quite competitive, especially if you are comparing similar products (Gorilla super glue vs. Loctite super glue).
Reliability
Both Gorilla and Loctite became trusted in the handicraft world because they produce highly dependable products. If you’re looking for a reliable adhesive for general purposes, both of these brands can meet your expectations.
Toxicity
Both Loctite and Gorilla glues are formulated for professional use (although some Gorilla glues are also created for arts and crafts).
As such, you can expect that the formula is toxic, which means they are not safe to ingest. This is true for epoxy, superglue, and polyurethane adhesives sold by both brands.
When working with these types of glue, make sure to work in a well-ventilated area to minimize the toxic fumes you inhale. You should also try to avoid touching the glues directly, as it can cause skin irritations and other allergic reactions.
Differences Between Gorilla and Loctite Glue
Here’s where Loctite and Gorilla differ from each other:
Outdoor Usage
If you are looking for an outdoor adhesive, then Loctite will definitely outperform Gorilla.
Although both types of adhesives are water-resistant, Loctite glue is waterproof, which means it’s not affected by any amount of water, while Gorilla can only handle water and moisture to a certain degree, unless their products specifically state that they are waterproof.
In addition, Loctite is more resistant to harsh environmental conditions such as rain, snow, and dust. Gorilla Glue, on the other hand, tends to fail faster when exposed to these types of conditions.
Some Loctite formulas – such as its thread lockers – are even heat resistant, which makes them better for outdoor environments, as well as demanding applications like automotive work and construction. In comparison, Gorilla glues won’t be able to withstand high heat.
Application
Although both brands have a wide range of products that can work well for all kinds of materials, the application is a little different for Loctite glue compared to Gorilla glue.
Before you apply Loctite Glue, make sure the surface is completely dry and clean. After application, you should clamp your surface and leave it to dry for at least 24 hours for the glue to set and cure completely, ensuring maximum bond strength.
Unlike Loctite, Gorilla Glue is water-activated. Before you apply it, make sure that the surface is damp. This will help speed up the drying process. Similar to Loctite glue, you should clamp the glue surface and leave it alone for 24 hours to allow the glue to dry completely.
Which Glue Is Better For Which?
After exploring some similarities and differences between Loctite glue and Gorilla glue, it can still be a bit difficult to decide which one is the best for your project.
Let’s take a look at some use cases for Loctite Glue and Gorilla glue to see which is good for which.
Epoxy
Epoxy is a versatile and durable adhesive that works well with a wide range of materials, including wood, plastic, and even metal.
Both Loctite and Gorilla offer a wide range of epoxy adhesives. However, a big weakness of epoxy adhesive is that it can set within 5-20 minutes after the epoxy and hardener components are mixed together, which doesn’t give you much time to adjust the bond.
If you want a bit more time to work with your bond, then use Loctite’s Extra Time Epoxy. This product will set after one hour, which will give you plenty of time to adjust and clamp your materials before the bond is set.
That said, Gorilla’s epoxy adhesive is definitely more durable. It will cure after 24 hours, and after this point, the bond’s strength is 3300 PSI, which is far superior to Loctite epoxies. Gorilla epoxy will set within a few minutes, however, so you don’t have a lot of time to work with it, but it’s perfect if you’re in a rush.
Superglue
Gorilla is known for its super strong super glue that works well with all kinds of material to provide a quick yet dependable fix for household applications. The glue will dry clear within 45 seconds and work well with a wide range of materials.
In comparison, Loctite has a few different formulas for super glue, suitable for different purposes: from dishwasher-safe super glue or extra time superglue, to extra strength super glue.
Regular Loctite super glue will dry within 30 seconds, but the extra time formula will dry after two minutes, giving you some time to work with the bond.
While Gorilla super glue is known for being stronger and more dependable, Loctite glue is way more versatile, with a different super glue formula developed for every need.
Thread Locker
Loctite actually specializes in thread lockers, and if you are looking for a thread locker adhesive, then Gorilla doesn’t have any specialized products to offer.
Loctite thread lockers are formulated from polymers, which are ideal for various industries, such as automotive and construction. This formula allows the adhesive to cure in an anaerobic environment, which means that it requires both humidity and air to cure.
Loctite’s thread lockers are formulated to work well with a wide range of applications, so they are widely used in automotive manufacturing and construction.
Loctite’s thread lockers can provide superior bond strengths, plus they can also prevent rust and protect the bond from harsh weather conditions, so it’s preferred in highly demanding applications.
However, before you apply Loctite’s thread lockers, make sure to wipe off any dust and oil residue. The adhesive can only be applied to clean surfaces, so this step is a must to ensure that the adhesive performs properly.
Bonding Metal/Plastic
Although Loctite claims that it works well on all types of materials, one area where it can really stand out is bonding non-porous materials like metal or plastic. This is why it works so well for thread locking too.
This is because Loctite glue is both water-resistant and solvent-resistant, making it ideal for demanding applications and especially for non-porous materials.
Loctite epoxy is also superior to Gorilla epoxy because it does not shrink as the conditions change, which means it’s great for filling in gaps in non-porous materials. Once it’s cured, the epoxy can also be drilled, and it can even resist very high temperatures as well.
Bonding Wood
If your specialty area is woodworking, then Gorilla Glue is a better choice than other types of wood glue. It will allow you to quickly and easily bond multiple pieces of wood with fairly decent bond strength.
To achieve maximum strength, make sure to wait at least 24 hours for the glue to cure completely.
If you’re using Gorilla epoxy, you should know it is prone to shrinking. However, since wood is a porous surface that also expands and shrinks according to its surrounding conditions, this fact doesn’t really affect how well Gorilla glue works on wood.
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