Glue can bond together anything from beautiful bead projects to broken teacups.
It is important, however, to choose the right kind of glue when it comes to adhering glass to other surfaces. Are you working on craft projects where multi-purpose glue is sufficient, or are you looking for something industrial-strength for heavier objects?
No matter what project you need to tackle, our guide will help you find the right product.
Here, our experts provide a list of the best glue for glass and discuss all the details you should consider before choosing one.
Top 10 Glues for Glass Comparison Table
| Picture | Name | Quantity | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. TroySys Nano470 Construction Glass Glue (20 G)|high Strength Adhesive | 20 grams | $$$$ | 4.7 |
 | 2. E6000 237032 Craft Adhesive, 2 fl oz Clear | 2.0 fl. ounces | $ | 4.4 |
 | 3. Permatex 80050 Clear RTV Silicone Adhesive Sealant, 3 oz | 3 fl. ounces | $ | 4.4 |
 | 4. Weldbond 8-50420 Universal Adhesive, 14.2 fl. oz. | 14.2 fl. ounces | $$ | 4.4 |
 | 5. J-B Weld 50112 Clear 25 ml ClearWeld Quick-Setting Epoxy Syringe | 0.85 fl. ounces | $ | 4.4 |
 | 6. Gorilla Epoxy, .85 oz., Clear | 0.85 fl. ounces | $ | 4.3 |
 | 7. Beacon Gem-Tac Permanent Adhesive, 4-Ounce | 4 fl. ounces | $$ | 4.2 |
 | 8. 3M 08693 Auto Glass Urethane Windshield Adhesive Cartridge - 10.5 fl. oz. | 10.5 fl. ounces | $$$ | 4.2 |
 | 9. Loctite Glass Glue 2-Gram Tube (233841) | 2 grams | $ | 3.8 |
 | 10. Elmer's E1012 China and Glass Cement 1-Ounce | 1 fl. ounce | $$ | 3.5 |
Adhesives, Glues, and Epoxies
What is the difference between glue, adhesive, and epoxy?
You will see the terms used interchangeably, so remember that, generally, adhesive and glue are ready-to-use products. In contrast, epoxy consists of two bonding agents that need to be mixed before use.
- Adhesive/Glue. Adhesives are premixed and ready to use as soon as you remove the cap.
The strength of the bond that it creates varies from product to product, so you will need to read each label carefully to understand what kinds of projects they can handle.
A regular adhesive or glue for crafts and light household projects will be fine.
- Epoxy. For some projects, epoxy might be the best choice. Rather than mixing all ingredients and placing them in a ready-to-use tube, manufacturers separate the ingredients into two parts you need to mix.
Make sure you have a container handy to mix them before applying; it will not work as well if you apply small quantities of each to a surface and then connect the pieces.
What Are You Bonding?
Be sure to consider your project before selecting glue and check the label to verify the types of surfaces it can adhere to.
Do you need to bond glass to glass, or will you be bonding it to another material? Multi-purpose glues are usually good for bonding glass to plastic, vinyl, fabric, and even metal.
What Color Is It When Dry?
Keep in mind that not all glues are dry clear, or transparent. Some will be more noticeable than others after hardening, so to avoid a sloppy-looking job, find out what color the glue will be once it dries.
Drying Time
As many of us know, Superglue dries fast, but not all glues work this way.
Do you need time to apply the glue and then adjust the pieces you are bonding, or would you prefer something that dries quickly so your project won’t fall apart?
Usually, glue manufacturers will indicate two different times – the setting time and the time it takes to cure completely.
The E6000 Adhesive, for example, will set in 5 minutes but requires a full 24-72 hours to cure completely.
Industrial Strength
If you require an industrial-strength bond between two pieces of glass or glass and another surface, then there are two products on our list that you should consider – the Nano470 Construction Glass Glue or the 3M Auto Glass Urethane Windshield Adhesive.
We will discuss the Nano470 in the review section, but 3M is the best adhesive for glass windshields installed on car frames.
3 Best Glue for Glass Reviews
1. TroySys Nano470 Construction Glass Glue
It may be the most expensive glue, but the Nano470 packs some serious bonding power.
The industrial-strength bond it provides is perfect for big projects, whether you’re working on some glass shelving, bonding thick pieces of broken glass back together, or if you need to bond glass to a metal surface.
Features
- Bonds glass to metal
- Bonds glass to glass
- Bonds broken glass together
- Perfect for glass shelving
Unlike the other glue on our list, this will cure when exposed to fluorescent light. If you don’t have access to fluorescent light, that won’t be a problem; you will need to wait longer for the ambient light to cure it (about 20 minutes).
Nano470 provides you with a demonstration in this video. The video quality is nothing to get excited about, but it does give you a chance to see the glue in action.
2. E6000 237032 Craft Adhesive
E6000 is the best glass glue to have sitting in your craft box or for any small projects around the home.
You can use it to bond wood, fabric, leather, ceramic, metal, and glass (of course). It is waterproof after it sets and dries completely. If you use it to apply any glass beads to fabric, they even claim it is washer and dryer-safe (although we’re not sure if the beads could handle the beating). This is your product if you need glue that can withstand the elements.
Working with this glue is fairly easy since you have a 5-minute adjustment period before it hardens to the point of no return. As we mentioned earlier, you should let objects dry for at least 24 hours and up to 72 hours for a solid bond.
It also dries transparent, so you don’t have to worry about “seeing” the glue later.
The one major con to this glue is its level of toxicity. The ingredients are extremely harsh, so please read the warning labels carefully before purchasing.
3. Permatex 80050 Silicone Adhesive Sealant
Permatex’s non-toxic adhesive will provide a sturdy bond to secure metal, glass, vinyl, fabric, and plastic.
It is highly resistant to extreme temperatures and can tolerate some moisture exposure. Remember that it is only listed as water-resistant and not waterproof, so prolonged exposure to the elements might weaken the bond.
RTV silicone – which stands for Room Temperature Vulcanization – is silicone rubber, so this particular product works to seal seams and bond them together.
It comes in handy for projects where you need to bond and seal materials. If you are looking for less hazardous glue than the previous product that can be used for various projects, Permatex’s Adhesive Sealant is an excellent choice.
Conclusion
All of the glues on our list are great for bonding glass, but some may be better suited for your specific needs than others. If you need glue that can bond glass to metal or broken glass that needs to be repaired, the TroySys Nano470 is an excellent choice.
If you’re looking for a general-purpose adhesive that can also withstand some exposure to moisture and extreme temperatures, go with the Permatex 80050 Silicone Adhesive Sealant. E6000 is perfect for crafts and smaller projects around the house where waterproofing isn’t as important, and it has a five-minute adjustment period before it hardens completely.
Always read warning labels carefully before using any adhesive.
