What Is UV Glue And How Does It Work?

UV glue is essentially a unique adhesive that is ideal for an epoxy resin or acrylic base. It is a polymer that works by being exposed to UV light that crosslinks and creates a solid bond at a molecular level. As compared to adhesives that require a drying time, UV glues may require a lot longer time or a significant exposure to higher temperatures. As a rule of thumb, the higher the temperature, the faster the curing process. The light source can be anything from natural sunlight, LED lights, or UV gas discharge lamps. Let’s now take a look at the best UV glues you can buy.

10 Best UV Glues

1. Best For DIY Jewelry:Limino UV Resin

The clear, epoxy Limino UV Resin is ideal for DIY jewelry, cast figurines, crafts, resin paintings, and decoration. With 36W of UV light or sunlight, this resin cures within a few minutes, which is way faster as compared to its counterparts. This self-levering and self-degassing UV resin cures to a high glossy and transparent finish with excellent yellowing resistance. Pros

Durable Odorless Fast curing time Heatproof (up to 248 ℉) BPA-free VOC-free High gloss finish

Cons None

2. Best For Bonding:GUGUYeah UV Light Glue

The GUGUYeah UV Light Glue is a strong adhesive that is used for fixtures as well as to build structurally unbreakable materials. It can be used on any material, including glass, wood, PVC, acrylic, ceramic, and metal. This UV glue helps create a strong and permanent bond without using any clips or jigs in a matter of 5-10 seconds. This kit includes one glue pen, refill, UV light with battery, and an instruction manual. Pros

Heat-resistant Durable bond Fast curing time Non-hazardous Waterproof Value for money

Cons None

3. Best For Smartphone Repairs:MmobieL Loca Glue + UV Flashlight

If you are looking for a UV glue to do digital screen fixtures for your smartphone and tablets, look no further than the Mmobiel Loca Glue + UV Flashlight. This Liquid Optically Clear Adhesive (LOCA) is designed to bond the outer glass to the LCD or digitizer in the display assembly of your smartphone. It provides an excellent gap fitting and can easily fill the smallest scratches on the LCD surface. This glue has low viscosity and can flow easily, ensuring that you get effective performance even with a lesser amount. It also provides a higher light transmittance by increasing the contrast and minimizing quality loss to give you a better overall viewing experience. Moreover, the UV light torch included in the set can be used to harden the LOCA glue in place for long lasting results. Pros

Fast curing time Crystal clear finish High light transmittance Value for money UV flashlight

Cons

UV light may not be strong enough

4. Best Gap-Filling:Damn Good UV Glue Plastic Weld

The Damn Good UV Glue Plastic Weld is a great option to fix, build, bond, and fill a variety of materials like plastic, glass, wood, metals, and more. It takes mere seconds to cure using a 395 nm LED UV light source. This glue dries clear and can be sanded, filed, or painted over once its fully cured. Pros

Clear finish Excellent for gap filling Fast curing time Value for money

Cons None

5. Best All-Purpose Kit:Aventik Edison Bonding UV Glues Combo Tool Kit

The Aventik Edison Design Bonding UV Glues Combo Tool Kit is all you need to fix everything around the house, carry out your DIY projects, and more. The kit contains three bonding function UV glues – an all-purpose UV glue for acrylic, PVC, glass, ceramics, and metals, a metal and glass special glue, and a PET special UV glue. The combo of these three is enough for repairs, jewelry making, gap filling, electronics potting, tacking, and parts fabrication. This glue can fix almost every material, including glass, metals, and ceramics. This combo kit also contains a 395nm zoomable UV pen equipped with a specialized UV-through lens and a high-quality LED head that can cure the glue within 10 seconds. Pros

Strong bond Multipurpose Fast curing time Set of 3 glues UV pen Value for money

Cons

May feel sticky

6. Best For Professional Use:Loctite AA 349 Light Cure Adhesive

This medium viscosity Loctite AA 349 Light Cure Adhesive ideal for all your potting and tacking projects. It can also be used for fixing, gap filling, bonding, and sealing glass to glass or metal to glass components, such as optical instruments, furniture, and industrial devices. This adhesive cures under UV light and creates a strong bond within a matter of few seconds. Pros

Clear finish Cures fast Durable results Value for money

Cons None

7. Fastest Curing Time:Pacer Technology Zap It Light Curing Glue

The Pacer Technology Zap It Light Curing Glue has a medium viscosity designed to bond at the speed of light and can also be used to fix, seal, and fill cracks. It cures in a jiffy when exposed to UV and visible light. It is also paintable and sandable once completely cured. The kit includes a small LED lighting device that you can use to cure the adhesive on the go. Pros

Instant bond Durable results Easy to use Paintable Sandable

Cons None

8. Best Universal Superglue:Super Glue Zap It Light Curing Glue

The Super Glue Zap It Light Curing Glue is your all-in-one solution for bonding any material. It features a unique dual-cure technology that enables the glue to cure with or without any light exposure, enabling convenient use. This odorless glue can be used for gap filling purposes and sanded and painted over once cured. Pros

Quick curing time Universal adhesive Instant strong bond Easy to use Paintable Sandable

Cons None

9. Best For Glass Fixtures:CRL UV701 Ultraviolet Adhesive

This low viscosity UV glue CRL is designed to form permanent, high strength, and resilient bonds while providing excellent elasticity. It can be used for glass-to-glass and tempered glass-to-tempered glass bonding and for producing durable glass furniture. This UV glue cures within a few seconds when exposed to UV light. It creates a crystal-clear bond that is resistant to yellowing and moisture. Pros

Fast curing time Durable results Easy to use Value for money

Cons None

10. Best For Small Repairs:Bewitu Super UV Glue Pen

The Bewitu Super UV Glue Pen is great for bonding and repairing materials like wood, metal, ceramics, glass, and plastic and jewelry. The pen is designed with a fine quality stainless steel glue outlet that offers you a thin and precise application with excellent results within 5 seconds. This pen also features a UV light switch and a UV lamp that can be used to cure the UV glue. Pros

Refillable Easy to use Quick curing time Durable results

Cons

Not for heavy projects

UV glues are sturdy and durable alternatives to regular glues. They are perfect for school projects and carrying out certain household repairs. Since the market is filled with UV glues, choosing one is tricky. You must consider a few things to ensure you are getting the best possible product for your needs. Here are a few tips.

Things To Look For In UV Glues

Use: First, consider what you will be using the glue for. Some UV glues are better suited for certain applications than others. For example, if you need to glue two pieces of glass together, you will want a stronger and more durable glue than if you were simply attaching a small piece of plastic to metal.

Size: Next, take into account the size of the area you need to cover with the glue. If you only need a small amount, there are mini bottles available that can save you money. Larger jobs may require multiple bottles or even gallon-sized containers.

Finish: Choose a UV glue that dries in a clear, seamless finish. You want glue that is not noticeable. Therefore, read the reviews before choosing a product.

Heat-Resistant: Pick a glue that resists heat up to 200℉ or more. The bonding power of these glues is not affected by high temperatures.

Non-toxic: When looking for UV glue, it is important to ensure it is non-toxic. There are a few ways to tell if a glue is non-toxic. First, check the label. Avoid products containing ethanol, toluene, and xylene as they develop breathing problems. Next, check if the product is certified by the FDA. An FDA-certified glue is free of common toxins and is potentially safe.

Label: Finally, carefully read the instructions on the label before purchasing and using any UV glue. Different glues may require special preparation or application techniques. Pick one that suits your requirements.

Fast-Curing Time: Glues with quick curing time are convenient and easy to work with. They offer mess-free results. Pick one that dries up in 10 to 15 seconds.

The types of UV glues differ based on their curing mechanisms and not necessarily their texture. Let us check out the most common types of UV glues in the next section.

Types Of UV Glues

Here are a few important safety tips while using UV glues.

Safety Tips For Using UV Glues

UV light, even though good for the curing of the glue, may end up being harmful to you. So, using a proper PPE, including gloves, lab coats, face mask, and safety goggles, is imperative when handling this kind of an adhesive. Do not touch the UV light equipment directly during the curing process as it may reach higher temperatures and cause severe burns. Wait for 15 minutes before you pack up UV lamp or torch. Ensure appropriate ventilation when working with UV glue. Lamps or lights that are not ozone-free may end up causing claustrophobia.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

Pratyasha Ray, the author of this article, loves researching and reviewing home and kitchen appliances. Her keen interest in the various appliances, their quality, and utility helps the users get an idea about the best ones available on the market. She prepared a list of the best UV glues to help you with your DIY projects. They are durable, water-proof, and non-hazardous. Is UV glue solvent resistant? Yes, UV glues offer solvent resistance, chemical resistance, and resistance against acids. However, a stronger solvent such as acetone or methylene chloride may dissolve UV glue. How strong is UV glue? UV glues are ten times stronger than regular glue and work on plastic, glass, metals, ceramic, or acrylic materials. Are UV glues flammable? No, UV glues are non-flammable. Therefore, these glues do not emit flammable vapors, which makes them safe for the environment. How long does UV glue last? UV glues may last forever. However, they may not work efficiently in areas with poor ventilation. Is UV glue heat resistant? Yes, the temperature resistance range of UV glue is -45°C to 135°C. This is great for bonding items. Is UV glue flexible? Yes, UV glues are flexible and create a bond that does not break easily. How do you remove UV glue? To remove UV glue, heat the adhesive to 150°C and soften it. Now pull the two materials stuck with the glue away from each other gently.

Best UV Gel Nail Polishes  For Elegant And Glossy Nails Acrylic vs. Gel vs. Shellac Nails: What’s The Difference? The Ultimate Guide To Choosing The Best Artificial Nails How To Apply Nail Extensions Perfectly? – With Steps And Pictures Best Gel Nail Polish Kits For A Manicure At Home Best Color Changing Nail Polishes For Your Changing Moods Best Nail Primers For The Perfect Polish