How Long Does It Take for Super Glue to Dry?

Super glue is very useful when you have to do a quick repair job. But for it to work best, you need to wait the right amount of time for the glue to fully dry and bond. How long does it take for super glue to dry?

Super glue takes about 3-10 seconds to dry, depending on how much glue you use and how tight you clamp the two objects together. The glue will fully bond in about 1 hour or up to 24 hours, depending on the brand.

Super glue is temperature and moisture-resistant, and some super glue brands claim to be impact-resistant.

Read on to learn more about how long it takes super glue to dry, as well as tips for using super glue.

How Long Does It Take for Super Glue to Dry?

For super glue to work, it has to be activated by water. Just a little bit of water is needed, which is why the water vapor in the atmosphere is enough to make it glue things together. And this is also the reason why your fingers are instantly glued together once super glue drops on your fingers.

When water is present, super glue quickly polymerizes and forms bonds. In general, no matter which brand you are using, super glue sets (form bonds) in just a few seconds. A moderate amount of super glue will dry in about 3-10 seconds.

Some super glue brands recommend waiting an hour or even up to 24 hours for the glue to fully set or to completely form the bonds.

Once you spread your adhesive to a surface, a number of electrostatic forces (van der Waals) form. These forces occur between the molecules of glue and the molecules of the surface or object that you are gluing. These forces are the reason for the objects/surfaces to glue together.

How Long Different Super Glue Brands Take to Dry

To help you assess the super glue brands available commercially based on how long they take to dry, I have listed some of the brands below: 

1. Loctite Super Glue Professional Liquid

Loctite Super Glue Professional Liquid offers ultimate strength and speed. This glue can be used for metal, wood, leather, rubber, paper, acidic surfaces, ceramic, and plastics. This glue is not appropriate for foam, foam rubber, polyethylene, and polypropylene. Because the container for this super glue has a pinpoint nozzle, this allows you to apply this glue without oozing. 

This glue requires you to press the parts you are trying to adhere together for 3-10 seconds. This super glue fully dries with a clear appearance after 24 hours.

2. Gorilla Glue Original

Gorilla Glue Original claims to be one of the strongest and most versatile super glues available on the market. This 100% waterproof glue is appropriate for wood, stone, metal, ceramic, foam, glass, and many other materials.

Gorilla glue requires that you clamp together the pieces of the material you are trying to glue together for one to two hours. The glue will start to dry after about one to two hours, but to be fully dried this glue takes 24 hours.

There are some claims that Gorilla Glue can dry as fast as 10-15 seconds. It is best to wait, however, to move the glued objects, to ensure the bond is fully formed. Gorilla Glue Original will expand about three to four times while it is drying. 

How Long Does It Take for Gorilla Glue to Dry?

3. Scotch Super Glue Gel 

Scotch Super Glue Gel is a thixotropic mixture – meaning, the gel-like glue, when shaken, stirred, or disturbed, will liquefy. The main advantage of this property is that this glue does not easily drip. This gel-like glue, which is contained in a container with a fine tip, is appropriate for metal, plastic, rubber, leather, wood, and ceramics.

This glue is also available in four small tubes; each one can be applied for a single repair. This glue requires you to hold together the parts you are adhering to each other for about 30-40 seconds. At about one to five minutes, the parts are strong enough but it will take about 12-24 hours to attain your desired finish.

4. Permatex Super Glue

Permatex Super Glue is ready to use, does not require any mixing, and is appropriate for metals, alloys, plastics, vinyl, rubber, and ceramics. Permatex Super Glue is being used in the automotive and marine industries.

This glue is not suitable for glass, foam rubber, cloth, polyethylene/polypropylene plastic, etc. Pressure has to be maintained for 10-15 seconds if you are trying to glue pieces together.

5. Krazy Glue Maximum Bond Super Glue

Krazy Glue Maximum Bond Super Glue’s container has an extended tip made for those hard-to-reach areas. This glue is recommended for ceramic, plastic, wood, glass, porcelain, metal, leather, rubber, and vinyl.

Krazy Glue requires you to hold together parts for 30 seconds. Krazy Glue Maximum Bond Super Glue is said to be formulated to withstand impact and changes in temperature.

6. Super Glue Multi-Pack

Super Glue Multi-Pack works for wood, ceramic, fingernails, metal, pottery, plastic, china, jewelry, etc. This glue takes about 10-30 seconds to set. How long for this super glue to dry? Like most other super glue, it is best to wait a few hours for it to dry. In 24 hours, you can be sure it will be dried fully. This super glue has an airtight cap which prevents it from hardening. 

7. Titebond 5063 Original Wood Glue

Titebond 5063 Original Wood Glue, as the name suggests, works for hardware, wood, hardboard, particleboard, leather, cloth, and other porous materials. This glue offers minimal clamping time, only about a few seconds for it to set. It can take only 30 minutes for it to dry. If you can, however, I still recommend waiting about 24 hours to ensure the bond is fully sealed.

8. Professional Grade Cyanoacrylate Super Glue

This super glue is suitable for plastics and wood and is great for arts and crafts, putting together puzzles, trains, planes, and boats. This can also be used for wood projects and repair jobs around the household. This glue is set after about 50 seconds.

9. Starbond Super Fast Instant Super Glue 

This super glue is suitable for wood and ceramics, metal, rubber, leather, gemstones, rocks and minerals, carbon fiber, fiberglass, PVC, and plastics. Starbond can penetrate, seal, and repair cracks and pores. 

Its bonding time is about 10-20 seconds. It takes about 15 to 24 hours for Starbond Superglue to fully dry.

10. Bob Smith Industries Insta-Cure + Gap Filling CA

The Insta-Cure super glue dries in only about 5-15 seconds after it has been applied. When gluing together two parts, apply a fairly small amount on one surface, depending on the size of the part.

Then press and hold the two parts together for about 15 seconds. Let the parts sit for 24 hours to fully dry. An hour or so is really all that is needed for this glue to become pretty well bonded together, but the manufacturer recommends 24 hours just in case.

How to Speed Up the Drying Time of Super Glue

How long does your super glue take to dry? Are you trying to glue things together, and they take too long to dry? Here are some tips you can follow to make super glue dry faster:

1. Clean the Surface

Clean the surfaces of the objects you are trying to glue together. A clean surface will make bonding together objects easier because the surface of the objects is free of dust, oil, dirt, etc. 

2. A Thin Layer Is Enough

A thin layer of super glue will dry faster; thus, it will make the objects stick together faster as well. 

3. Apply Pressure

Use a clamp, a heavy object, or hold the parts together so that the cracks of the objects you are trying to glue together are touching. By applying pressure, you can ensure the glue gets into the cracks or pores of each material and will set and dry faster.

4. A Warm Environment 

A warm environment (heat) can speed up the drying process, but don’t stick the objects in a microwave oven. A little bit of heat from a hairdryer might help. 

5. Turn on Your Fan

Super glue will dry faster if there is airflow. An airflow lets the glue get all the water vapor it needs to dry quickly.

6. Add an Accelerator 

Some people use baking soda to make super glue dry faster. Sprinkle just a little bit of baking soda on the glue that is on its way to drying, and then the super glue is said to dry instantly. 

If you want an accelerator other than baking soda, check your local hardware store. There are other products labeled as ‘accelerators’ that you can find to speed up how long it takes for the super glue to dry.

How to Remove Super Glue?

Super glue takes only a few seconds to dry. It fully sets in about 1 hour or up to 24 hours, depending on the brand.

Once the super glue has dried, it can be difficult to remove it. Below are several tips for removing super glue. Remember to act quickly before the glue has time to harden.

Peel It

Wait for the glue to reach the solid, almost brittle state. Then try to peel away the glue with a tweezer gently.

Use an Acetone

As I mentioned earlier, acetone is usually the solvent for most super glues, so it can melt away the super glue that is glued to your skin or other surfaces as well. After applying the acetone, try to peel away the glue from your skin. When peeling, try to use a tweezer. 

Soak Your Skin in Warm, Soapy Water

If the acetone does not do the trick of softening the glue, then try to submerge your skin in warm and soapy water. If the glue is still stuck, repeat the process and soak the skin in the water again.

Use Baby Oil

If the super glue doesn’t unglue itself from your skin, try to apply baby oil (margarine or olive oil can also be used), then use a tweezer to pry it away from your skin. Try to alternate between applying baby oil and soaking your skin in warm, soapy water. 

Use Sandpaper or a Nail File

Use sandpaper or a nail file to make the layer of the super glue thinner. Combine this method with acetone or any of the mentioned liquids above.

Super Glue Uses

Super glue dries in just 3-10 seconds for almost all materials. However, some materials are better than others.

Super glues can be used in gluing stone, metal, wood, most plastics, leather, ceramics, paper, and other materials. 

Super glue can also be used as a filler. To better perform this purpose, baking soda combined with super glue can be used to fill the crevices of your wood project. It can also be used to tighten nuts and bolts. Another use of super glue is in arrows – the fletching is glued to the arrow shafts using super glue.

I know it’s tempting to use super glue in every object that needs repairing around your house but super glue should not be used for holding together cotton, wool, ABS (opaque) plastics, or leather because using super glue on these materials will cause the release of heat and possibly fire. 

There are brands that can be used for gluing glass together, but it is good to know that not all super glues can be used in holding the glass together. Some brands can also glue plastics together, such as LePage Super Glue All Plastics. However, in general, super glue tends to work very well on permeable (not on smooth materials) materials. 

Conclusion – How Long for Super Glue to Dry

How long for super glue to dry? In general, it will take about 10-15 seconds for super glue to set, but for it to completely dry, it will take about 24 hours or more, depending on the brand and the materials you are trying to glue together.

Follow the instructions as this time can vary. Make sure the surfaces you will be gluing are clean. Apply a small amount onto the objects you want to glue. Apply pressure onto the two objects to speed up the drying process. Hold for only about 10 to 15 seconds. Then you can let go, but it is best to let it sit for about 24 hours for it to be fully dry.