Why Superglue is a DIY Lifesaver
Everybody has a set of home essentials that they return to all the time. From WD40 to sellotape, there are some things we can't live without. But how many people would put superglue in that category? For many of us, superglue is something we buy when we need it. That's fine, but if you look closely, there are many great uses for this everyday item - making it an essential purchase for anyone's home.
How Superglue Can Make Homes More Beautiful and Enjoyable
For starters, superglue isn't just a practical standby to rely on when your shoes start to fall apart or your table legs wobble. It can actually be used in many creative ways to beautify homes and make life more enjoyable by repairing or customising their contents. Here are a few of our favourite applications to set you thinking, but there are many others:
- Fixing Lego - Whether you're building a fire station or Exeter Cathedral, nothing is more frustrating than finding that a crucial Lego brick is damaged, making it impossible to complete the kit. In these situations, a dab of superglue (preferably specialist plastic varieties) is all that's needed.
- Making home decorations - Superglue can also be used to create striking artworks for the home. Apply it to canvas in whatever shape you desire, apply some gesso when it dries, paint over the gesso with acrylic paint, and complete the piece with a different colour for the background. The results are quick, easy, and beautiful - particularly if you use ultra-flexible mouldable glues like Sugru.
- Keep fashion items stylish - Superglue is also a great addition to a stylist's toolkit. If you're worried about sunglasses breaking or heels snapping, a quick application of superglue can solve almost any problems.
The Practical Friend that All Home Owners Need
We could add plenty of practical uses for superglue alongside the more creative ideas mentioned above. In fact, there are more potential applications than we can possibly cover here. However, there are some important ways that superglue benefits almost everyone. Firstly, it's a great product to have if you need to keep tools in workable condition. Without our hand tools, DIY would be virtually impossible, and almost all of us have broken screwdriver or saw handles from time to time. In those situations, superglue can let the work continue without needing a trip to the local hardware store. Second, super glue is ideal for binding metal items together. When we think of bonding metal, welding often springs to mind. However, with the right metal glue, you can fix metal chairs or kitchen utensils without the need for a blowtorch. A good epoxy glue will perform brilliantly when garden chairs buckle, or pan handles become detached. Third, superglue is handy for DIY first aid, especially when using sharp tools. It can be used as a stopgap to cover cuts and staunch bleeding, and can also be applied to skin before handling tools, providing an extra protective layer (and don't worry, a little nail polish remover will wipe it off easily).
Top Up Your Superglue Stocks to Cover Every Home Emergency
Superglue is an unsung hero. It's a lifesaver for Lego fans, model builders, artists, furniture restorers, and even brain surgeons - who have started to use experimental glues to deal with brain injuries. As we've seen, it's an item that has more uses than most people assume - and one that everyone should have in their cupboards. A mix of low grade, epoxy, metalworking, and woodworking glues will keep you supplied for most situations, but even a tube of the humblest glue can make a difference. So don't be stuck without it.
