Creating a firm bond between glue and rubber might seem a bit challenging, but if you use the correct glue for the job, it can be easily accomplished. Of course, there are a few types of glue that you will want to avoid.
If you want to glue rubber to wood, you should use contact cement or epoxy to get the job done. You can also create a good bond with rubber, super, and polyurethane. Avoid using wood glue and caulk for rubber and wood projects.
In this article, we’ll discuss these options more in-depth and discuss why our examples may or may not work for your project.
1. Contact Cement
Contact cement is the most reliable option when trying to glue wood to rubber. It has many uses around the house, which is just another example of its capabilities. Contact cement is a rubber adhesive that allows it to better hold these two very different materials together.
Contact cement hardens as it dries yet remains flexible. Many other adhesives require at least one porous (not smooth) surface to cling to during the drying process, but contact cement does not. Instead, it works with all different types of material, even tricky ones like rubber.
This is the best option for gluing wood and rubber if you need something heat and water-resistant. It is great for interior and exterior use. So, you don’t have to worry about the hold lasting when it is outside in the rain or hot weather.
If you don’t have a clamp available to hold the project together, this type of glue actually does not require it. It is fast-acting and ready to go as soon as you need it. Ultimately, it is the best overall choice for this project.
2. Epoxy
Epoxy glue works well with many different materials. However, when you think of rubber, you may not consider epoxy to be one of the best options. While it is true that epoxy does not work well attaching rubber to rubber, it works significantly better when attaching rubber to other materials like wood.
Epoxy works best when it can adhere to a porous material like wood and a smooth surface. This is why it works so well for rubber-to-wood gluing, metal-to-wood, and other smooth-to-rough connections.
There are different styles of epoxy depending on just how firm of a connection you need. People use it for construction projects because it has such a strong hold and heat resistance. You may also see it used for piping and other projects that require something that does not respond to water and other chemicals.
Many epoxies are safe for use with food. An epoxy is also a great option for those who need glue that dries clear. If you use epoxy for this project, you may want to save any that you have left for future projects or household issues you may experience.
Related What Is the Difference Between Epoxy and Super Glue?
3. Polyurethane Glue
Polyurethane glue became widespread with the release of Gorilla Glue. Not only is it great for adhering to many different materials, it actually works best when attaching two dissimilar materials like rubber and wood. This type of glue expands as it dries. So, it is great for wood as there can be chips, divots, and holes that the glue may need to fill before it properly adheres to rubber.
There are a few downsides to using polyurethane glue compared to other types in this list. For example, this glue will only remain usable for about a year after you open the container. Also, you only have about 15 minutes to work with this glue before it dries. Any projects that you use this for should be quick and thought out before you begin.
If you use this glue to bind wood and rubber, you should consider clamping the materials together while the glue dries. This is because the glue expands as it dries and can push the materials apart as it processes. So, you may need to force the materials together to get the best hold, but it won’t be as it does not take a long time to dry.
4. Super Glue
Super glue is a dependable adhesive that works in just seconds. It is a great option when you need to attach wood to rubber in a short amount of time. There are a few drawbacks to using superglue that you must keep in mind before you buy it.
First, it is important to know that not all superglue are identical. Some types of superglue do not hold up well in high temperatures and weather. Also, you should never use super glue on surfaces that will come in contact with your food. This is because it is not safe around food even after it dries.
While there are a few drawbacks, super glue is the best way to attach the rubber to wood quickly. It is also one of the cheapest glues on this list and easy to find. So, consider this as an easy alternative to some of our other options in this list.
5. Rubber Cement
Rubber cement, or rubber glue, is an adhesive that holds rubber pieces together. Fortunately, rubber cement can hold together more than just rubber. It can hold other materials to rubber as well. Rubber cement is very useful for holding rubber and wood together but still allows the hold to be flexible. Most of the glues on this list are stationary once they dry.
Rubber glue contains rubber particles that allow it to be effective when gluing rubber. It is also waterproof, which can help with any projects that may come in contact with water after it dries. People commonly use rubber cement for arts and crafts projects. So, you may already have some lying around your home.
Rubber cement works well with rubber and wood because as it dries, the glue becomes more rubbery as other chemicals begin to evaporate. Once it dries, rubber glue becomes solidified. This allows it to grab onto wood and rubber and bind them together as it dries.
Types of Glue To Avoid for Rubber to Wood
Now that you know the types of glue you can rely on for the project, let’s talk about some specific types of glue you should avoid for rubber-to-wood adhesion.
Wood Glue
While wood glue will work very well to hold two pieces of wood together, you should avoid using it with rubber if you want the hold to last. Wood glue works very well with rough surfaces like wood to really bond and hold them together, whereas wood glue struggles with smooth materials like metal or rubber.
Wood glue takes a long time to set. It needs time to dry with the pieces clamped together. This is difficult to do with rubber. Even if you manage to clamp the rubber and wood together securely, wood glue will not adhere well to rubber as there is nothing for it to cling to. Wood has many grooves in the wood that help wood glue work more effectively.
Caulk
Caulk is an adhesive for home improvement projects like sealing gaps and gluing materials. However, you should not use this as an adhesive with projects involving rubber. Caulk requires a solid material to form a bond. So, it would not work.
There are quite a few different types of caulk that you can purchase, but none of them work well with rubber. It is best to avoid this in projects that don’t involve two solid materials coming together. Otherwise, you will be disappointed with the results.
There are no types of caulk that will work for this project. One type of caulk that seems like it would work is rubber caulk. However, you should only use rubber caulk on hard surfaces like windows or pipes. It will not work to adhere rubber to wood.
Does Rubber Cement Stick to Wood?
Rubber cement sticks to the wood well as long as you do it correctly. You should apply rubber cement to both pieces that you want to adhere to and allow them to dry partially before pushing the two materials together.
Rubber cement works better when you apply it and allow it to dry partially before connecting the rubber and wood. When you eventually connect the wood and rubber pieces with rubber cement, you may need to smooth out the rubber on the wood surface for the best possible adhesion.
Can I Use Gorilla Wood Glue on Rubber?
We do not recommend using Gorilla wood glue on rubber as it will not be very effective on materials other than wood. You can use this product on various kinds of wood, from hardwood to cork. However, it will not work on metal, vinyl, and rubber materials.
Gorilla wood glue is one of the best options out there for gluing different types of wood together. Unfortunately, it will not work well with rubber or any materials other than varieties of wood. Wood glue has many benefits, but we do not recommend using it with rubber.
Gluing wood and rubber together can be challenging, but with the right glue, you can manage it easily. There are a few different glue types to avoid, like wood glue and caulk. However, glues like epoxy, contact cement, and rubber glue can work great for adhering to these two very different materials.
For more, check out 11 Handy Substitutes for Glue (With 4 DIY Options).
Jim James is a published author and expert on the outdoors and survivalism. Through avid research and hands-on experience, he has gained expertise on a wide variety of topics. His time spent at college taught him to become really good at figuring out answers to common problems. Often through extensive trial and error, Jim has continued to learn and increase his knowledge of a vast array of topics related to firearms, hunting, fishing, medical topics, cooking, games/gaming, and other subjects too numerous to name.
Jim has been teaching people a wide variety of survivalism topics for over five years and has a lifetime of experience fishing, camping, general survivalism, and anything in nature. In fact, while growing up, he often spent more time on the water than on land! He has degrees in History, Anthropology, and Music from the University of Southern Mississippi. He extensively studied Southern History, nutrition, geopolitics, the Cold War, and nuclear policy strategies and safety as well as numerous other topics related to the content on survivalfreedom.com.