How to Choose the Right Jewelry Adhesive

Sometimes your beautiful jewelry creations require just a little bit of support. Whether it’s a project that needs extensive jewelry adhesive or just a drop to pinch bails, choosing the right jewelry making glue is the key. There’s nothing worse than spending time on a jewelry project only to have the pieces fall off when wearing them.

From the must-have all-purpose jewelry glue to the best kind for beads, gems, leather and more, we can help you choose the right jewelry adhesive.

If you’re using jewelry project ideas from Crafts Unleashed or other sites, the project details typically recommend a specific type of glue. If you’re able to use that exact kind, do it. It means the jewelry expert has tested it out and determined it’s the best for that specific project.

What You Need to Know About Jewelry Adhesive

Epoxy is more of a multipurpose adhesive, but it’s heavy-duty and can work well for bonding gemstones and beads to metal findings. Epoxy 220 is considered one of the strongest holds in jewelry adhesives. Other general craft uses for epoxy include casting small items like knobs and hobby parts.

Jewelers Cement, sometimes sold as simply cement, is a high-powered jewelry adhesive and ideal for fine detail work with small beads and embellishments. It’s a quick-drying adhesive that dries clear and typically comes with a fine precision applicator, which makes using it in small spaces easy. Jewelers cement is also great for securing knots, appliques, embellishments and securing cord ends.

All-Purpose Contact Adhesive, also known as E-6000®, is an all-purpose jewelry glue that many crafters swear by. This is the one you should always have a bottle of on hand. It’s great for not only jewelry making but can be used on canvas, fabric, leather, ceramics, glass, plastic and many other materials. It’s waterproof, paintable and flexible, making it ideal for a wide variety of projects.

Instant Glue can be used on items that don’t necessarily need heavy-duty adhesive. For example, when securing beads to a vertical surface and securing the end of a cord or wire. Instant glue has a thin consistency that allows it to dry quickly and near invisible. It should be used when you don’t have time to wait for glue to dry.

There are a wide variety of jewelry adhesives available for specific types of embellishments. For example, Beadalon® Bead Fix is ideal for, you guessed it, beads.

Crafter’s Pick™ Jewel Bond™ is ideal for adhering rhinestones, sequins and glitter specifically to fabrics. There are other types of jewelry making glue ideal for rhinestones to metal or leather and even adhesives ideal for glass, mirrors and other slick surfaces.

With all this variety in jewelry adhesives, it’s more important than with other craft supplies to read the product description to determine if it will work for your project.  

(Learn how to make this fused glass jewelry from our blogger, Katie)

Jewelry Adhesive Quick Tips

A few general adhesive tips:

• If you’re using jewelry adhesive for a project that will get a lot of wear or move around a lot on the body (i.e. bracelets), use an adhesive that is flexible.
• If you anticipate the item you create using glue will get wet, make sure you’re purchasing something waterproof
• If you’re working with fabric, be sure to select a jewelry adhesive that is washable
• Many jewelry adhesives dry clear, but not all do, so if you’re not looking for something colored, make sure to check and see if your adhesive of choice dries clear before using

Do you use different types of adhesive for different products? Do you prefer to use something all-purpose? Share below! 

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