It occurred to me recently that at least 80 percent of my DIY projects are, in their essence, about sticking two things together or getting two stuck-together things apart.
Most of the time, this means dealing with fasteners and their associated hand tools: nails and hammers, screws and screwdrivers, bolts and wrenches. But sometimes fasteners won’t do. If a backsplash tile comes loose, I can’t just nail it back in. And when faced with moving parts that are stuck together — like a lawn mower wheel that won’t spin on its axle — my job is not to take them apart, but to get them moving again.
In cases like these, sticking and unsticking means using adhesives or lubricants. They’re our topic this month.
As with all things DIY, there are too many choices at the hardware store. But the fact is, just a handful of glues and lubes will work for most home projects. Below, we’ll cover adhesives that work on metals, plastics, rubber, wood and construction materials, and a small set of greases and oils that will keep your yard tools, toys, electric motors, door hinges and plumbing fixtures working smoothly.
If you’ve found yourself reaching for Gorilla Glue or WD-40 for everything, and wondered whether there are better options — there are. Let’s meet them.
Sticking
The post Glues and Don’ts: Here’s How to Stick or Unstick Anything. appeared first on New York Times.
