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While it may seem as easy as picking up a hot glue gun, choosing the right glues for building a cosplay requires more thought than you may realize. It’s important to choose the proper adhesive for the material you’re working with to ensure everything holds up and turns out amazing. So what are the best adhesives for cosplay and what should you use each one for? This comprehensive list will break down the different glues you have to choose from, when to use them and the pros and cons.
Contact Cement
| Materials to Use it On | Pros | Cons | Extra Tips |
| EVA foam Fabric to foam PVC pipe | – Strong bond | – Toxic – Expensive | – Scrap foam can be used to help spread contact cement |
Super Glue
| Materials to Use it On | Pros | Cons | Extra Tips |
| EVA foam 3D prints PVC pipe | – Very strong bond – Thin consistency – Good for quick repairs – Cheap | – Quick drying (more an issue when not making repairs) – Not good for your skin – Brittle when dry (not flexible) | – Super glue can be enhanced by using an accelerant |
Hot Glue
| Materials to Use it On | Pros | Cons | Extra Tips |
| Most to all materials (not insulation foam) | – Great for quick repairs – Cheap – Surebonder makes glue sticks for variety of materials (fabric) and cosplay specific so it’s formulated to work better with common cosplay crafting materials | – Can remelt causing stuff to fall apart – Both the hot glue and gun are burn risks – Not that strong – Quick drying (more an issue when not making repairs) – Can melt some materials | – Small, cordless hot glue guns can travel to cons in repair kits – Can be used to create elevated details on foam, Worbla and fabric |
UHU
| Materials to Use it On | Pros | Cons | Extra Tips |
| Wigs | – Strong bond – Dries clear and smooth | – Expensive | – UHU is great for making wefts |
Spray Glue
| Materials to Use it On | Pros | Cons |
| EVA foam Some fabrics Insultation foam Wigs | – Smooth finish – Easy to apply | – Not as strong – Fast drying (more an issue when not making repairs) – Fire hazard |
Fabric Glue
| Materials to Use it On | Pros | Cons |
| Fabric | – Designed specifically for fabric | – Not as strong |
E6000
| Materials to Use it On | Pros | Cons | Extra Tips |
| EVA foam 3D prints PVC pipe | – Strong like super glue – Flexible bond – Dries clear – Cheap | – Will eat through insulation foam – Highly toxic – Long cure times | – E6000 can be great for adding rhinestones or heavy elements to cosplay |
Loctite
| Materials to Use it On | Pros | Cons |
| Varies with specific Loctite: – Shoe glue – Shoes – Vinyl, Fabric & Plastic – Fabrics and vinyl – Super glue – 3D prints and EVA foam | – Variety of types for all materials – Strong bond – Often flexible | – Long cure times – Toxic – Expensive |
Tacky Glue
| Materials to Use it On | Pros | Cons | Extra Tips |
| Most to all materials | – Cheap – Often flexible – Non-toxic and water based | – Not very strong – Slow dry times – Not water proof | – Tacky glue can also be watered down to stiffen fabrics |
Wood Glue
| Materials to Use it On | Pros | Cons | Extra Tips |
| Insulation foam Wood | – Strong bond | – Not flexible – Minimal uses | – Wood glue can also be used to prime insulation foam |
Heat n Bond
| Materials to Use it On | Pros | Cons | Extra Tips |
| Fabric and appliques | – Sew-free method to bond fabrics – Flexible – Easy to use | – Minimal uses – Can add stiffness to fabrics – Not safe for all fabrics – Burn risk | – Heat n Bond is a name brand and there is similar products under other brands |
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