Adhesives & Glues

Adhesives are required for all flatback rhinestone application, with different adhesives required for different surfaces.

Non-hotfix rhinestones do not have any adhesive already on them, so you need a glue suitable for the surface you're applying them to, and suitable to not affect the backing of the rhinestones. Many glues make the stone cloudy, or shrink the foil backing and cause stones to fall off. The adhesive brands we stock have been recommended by stone manufacturers, and have been successfully used by ourselves and clients for many years. Proceed down the page to see our adhesives range, or read on for more info...

Further thoughts on gluing from our accumulated experience...

We're not responsible if your stones fall off through improper technique, and the best thing to remember in all of this is that craft glues and craft techniques, such as gluing, do require a bit of trial and error sometimes. Different fabrics, different temperatures, different products, different techniques..they can all contribute to different experiences with these products, so we do recommend that you find the one that suits you best for each situation, and at the risk of labouring this information...TEST FIRST! That is, test first in an inconspicuous area to see how your glue performs for you. Don't go ahead and use the glue without testing first. Why would you risk your garment/s without doing this?

If in doubt, use Hotfix Stones instead (after first assessing the suitability of the surface you're wanting to hotfix stones onto), or use Sew-on Stones that require no chemical third party process at all. By way of explanation, Hotfix stones are where the glue is already on the backing of the stone, and Sew-on Stones have a hole or holes in the stone on the edge, underneath the setting (if a set stone), or in the centre of the stone. These are always options to consider if gluing (or glues) don't sound like your idea of fun! Don't say we haven't warned you:)

This table contains our findings to this date.

GEMTAC	E6000	HYPO CEMENT
USED FOR Gluing non-porous items like rhinestones, to porous surfaces like fabric, paper, card. EASE OF USE Excellent, just snip the nozzle and squeeze the bottle to get the glue out. HOW TO USE Dab a spot on the surface you want to glue the rhinestones to Use a sticky picker-upper to pick up the stone (we suggest blu-tac on the end of a pencil, no need for expensive additions like waxed pickers!) Place the stone onto the glue spot and press the stone gently until glue comes up around the dge of the stone, yet some still remains under it also (like a little nest of glue) OTHER NOTES Transit through extreme temperatures can and may affect the adhesive properties of the glue. For this reason, we thoroughly recommend you do a patch test for adherence and washability, suited to your end use, before using on your expensive garment/s! This applies everytime* you use it, as even storage in certain situations, like on the window-sill, can affect the glue. Can speed up drying process in a hotwater cupboard or by heater No strong smelling chemicals Avoid storing in extreme temperatures Can seem like it seeps through chiffons, satins and velvets too much Will mark satins where the glue comes in contact with it CURING TIME* 24-48 hours WASHABILITY Washable, not dry-cleanable Have found that a cold water dunk is best, rather than a full-on soak, or a washing machine cycle. Simply because the water turns the glue back to it's milky white state and you risk losing stones in your washing machine. However, in saying that, some people have washed and washed and washed their costumes, and everything has stayed put. Like we say above. TEST. TEST. TEST BEFORE USE!	USED FOR Gluing non-porous items like rhinestones, to surfaces like fabric, metal, ceramic, wood, plastic, vinyl, rubber, tile, leather and cement. EASE OF USE Not quite so easy, but fine once you get into a rhythm. Pierce the tube end and squeeze the tube gently, or possible not even at all, as the initial relase of pressure may be enough to get the glue flowing HOW TO USE Decant a small amount onto a plastic dish, such as an ice-cream container lid Use a toothpick to swipe some onto the surface your gluing stones to, where you want each stone Place stone into the glue spot (just as above for Gemtac) If doing an area completely covered, it is possible to smear directly onto the fabric/surface and start stoning directly there (this can leave the area a little stiff later as it dries though) OTHER NOTES Strong chemical smell. We sincerely recommend at least using it with all your windows open wide to let fresh air flow through the room Decanting it allows you to use some without the pressure (excuse the pun) of glue continuing to want to come out of the squeezed tube while you're trying to work with what's come out already Practise makes perfect with this one CURING TIME* 24-72 hours	USED FOR Gluing non-porous items to non-porous surfaces, like rhinestones to metal or plastic EASE OF USE Excellent, just remove the screw cap and the glue starts flowing out. HOW TO USE Precision tip allows glue to come out into very fine points, but you have to be quick as the pressure from the tube can create a quite a flow if you're not careful. CURING TIME 24-48 hours

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Adhesives & Glues
	E6000 Adhesive (medium++ tube) 2oz - Sold per each Suitable for use on fabric, metal, wood, glass, ceramic, rubber, vinyl, plastic, tile, leather, cement. Washable and dryer safe. Industrial strength. Flexible when dry. Clear when dry. Non-flammable. Waterproof. Photo safe. Not dry-cleanable. Not recommended for paper craft, polystyrene craft, polyethelene surafces, or polypropelene surfaces, or items that come into contact with food, water, or animals.	$12.00


	E6000 Adhesive (small tube) 0.5oz - Sold per each Suitable for use on fabric, metal, wood, glass, ceramic, rubber, vinyl, plastic, tile, leather, cement. Washable and dryer safe. Industrial strength. Flexible when dry. Clear when dry. Non-flammable. Waterproof. Photo safe. Not dry-cleanable. Not recommended for paper craft, polystyrene craft, polyethelene surafces, or polypropelene surfaces, or items that come into contact with food, water, or animals.	$5.45


	G-S Hypo Bead Tip Cement - Sold per each A medium strength glue, excellent for jewellery making. We love the precision tip which allows precise amounts of glue to be neatly applied to intricate parts. Ideal for all plastics, beads, ceramics, glass and more. Great for sealing knots between beads too. Sets in approx 10 minutes, dries clear and will NOT bond fingers.	$11.50


	G-S Hypo Fabric Cement - Sold per each For fine detail work applying rhinestones and other embellishment items to fabric or porous surfaces such as wood, and paper. Washable after 24 hours, but not dry-cleanable. Fast drying, so great to take away with you for quick touch-up's and fix-it moments. Acid-free and lignin-free. Dries clear and will NOT bond fingers.	$9.00


	Gemtac Permanent Adhesive 2oz - Sold per each This glue is for use with Glue-On rhinestones. Specially formulated for bonding non-porous surfaces (rhinestones) to porous surfaces (such as fabric). Water-based. Dries flexible and clear. Washable after 24 hours. Not dry-cleanable. 2oz bottle for small to medium projects. The instructions on the bottle advise testing before use to ensure suitability. Due to the extremes of temperature we have been having in NZ, the different sizings used on various fabrics these days, and chemical compositions in some washing powders we strongly recommend you follow the manufacturers recommendations. For storage, avoid extremes of temperature.	$11.50


	Gemtac Permanent Adhesive 4oz - Sold per each This glue is for use with Glue-On rhinestones. Specially formulated for bonding non-porous surfaces (rhinestones) to porous surfaces (such as fabric). Water-based. Dries flexible and clear. Washable after 24 hours. Not dry-cleanable. 4oz bottle for medium to large projects (rhinestones in photo are not included). The instructions on the bottle advise testing before use to ensure suitability. Due to the extremes of temperature we have been having in NZ, the different sizings used on various fabrics these days, and chemical compositions in some washing powders we strongly recommend you follow the manufacturers recommendations. For storage, avoid extremes of temperature.	$16.20