What is the best antique glue?

Repairing antiques can be stressful. Messing up the repair can mean ruining a piece of history or a precious family heirloom forever. So when choosing the best glue for your antique repairs, you need to consider what will be the kindest to your irreplaceable item. Here are the best glues for antiques.

Table of Contents

Bestseller No. 1
Old Brown Glue 20oz
  • Liquid Hide Glue: Made from just two non-toxic/organic ingredients - hydrolyzed collagen (hide glue) and urea. Superior strength in tight-fitting joints, and remains flexible after setting. It's the perfect glue for antique restoration, veneer work and lamination, instruments and modern woodworking.
  • Open and Set Times: The formula has a 30-minute open time and requires 24 hours to dry completely. The glue dries by loss of moisture and starts to set in about an hour and be completely set in 24 - 48 hours. It's also reversible with heat and hot water, which makes repair or repositioning easy and convenient.
  • Self-Bonding: Unlike modern glues, hide glue will bond to itself, so original hide glue doesn't need to be completely removed from components before reassembly, adding Old Brown Glue will reactivate the original hide glue and cure with it.
  • To Use: No need for a hotpot! Stand the bottle in warm water for a few minutes until the glue becomes liquid and then use it as you would with any other glue. Viscosity is a function of temperature, it is best used at 120-140 degrees F, but do not exceed 180 degrees F.
  • Shelf Life: Because it is organic and non-toxic, Old Brown Glue does have a shelf-life. Each bottle is marked with a “best before use” date for an 24-month shelf life from the date of manufacture so you can be sure of its quality, which can be extended if kept in a refrigerator, but is not required.
Bestseller No. 2
Yoption 15 Pieces Metallic Antique Gold Glue Gun Sealing Wax Sticks for Wax Seal Stamp, Great for Wedding Invitations, Envelopes, Cards, Christmas Gift Ideas, Wine Packages (Metallic Antique Gold)
  • 【PACKAGE INCLUDE】15 pieces Metallic Antique Gold glue gun sealing wax sticks, provide a great way for making amount of wedding invitation seals.
  • 【SEALING WAX STICKS SIZE】135mm/5.31” length x 11mm/0.43” diameter. Each wax seal stick can approx make 12-15 seals, one pack approx make 175 - 220 seals, perfect for wedding, birthday party, holiday, Christmas, Valentine's Day or any celebration events.
  • 【EASY TO USE】This sealing wax sticks could melt without flame, use it with a low-temp large standard 0.44" glue gun. If you plan to seal dozens of envelops. To avoid the wax stuck to the stamp, you may chill your stamp with ice pack before stamping, it will be cool down quickly and the wax will not stick to your stamp.
  • 【MULTI APPLICATION】Suitable for sealing and decorating wedding invitations, letters, envelopes, greeting cards, crafts, gifts wrapping, wine bottle and other sealing craft projects.
  • 【FEATURES】With smooth surface, melt easily and dry quick that are easy to use, and not easy to break under the external force.
Bestseller No. 3
50pc of Lisbona White (20"x20" Foam) Ceiling Tiles - Covers About 135sqft
  • Made from high quality Polystyrene foam
  • Easy to install - with most any Mastic ceramic tile adhesive
  • Can be installed right over Pop Corn ceiling
  • Can be painted with most any water or latex based paints
  • Tin like look from a modern material
Bestseller No. 4
Antique Gold Wax Seal Sticks 20pcs, Andotopee Glue Gun Wax Seal Sticks for Wax Seal Stamp, Premium Sealing Wax for Envelope Letter Seal Wedding Invation Craft Adhesive, Great Gift Ideas (Mini Size)
  • Color Variety: Our 20pcs wax seal sticks set offers a wide range of vibrant colors to add personality and liveliness to your creations. From bright and bold shades to classic neutral tones, includes metallic colors antique gold, pearl colors pearl white, pastel colors dusty blue etc, our product caters to various creative needs
  • Reliable Adhesion: Crafted with premium wax and resin, our glue gun wax seal sticks ensure even melting and reliable adhesion. Non-toxic, no odor, smokeless, easy to stamp and fast drying, perfect reproduction of stamp details. Your wax seal will securely adhere to envelopes, cards, or decorations, maintaining a flawless finish
  • Easy to Use: Our sealing wax sticks features 0.28 x 3.94 inch, making them compatible with 0.28" glue gun for easy melting. 20pcs glue gun sealing wax sticks available for 80-100pcs standard wax seal stamp seals. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, you can effortlessly create exquisite wax seal designs
  • Versatile Application: Apart from sealing letters, our wax Sealing sticks can also be used for decorative purposes in weddings, parties, festivals, and special occasions. Add a personalized touch and a sense of ceremony to your events, making each moment unique and unforgettable
  • High-Quality Guarantee: Our wax seal sticks are carefully selected and produced to ensure exceptional quality. Whether you're purchasing them for yourself or as a gift for a friend, we are committed to providing you with the best experience
Bestseller No. 5
16pcs/Pack Dark Teal Antique Glue Gun Sealing Wax Stick for Vintage Sealing Stamp in 4inch Length
  • Easy to apply -- These wax sticks are super easy to use in the wax glue gun, melt easily and dry quick, no worry about the soot will drop on your beautiful wax seals, If you plan to seal dozens of envelopes or invitations, this is a more efficient method.
  • Key to use and Features -- They are made of a flexible wax, so they are more flexible than traditional wax, not easy to be broken under the external force, Totally mailable. To avoid the wax stuck to the stamp, you may put stamp on an ice pack every impressions.
  • Packing: 16 sticks in a antique design box, Totally giftable
  • Dimensions : The Diameter of this stick 0.27 inch ,suit for small glue gun
  • Great for Embellishment of Wedding Invitations, Wine Packages, Cards Envelopes, and Gift box. The seals made of these wax stick, more flexible, totally mailable
Without a doubt, the overall best glue for antiques is Titebond Leather Glue Wood Glue. Titebond Leather Glue Wood Glue is perfect for antique wood furniture because it is a hide glue. Hide glues are basically animal collagen that are the closest modern, manufactured approximation to glues used by older generations. Titebond Leather Glue Wood Glue is much kinder to old woods as it doesn’t contain a lot of the harsh chemicals that most modern adhesives use. Titebond Leather Glue Wood Glue can also be painted once it is fully cured, so you can get it to match your antiques perfectly without harming them.

Best Waterproof Antique Glue

If you need something waterproof for your antique repair, the best product is Gorilla Glue. Gorilla Glue is 100% waterproof and bonds to a wide range of materials, including ceramic, wood, metal, stone, and much more, so it will be able to fix whatever antique needs repairing. On top of that, Gorilla Glue is sandable, stainable, and paintable, so it will be able to blend into your antiques perfectly. Gorilla Glue can also withstand weathering and extreme temperatures with ease without losing its incredible strength.

How to Glue a Joint in an Antique Chair

Best Glue for Antique Ceramic

For antique ceramic, the best glue is undoubtedly Loctite Stik n’ Seal Extreme Conditions Adhesive. Loctite Stik n’ Seal Extreme Conditions Adhesive bonds sets quickly, cures in 24 hours, is resistant to extreme conditions, and will even bond to wet surfaces. Not only that, but Loctite Stik n’ Seal Extreme Conditions Adhesive is will not crack, shrink, or peel after it dries and it always stays flexible.

Best Glue for Antique Glass

The very best glue for antique glass is Loctite Glass Glue. Loctite Glass Glue is perfect for antique glass because it can bond with any type of glass under the sun, including stained glass and crystal. Loctite Glass Glue is specifically designed for glass and after it is fully cured it is completely resistant to heat and water, so the antique glass can be washed with no problem.
The best overall glue for antiques is Titebond Leather Glue Wood Glue. The best waterproof glue for antiques is Gorilla Glue. The best glue for antique ceramic is Loctite Stik n’ Seal Extreme Conditions Adhesive. And the best adhesive for antique glass is Loctite Glass Glue.
Hide glue is definitely better for antiques than PVA glue because it is a lot more gentle than PVA. Hide glue is not as permanent as PVA glue, but you are more likely to ruin an antique than hide glue, which is very unlikely to harm antiques.
If left unopened, the shelf life for Titebond Leather Glue Wood Glue is one year. After it is opened, it is difficult to exactly assess how long it will last because it depends on how much moisture it is exposed to.
While Gorilla Glue is non-toxic after it is fully cured, the manufacturer does not recommend using it anywhere that comes into direct contact with food as they cannot ensure that it is completely food safe.
Loctite Stik n’ Seal Extreme Conditions Adhesive can withstand temperatures ranging from -58°F (-50°C) to 248°F (120°C).
No, Loctite Glass Glue does not yellow over time and will be able to maintain its clarity just like the day you applied it.

Looking for the best antique glue?