What's the best glue for attaching a bail to polymer clay?

[BettysRubble]

I tried super glue (2 kinds) and sometimes it takes and the next time it just pops right off.
Any suggestions?

[GrayWolfGallery]

I don't know how E6000 will react to polymer clay but it's a very strong professional grade adhesive. I use it on many things, but haven't yet on my polymer clay items. You could test it on a scrap piece and see.

[Former_Member]

What are you trying to glue, exactly?

For gluing metal to polymer clay, I've had great success embedding the metal component in 2-part jewelry-grade epoxy resin. Definitely be patient with it and experiment, but that's been the best adhesive I've found. I do also always make as much of a mechanical hold as possible before using the glue.

E6000 always popped right off of my jewelry pieces, although some other people seem to swear by it.

[Former_Member]

@Inedible, I've had the same experience with E6000.

I've always used super glue gel or 527 Glue.

[Former_Member]

Weldbond.......awesome awesome awesome....never a problem and totally will not react adversely to polymer clay

[HiGirls]

very good thread-thanks everyone-where can one find weldbond?

[Analiese]

Super glue works best for me. Just give it a few seconds and it should hold. I sometimes add a bit extra on the outside if I can on something that is not going to be visible from the front - like my glue on bails.

[Former_Member]

HiGirls, I got my Weldbond at Michaels. It is in a white tube with a red cap, 5 oz/150 ml.

[BettysRubble]

thanks for all the good ideas!

[Former_Member]

And I've just recently bought Lisa Pavelka's polybond. It comes in white bottle with a brush, kind of like nail polish. Bonds clay to metal pretty well. I tried to make rings and glue polymer clay element on a metal blank. I've added additional PC band around the edge of metal coin though.. just to make sure. but it seems to hold pretty well. Just FYI. Also it glues raw clay to raw clay, so of you're making something that you need to bake few times - so that elements would hold together - with polybond you don't need these additional baking.

[OSullyEmporium]

Moussycrafts, does the polybond dry stiff, or flexible? I'm trying to attach PC flat backed skulls to a fabric belt for a monster high doll custom, so it needs to still be somewhat flexible. (I'm just making the outfit for another customizer, so permanently attaching the belt to the doll isn't an option.)

[Former_Member]

I would use e-6000

[jangeisen]

retroredscottie, I have had the same problem with "super glues" (cyanoacrylate glue). I have read that they go bad with humidity. So now I keep mine in a jar with a couple of packets of desiccant.

I have a real love hate relationship with Pavelka's glue. I love the fact that I can re-bake pieces that contain glue. However, even keeping it in a jar with desiccant, doesn't prevent it from getting thick and gummy a lot faster than regular super glues.

2 part epoxy works. I did have an experience with it not setting up. Maybe I didn't stir it enough. I used the kind that extrudes equal parts, so incorrect proportions wasn't the problem.. I got so annoyed that I went back to using E6000 for my pinbacks. I don't have a problem with it not sticking to the clay. I do buy the little tubes of it, and make sure that it is fresh. As it ages it gets thick. It may not work as well then. I usually score the pinback and clay a little with my Exacto knife and then clean the surfaces with alcohol. Then I apply it according to the directions - thin coats of both pieces, wait about a minute and stick them together. I get a thin coat by putting the glue on the pinback, placing it on the brooch, then pull it off. This leaves a thin coating on both surfaces. Then after about a minute I put them back together.