What’s The Best Rhinestone Glue for My Bling Project?

What’s The Best Rhinestone Glue for My Bling Project?

Sparkle is in. Scroll through Pinterest and you’ll find numerous DIY projects and bling items for sale. However, to save money, you want to try a bedazzling project. Accordingly, finding the best rhinestone glue is one of the most important steps.

Types of Rhinestone Projects

Rhinestones are very versatile and can enhance almost anything:

• Shirts
• Dresses
• Hats
• Belts
• Shoes
• Sneakers
• Pocketbooks
• Tumblers
• Coffee mugs
• Jewelry
• Christmas ornaments
• Fingernails
• Phone cases
• Candleholders
• Sunglasses
• Hair accessories

Basically, this list encompasses so many different kinds of items made from varying materials. Some objects, like clothing, have porous surfaces. Others, like metal, are smooth. Generally, some adhesives are better at forming a strong bond on certain surfaces.

Thus, you may wonder why experts don’t recommend superglue or a hot glue gun as both form a durable bond. Typically, superglue will react with the silver foil and can cloud the rhinestone. Moreover, both glues become very hard when cured. Superglue dries like glass and can shatter on impact loosening the bond. While hot glue is so hard the rhinestones could pop off under stress.

Fundamentally, projects like clothing need flexibility to move with the fabric. Furthermore, the best rhinestone glues dry clear and are washable.

However, you also need to check the manufacturer's recommendations before starting a bling project. Companies use different materials to make rhinestones and not all are compatible with every glue. Some glues can be corrosive and react with the rhinestone material. For example, the manufacturer does not recommend using E6000 with acrylic rhinestones.

So, What’s the Best Rhinestone Glue to Use?

Sometimes the type of bling project may help determine which glue is best. For example, if you’re creating nail art, you would use very different glue than blinging out shoes. Generally, you can separate bling projects into different categories:

1. Nail Art

You have a choice of 2 types of adhesives for attaching rhinestones to nails: nail glue or gel. While nail glue is usually quick drying, it won’t produce a bond as strong as a gel adhesive. However, a gel adhesive will require the use of a UV light to cure. Some popular nail adhesive brands include Beetles, Makaart, and Gemgel.

2. Clothing

Although you can use several methods to attach rhinestones to clothing, gluing remains the most popular. Usually, you can find many rhinestone adhesives at your local craft store:

• E6000
• Beacon’s Gem-Tac or Fabri-Tac
• Aleene’s Flexible Stretchable or Jewel it
• API Crafter’s Pick Jewel Bond
• Supertite

Often, choosing from among the different glues becomes a matter of preference. Some glues, like Gem-Tac, are easier to apply to articles of clothing. Others, like E6000, set quicker allowing you to finish your project quicker.

Whichever adhesive you choose, remember to wash your garment before you begin gluing rhinestones.  Furthermore, it’s always a good idea to do a test area first to see the finished results. Finally, give your project plenty of time to allow the glue to cure before handling it.

Moreover, to keep your bedazzled clothing looking great, use care when washing. Following some basic cleaning guidelines can help protect your garment.  Turn your garment inside out when washing. Use the gentle cycle and a mild detergent.

3. Accessories

Typically, rough surfaces, like fabric, provide a greater surface area for the adhesive to contact to form a stronger bond. While accessories usually have surfaces that are smooth, requiring a different kind of glue. Items made from plastic, metal, and leather are some examples. Both CG 500 and E6000 are good choices when blinging out smooth surface items such as coffee mugs or tumblers.

Best Rhinestone Glue – FAQs
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Ready to begin your bling project but have a few more questions? Below, we answer a few commonly asked ones. If you have any other questions, use ouronline form and we’ll be happy to answer them.

What’s the Best Rhinestone Size for My Project?

Sometimes, the type of project you’re working on will help you decide on the best rhinestone size. For example, nail art will typically use smaller size rhinestones. However, larger size rhinestones work better on dance and skating wear.

Can I Use E6000 with Jelly or Resin Rhinestones?

Both jelly and resin rhinestones are a type of plastic.  Eclectic, the manufacturer of E6000, doesn’t recommend using their glue on polystyrene, polyethylene, or polypropylene plastics.

What’s the Difference Between Glass and Crystal Rhinestones?

Typically, crystal is a kind of glass made by mixing in lead. This changes the glass allowing a greater reflection of light and the ability to bend light like a prism. Additionally, crystal is harder and denser than glass enabling manufacturers to cut more facets.

However, with concern about the toxicity of lead, name-brand manufacturers have developed lead-free crystal. Instead of lead, manufacturers use barium oxide, zinc oxide, or potassium oxide. These lead-free crystal rhinestones have similar properties to leaded crystal with the same high-quality sparkle.

Since 2011, Rhinestones Etc. has been selling quality embellishments. We carry one of the premier names in rhinestones, Preciosa Maxima. Made from lead-free crystal, this rhinestone has 15 facets that produce intense scintillation. Moreover, we have excellent customer service and fast processing times. Plus, we have a large selection of rhinestone colors. Browse our online store before you begin your next bling project.