There are a lot of instances where you need to glue rubber to itself or other types of rubber but just using any regular type of glue won´t do the job. So I have written this article to help you in your crafting process or to help you fix something, that requires you to glue rubber. after reading this article you will know exactly how to glue any type of rubber, how to identify your type of rubber, and how to glue rubber, that you could not identify (just in case).
So what kind of glue works on rubber? The short answer is, the right kind of glue depends on the type of rubber, that you want to glue. But Shoe Goo, E-6000 or Cyanoacrylate instant adhesive. These three types of glue will work on the most common kinds of Rubber. Before glueing rubber it is recommended to clean the mating areas with isopropanol to get rid of any additives or processing lubricants on the surface.
So generally, if you don´t know the type of rubber, that you want to glue, then I would recommend using either Shoe Goo or Cyanoacrylate instant adhesive.
Shoo Goo is an elastic glue, that is made for repairing shoes but works on a wide variety of rubbers. You can get it in hardware stores or right here on amazon.
Shoo Goo will not work on every type of rubber but it will work on the most common types of Rubber. So if this glue doesn´t work for you, then you might be dealing with a more special kind of rubber.
Just like Shoo Goo, Cyanoacrylate instant adhesives work on almost all common types of Rubber too. This glue works really fast. So you can see in a matter of seconds if it works for your type of rubber or not.
You can get CA-Glue in most craft stores or right here on amazon. Just like before, if this glue doesn´t work on your type of rubber, then you might be dealing with a more special kind of rubber.
Generally, I would recommend using isopropanol to clean the rubber surfaces, that you want to glue, before you apply any adhesive. A lot of rubbers can have additives or processing lubricants on them that can hinder the glue’s strength and keep it from properly adhering to the surface of the rubber.
If you tried all the above glues and none of them worked or if you don´t want to gamble, then you can check the table below, which will tell you how to identify the most common types of rubber and where they are used the most.
The table will then tell you which glue is the best for the type of rubber.
Identify the Type of Rubber
In the following table I will show you how to identify the most common types of rubber and what kind of glue is best used for each type of rubber.
| Type of Rubber | How to Identify | Commonly used for | The Best Glue |
| Natural Rubber | It is Elastic, Flexible, resistance to degrading | Tires, Gloves, Foam Rubber, Flooring and Roofing, balls, and insulation | Permabond 105 (Amazon Link) |
| Neoprene Rubber | More resistant to degrading, corrosion, and burning than other rubbers | Corrosion-resistant coatings, belts, and weather-stripings on doors and windows. | Neoprene Rubber Contact Adhecive (Amazon Link) |
| Silicone Rubber | Highly resistant to temperature and ultraviolet rays, and fire. | Used for medical equipment, food storage containers, baby care items, cosmetic items, cooking utensils, and more. | Permabond 105 (amazon Link) in combination with a Primer. |
| Nitrile Rubber | Resistant to Heat and oil | often used in the automotive industry for gaskets, o-rings, oil seals, and engine hoses. | CA-Glue (Amazone Link) |
| EPDM Rubber | Strong resistance to temperatures (hot and cold) | Used in roofing for waterproofing and for outdoor hoses and other seals. Also used in the automotive industry for insulating. | Permabond 105 (amazon Link) |
| SBR Rubber | Hard and durable rubber | Used for tires, shoe soles, heels, and rubber gaskets. | Shoo Goo (Amazon Link) |
| Butyl Rubber | Gas-Impermeable and airtight synthetic rubber. | Used for inner Tubes, air-filled balls in sports, and as a sealant for windows, doors, and tires. | CA-Glue (Amazone Link) |
| Fluorosilicone Rubber | Resistant to extreme temperatures | Mainly used in very specialized industries like aerospace and aviation industries. | This is a type of rubber, that you will most likly never encouter outside of very specific industries. |
Can I Use Gorilla Glue on Rubber?
Gorilla glue is a very popular choice for many projects. It is readily available and it works really well for most projects. It is easy to use glue, which is very strong and there is a wide variety of different gorilla glue types.
But can you use Gorilla Glue on Rubber? The short answer is, yes but not on all types of rubbers. Gorilla Glue will work on the most common types of rubber but it will have a hard time on more specialized types of rubber such as EPDM-Rubber and Silicone. So try to identify the type of rubber, that you want to glue and if it is a commonly used type then the chance is really good, that Gorilla Glue will work on it.
Can Superglue be Used on Rubber?
Superglue is a type of glue almost everyone has at home. It is easy to use, drys fast, and quite strong. Superglue will adhere to most materials but if you want to use it on rubber, then superglue is maybe not the best choice.
So can superglue be used on rubber? The short answer is yes, Superglue will stick to most rubber types. But Superglue is not very resistant to impulses, moisture, temperature, and so on. So if the Rubber, that you want to glue, is going to be outside, then superglue will not be a permanent solution.
Does Epoxy Work on Rubber?
Epoxy is probably one of the strongest and most resistant glues out there. It is, most of the time, a two-component glue, that will dry hard and it will form a very strong connection. It also works on a lot of different materials but quite a few rubber types will not work with epoxy.
So does epoxy work on Rubber? To make it short, yes it can work on a few types of rubber but it will easily be peeled off of most other rubber types. So it is not recommended to use epoxy to glue Rubber. Instead, either uses Shoo Goo or Ca-Glue (Cyanoacrylate). These two types of glue will glue almost all common rubber types easily.
Hi, I am a passionate maker and professional prop maker for the entertainment industry. I use my woodworking, programming, electronics, and illustration know-how to create interactive props and puzzles for Escape Games and marketing agencies. And I share my knowledge and my experience on this blog with you so that you can become a maker yourself.