Rubber Cement -- an Oxymoron in the World of Office Supplies
Written: May 13 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: dries quickly, acid free, brush applicator, easy to unstick items once glued
Cons: toxic, flammable, only use in well ventilated area, children should not use this unsupervised
The Bottom Line: A good glue but definitely use caution when using this product.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Borden Elmer's Nowrinkle Rubber Cement, 4 Oz. |
The words rubber and cement do not seem a likely combination. Cement that is rubber? Does it bounce? I've been using rubber cement since my school years. Even now at work, a glass jar of Elmer's Rubber Cement is sitting on my desk.
Description
This jar of rubber cement has a distinctive look with its brown glass bottle and orange metal lid. A blue outline on the lid top depicts Elmer, the friendly bull, the Elmer's glue logo. This four ounce bottle of glue measures 4" tall with its bottom a 2" diameter.
Unscrew the lid, and you will see that a brush attachment is built into the lid. The brush is about 3 1/4" long. The shaft is a silver metal and the brush head bristles are about a 1/2" long. The brush does not reach to the bottom of the bottle.
You will definitely notice the odor of this glue. It is distinctive. When using this product, I make sure I am in a large open area or in a room that is well ventilated. The scent of this glue is strong.
The glue is thick, a creamy color. It dries quickly and is almost clear when dried. Another property of the glue is that it evaporates over time. It's important to keep the bottle tightly sealed when not in use.
How to Use Rubber Cement
Simply unscrew the lid and remove the lid with the brush applicator. The brush is already immersed in glue and comes out dripping. Using the brush, spread the glue evenly in a thin layer. Be careful not to spread the glue too close to the edges. For example, if applying glue to a piece of paper, do not brush the glue up to the edge, or when the paper is pressed into place, the glue will seep beyond the paper edge and make a mess.
One nice thing about rubber cement is that if glue does spread in an open area where it's not wanted, it is easy to rub the glue off when it dries. This not only applies to surfaces such as paper, but the glue will also rub off of skin.
Elmer's states that this glue forms either a temporary or permanent bond depending upon how the glue is applied.
Removable Bond
Brush the glue on one surface and immediately join the two pieces being glued together. If the piece is to be removed, gently peel from the outer edge to separate the two pieces.
Permanent Bond
It's interesting that the glue bottle says this glue can form a permanent bond, yet the instructions say "For a Stronger Bond ..." -- the instructions never use the word permanent. To form a stronger bond, evenly apply glue to both objects. Let the glue dry then press both glued surfaces together.
Elmer's Rubber Cement is acid free and dries clear. However, as the glue ages, it can discolor and soften, loosening the bond.
My Experiences
I've been using rubber cement for about 20 years. Through my experiences, I've discovered that rubber cement works best on paper products.
When the applicator is pulled from the bottle, the rubber cement adheres to the brush. If too much glue is on the brush, which is most often the case, remove the excess glue by scraping the brush against the bottle rim. Just like cotton candy or taffy, sometimes thin webs or ribbons of glue stretch from the bottle toward the brush. Twirl the brush to break contact with the strands of glue.
It's important to evenly spread the glue on the paper surface. If the glue is too thick, it can either seep through the paper (if the paper is thin), or when the paper is pressed into position, globs of glue will expand beyond the paper edges. It's best not to apply the glue too close to the edge of the paper unless the glue is applied in a very thin layer.
Even though Elmer's states the glue dries clear, I find that the glue has a slightly yellow cast. It's not completely clear. The dried glue has a flat, matte appearance.
If the glue does seep beyond the edges of the paper, or if it sticks to areas where the glue is not wanted ... when the glue dries, it is very easy to rub the glue and have it peel off the paper surface. Since the manufacturer cautions against skin contact with the glue, I use a piece of white paper to rub against the dried glued. The glue easily peels off and looks something like eraser leavings. Rubbing my finger over an area where I've removed glue using this method, the paper is smooth as if glue had never touched it.
Elmer's states this glue is "wrinkle free". When I press the paper into position, I smooth the paper from the center out toward the edges. The only time I've had trouble with paper wrinkling is when one or both of the papers is bent or buckled.
If two pieces of paper glued with rubber cement need separating, this is easy to do. Simply peel the edges of the paper apart using a steady, gentle movement. The paper will separate. However, the pieces may curl ... and both pieces will have tacky glue on their backs. The glue can usually be removed by rubbing a piece of paper against it.
I can't emphasize enough to use this glue in a well ventilated open area. This glue has a strong smell that can overpower the senses. I try not to use it for prolonged periods of time. Once while using the glue on a project at work that took three hours to complete, I became dizzy and fuzzy- headed. I immediately put aside the project and went outdoors for fresh air.
Project Ideas
Rubber Cement is excellent for mounting photographs and for scrapbooking. However, I have found that over the years, the rubber cement will lose its grip. At work, I cut out pictures from catalogs and glue them in a reference book. I've been doing this for eight years. Some of the pictures that were rubber cemented eight years ago are falling out of the book and needed reattaching.
School projects. If doing reports or art projects using paper, this glue works well. Children should always be supervised when using rubber cement. This glue is toxic.
This glue is great for paper crafts. It dries quickly and the glue forms a solid bond.
If you create mock-ups or dummies of projects, then this is excellent glue. The properties of this glue are ideal for glueing paper in place and then lifting it to place the paper elsewhere.
I find cutting and pasting best done on a computer ... but sometimes glue is necessary when manipulating paper pieces. Some writers print their manuscripts and then cut sentences and paragraphs out to reposition them elsewhere in the manuscript. As a writer, I usually do my cut and paste work on the computer, but there are times when I spread out the pages and grab the scissors.
Cautions & First Aid
Note the bottle says:
"Extremely flammable. Harmful or fatal if swallowed. Avoid inhaling vapors. Exposure may result in nausea, headache, confusion or instability and may irritate eyes, skin or chest."
"Do not use or store near heat, sparks or flame. Keep tightly capped when not in use. Use exhaust fan to remove vapors and insure adequate cross ventilation. If symptoms occur, move to fresh air. Avoid prolonged contact with skin."
"If swallowed, do not induce vomiting, dilute by drinking large quantities of water. In case of eye contact, flush gently with water immediately. Wash skin with soap and water. If symptoms persist, see a physician."
"Keep out of reach of children."
The facts sheet on Elmer's website states that prolonged exposure to this rubber cement can cause "central nervous system depression". If accidentally swallowed, "burns or irritation to mucous membranes, esophagus, or GI tract can result".
Harmful ingredients:
Isopropanol & Heptane
"Can cause central nervous system depression. Signs and symptoms may include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness and even asphyxiation." Delayed reactions to Isopropanol may include reproductive disorders, liver and kidney damage.
Likes
* Creates a good bond
* Can easily remove paper that's been glued to reposition it
* Brush applicator makes applying glue easy
* Glue dries almost clear
* Dries quickly
Dislikes
* Toxic and flammable
* Children need supervision
* Odor
* Must use in open, ventilated area
* Glue may discolor and soften with age
* Not ideal for projects you want to save
* Brush does not reach bottom of bottle, hard to get last bit of glue out
Purchasing
I bought my current bottle of Elmer's Rubber Cement at my local craft store (A.C. Moore) for $1.50. Staples.com sells it for $1.55 a bottle.
Summary
I use rubber cement with mixed feelings. The glue is a good adhesive for short-term projects. However, for projects where you still want the glue to be sticking in eight or ten years, then you may want to investigate other options. I also do not recommend using rubber cement on a regular basis due to all the health concerns. Definitely use caution when children are using this product. I'm recommending Elmer's Rubber Cement since it is a good glue and is great for projects that are not intended for keeping long-term.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Elmer's Products, Inc.
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3799
Emergency Medical Information: 800-228-5653 ext. 022
To read the Material Data Safety Sheet, go to:
http://www.elmers.com/msds/me425_a.htm
Please read my other reviews.
Avery Permanent Glue Stick
Scotch Double-Coated Tape
Sharpie Twin-Tip Permanent Marker
Tombow White Correction Tape
Stanley Contemporary Electric Pencil Sharpener
Stanley Heavy-Duty Stapler for up to 120 sheets
Stanley Quick Point Knife
Fellowes Magnetic Copyholder
Rolodex Petite Card File
Avery File Folder Labels for both inkjet and laser printers
Wausau Exact Vellum Bristol Cover Stock -- in Blue (created brochures with it)
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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