It always seems your kids need glitter glue the night before a school project is due. You have no time to waste, you need to know how long it takes for glitter glue to dry?
Crayola glitter glue specifically takes 30 minutes to 24 hours to dry. Keep in mind, not all glitter glue is the same. For the best results, give yourself a day to ensure your project is dry.
Nothing is worse than waiting for your glue to dry. Your kids are in bed and your husband won’t leave the pieces alone.
However, it is possible to make your glue dry faster.
Luckily for you, I’ll show you how long it takes for glitter glue to dry. I’ll show you why it takes so long for glitter glue to dry and how you can make it dry faster. You’ll be well on your way to getting your project turned in on time.
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How long does it take for glitter glue to dry?
Glitter glue can dry in as fast as 30 minutes or as slow as 24 hours. Different brands of glue will dry at different paces. The dry time for all glue varies depending on the material it’s used on, the temperature, and the humidity in the room.
Glitter glue will dry faster or slower, based on a few different factors. All brands have different dry times depending on whether or not it’s used on glass, plastic, or fabric.
Glitter glue used on paper in a dry environment your project is likely to dry within minutes. Bigger projects on non-porous surfaces like acrylic nails, glass, and plastic are a bit more complicated.
As you’ll read later in the article, glitter glue has a hard time sticking to plastic surfaces, especially in humid conditions.
Humidity is not your friend if you are trying to dry glitter glue. You’ll want to find a dry area for faster results. This is the only acceptable time for someone to claim that dry heat is somehow better than humidity on a hot summer day.
In the end, each brand makes their glue with different amounts of water. Therefore, you’ll have a different dry time whether it’s hot, humid, or on paper and plastic. Here are a few of the different dry times in the most popular brands:
Chart with dry times for certain glues/brands
- Crayola water-based 30min-24hrs
- Mod Podge Extreme Glitter water-based 20-30 Minutes
- Darice Glitter Glue water-based “dries in about an hour”
- Elmers Classic Glitter Glue water-based 30min-24hrs
- Art Glitter Glue industrial strength clear water-based adhesive 5-10 minutes (basic applications)
For other glitter glues like Amazon Basics, specific dry times aren’t listed. When using Creatology Glitter Glue Pens or Amazon Basics it’s best to give yourself the full 24hr dry time for your project.
Keep in mind, simple projects that involve a small amount of glue and paper will dry faster.
Why does glitter glue take so long to dry?
Glitter glue takes so long to dry because of the water content within the glue. The water inside of the glue has to evaporate in order for the glue to adhere. The more moisture in the air the longer it takes for evaporation and the glue to dry out.
Different glitter glue is made with different formulas, so the amount of water inside can change the length of time it takes to dry. Some companies deal with the dry time by keeping the glitter and glue separate.
Art Glitter has industrial strength clear glue that dries faster when used with glitter. Depending on your project you can use glue and add the glitter you need. A DIY option gives your glitter project more variety and can speed up the long dry time.
How do you make glitter glue dry faster?
Heat makes glitter glue dry faster. Dry air and heat speed up the evaporation process without breaking down the chemicals in the glue. Therefore, you can use a hair dryer, heat gun, fireplace or heater to help your glue dry faster.
Glitter glue dries better in warmer temperatures because it’s a water-based adhesive. So, while you think turning a fan on might be a good idea, the cold air will slow down the drying process. To dry the glue faster it’s better to blow gentle warm air on the project.
Fast-moving cold air will only blow your glitter away and chill your glue. Cold glitter glue will not stick or dry properly.
To dry faster glitter glue faster:
- Use a blow dryer
- Use a heat lamp
- Place your project in the sun
- Turn up the heat in the room
With every heat option, you will need to be careful. As you may know, glitter is flammable, so be careful adding heat to your glitter glue projects.
Sitting your project near a sunny window won’t light your project on fire. However, keep a close eye on projects under a heat lamp. Paper and fabric can get hot quickly even with hairdryers on low settings.
Does glitter glue dry faster in the freezer?
Glitter glue does not dry faster in the freezer. Before the glue gets the chance to dry it will start to freeze causing the chemical bonds to break down. The moisture and freezing temperatures will ruin the glue and it will no longer work properly.
Glitter glue and other glues come with warnings on the label about freezing temperatures. Adhesive products do freeze and they will no longer stick after they thaw. In fact, if you live in freezing areas, Art Glitter won’t ship glue in temperatures below 32 degrees.
Keep freezing temperatures in mind when you are storing your glue through the winter as well.
Does glitter glue dry on glass, plastic, and fabric?
Glitter glue is water-based so it dries on paper and fabric easily. Porous material absorbs the water in glitter glue helping it dry faster. Glass and plastic aren’t porous, so you’ll have to wait a very long time for glitter glue to dry and when it does it won’t stick.
If you are able to wait a day or two for your project to dry you may get lucky and it will stick. However, over time it may peel. If you really want glitter glue to stick to glass or plastic add a primer before you add the glitter glue.
Another option is to choose a clear adhesive designed to stick to all types of surfaces. Art Glitter Adhesive dries fast and works on most surfaces including acrylic, black cardstock, leather, ceramics, wood, metal, polymer clay, porcelain, plastic, shrink plastic, and glass.
To use the glue, you’ll need to add glitter within a minute. Once you add your glitter, the glue will begin to set and dry faster than most glitter glues even on non-porous surfaces.
Summary: How long does it take for glitter glue to dry?
So, now you know glitter glue can take anywhere between 30 minutes and 24 hours to dry. The product dry time depends on a few different factors.
Your glitter will dry based on what you are using the glue on, which brand you are using, and the environment the glue is in. For example, glitter glue dries best in warm dry places.
While you might want to speed up the dry time, you’ll need to be careful not to try counterproductive methods. Putting your project in the freezer or blasting it with a cool fan is not the best way to dry glitter glue fast.
To dry glitter glue fast, put it in a warm area, right in the sunlight if possible. If you’re really in a hurry use a heat lamp or a hairdryer. Whatever method you choose, be sure to keep an eye on your project.
It’s best to be prepared and give yourself time for your project to dry, especially if you’re using non-porous materials.
So, set your project up in a warm spot and read a few of our craft articles while you wait.