Krazy Glue is a great product to use for simple projects around the house. However, this strong-bonding adhesive can leave people wondering if it can be safely used as a conductor on all types of household projects, including electrical repairs.
Krazy Glue is not conductive. After Krazy Glue dries, it hardens into a stiff material, similar to plastic, and cannot conduct any electricity. However, the glue’s bonding strength and insulating properties can help with heat management, but it’s not advisable to use it as a conductive adhesive.
The rest of this article will discuss what Krazy Glue is and why it’s not a conductive glue, if it’s safe to use on electrical wiring, which glues are conductive, and the difference between conductive glues and soldering.
What Is Krazy Glue?
Krazy Glue is one of the leading commercial cyanoacrylate glues, along with Super Glue. Cyanoacrylate glues differ from other glues because of their fast-acting, strong adhesive properties.
You can use Krazy Glue to bond various objects and surfaces, including plastic, wood, metal, leather, ceramic, and much more. However, Krazy Glue can’t bond all materials. The company doesn’t recommend using Krazy Glue on paper, foam, rearview mirrors, polyethylene, or fluorocarbons.
While it’s not explicitly stated that Krazy Glue isn’t conductive, there are many reasons it’s not a conductive adhesive.
Why Isn’t Krazy Glue Conductive?
Krazy Glue isn’t conductive because when it dries, it becomes a hard, plastic-like material. This material prevents electrical currents from passing through.
Many types of glue contain petroleum products, which gives it the plastic-like texture once it’s completely cured and bonded. Hot glues are also made with petroleum products, and therefore, not conductive.
Most household glues won’t be conductive, but there are other specific glues made for conductivity.
Is Krazy Glue Safe To Use on Electrical Wires?
Krazy Glue, or cyanoacrylate glue, is safe to use on or around electrical wiring, although the company doesn’t explicitly state it. As it acts as an insulator, many people like to use Krazy Glue to improve thermal conductivity. However, this won’t work unless you have soldered or used a conductive adhesive on the wires themselves.
Therefore, since Krazy Glue is not conductive, there’s no reason to be afraid of anything short-circuiting if you use it as an insulator. It would be best to take all of the necessary precautions when working around any electric or conductive materials.
Which Glues Are Conductive?
Some companies make glues to be conductive and used for electrical wiring. These glues will contain some form of conductive metal, such as silver or copper, making it a conductive option.
Conductive glues are wire, metallic, or solder glues. Depending on the type of metal-based glue you go with will determine how expensive and conductive it is. For example, adhesives with a silver base are very conductive but can be costly.
Choosing the right kind of conductive glue hugely depends on what you need it for and how conductive you need it to be. Once you know the type of conductive glue that would work best for you, you’ll be all set.
If you’re looking for a conductive glue, we recommend the American Science & Surplus Electrically Conductive Wire Glue. This glue is excellent when you don’t have a soldering iron or can’t use the soldering method.
Are Conductive Adhesives As Good as Soldering?
Soldering is usually the first thing you’ll want to try when it comes to fixing electrical wiring. It’s the most advisable method, as you will likely get the best results from soldering.
Soldering is when two items are joined together by melting and putting a solder (filler metal) into the joint. By soldering, you’re guaranteeing conductivity because of the direct connection. Using a conductive adhesion doesn’t always ensure the best link.
However, sometimes soldering isn’t going to work well for your situation. Depending on your project, you can’t solder certain temperature-sensitive electronics because it can cause damage. Therefore, you should use a conductive adhesive.
Final Thoughts
While Krazy Glue isn’t conductive and can’t successfully work as a conductor of electricity, it does act as an electrical insulator, if needed. Most household glues don’t have any conductive properties, but companies have made conductive adhesives for this reason.
Before deciding to use a conductive adhesive, you should look into the soldering method to see if it will work best for you. Soldering is the metal bonding method that ensures the best results. However, if this method won’t work for you, it’s essential to use a conductive glue that contains some form of conductive metal.