For papercrafters, adhesive is important. Which glue to use with which project can make or break a scrapbook page, mini-book, or altered art piece. In my quest to bring you the best adhesives for your project, today I’m trying out Zip Dry Paper Glue by Beacon Adhesives.
It’s a clear (if hazy) liquid glue- about the consistency of fresh honey that has a moderate odor. However, the odor is not readily apparent when you are using it. (I actually had to get really close to it before I could smell it. But when I did, it was moderately stinky.)
Here are the product highlights from the Beacon Adhesives website:
• | Fast drying for fast results on almost all paper types. | |
• | Never wrinkles paper, ever! Dries crystal clear. | |
• | Mistake-proof; easily removable when wet without leaving any residue. | |
• | Bonds metal stampings, beads, glitter, wire, and other embellishments to paper. | |
• | Acid and lignin-free: archival quality. | |
• | Special precision applicator tip for accuracy. |
I also noticed that you need to clean it up with paint thinner or turpentine. A-Ha! That’s why it’s stinky. That also means that it’s flammable, and you shouldn’t use it near an open flame and should use it in a well-ventilated area. (This also means you shouldn’t get real close to it to smell it. *Ahem*.)
So let’s give it a whirl. How about some handy swatching??
I let everything dry for an hour, just because I had some errands to do…then I gave each sample a light tug. So here’s the deal- everything stuck! Even the babypop glossy card. And the fabric held well enough that I’d give it a vote of confidence when using it for using fabric or ribbon on cards, etc.
One last note- right after I glued the “Foamie” square down, the edges started to curl up. There was obviously some kind of reaction happening with the solvents and plastics….but it dried flat and stayed stuck! The only one I would recommend against is vellum, and that’s because you can see the adhesive through the vellum- a common problem and no surprise here.
I was making some envelopes for my Martha Stewart Crafts Scoring Board review, and so I used Zip Dry paper glue on those:
It “grabbed” quite nicely- meaning that the glue is sticky enough that the paper isn’t lifting up and needs to be weighted down. And, true to the description on the front, there was absolutely no buckling or wrinkling of the paper.
I made some labels out of paper to glue to the front of the envelope:
I used my bone folder to smooth out the label and distribute the glue underneath. A little squeezed out, but I wiped it up with a paper towel-but when it dried, there was no trace of the glue. I then made a card and used Zip Dry on the paper-punched lace. Again, I was a little sloppy and some squeezed out the holes- but no sight of it once it dried.
Lastly, I wanted to make a rosette from paper and I thought I’d use Zip Dry to glue the ends of my pleated cardstock together. After all, it says it dries in 5-10 minutes. However after letting it sit for 10 minutes, I tried to form my rosette. If you’ve done this, you know that there is a lot of stress on that join and sadly, Zip Dry just didn’t hold up. Maybe if I’d let it rest and dry a little longer- 20 minutes or so- it might have been fine. But as it was, I dropped back 10 and went with white glue for that purpose.
All in all, Zip Dry is a great glue to have on hand for at-home crafters who want a glue that is both archival and wrinkle-free. My only “ding” to the product is that it is fume-y and needs ventilation and is flammable. Not good for kids, health facilities, or those with lung problems. But I kind of see this as a paper version of Fabri-Tac- really good for what it does, but not the best for every situation.
As for cost, it runs between $5-$7.50 for 2 ounces, which is about right for a specialty glue. And the good news is that you can find it everywhere- big box stores and all the major craft chains carry it.
I really like Zip Dry and it has earned a place on my crafting table- it’s so great for last-minute projects and cards….and honey, lately I’m all about “last-minute!”
I’d love to hear your impressions of Zip Dry- just leave me a comment below. Thanks!
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Michele @ The Scrap Shopp says
Zip Dry is the first Beacon adhesive product I tried. LOVE IT! Except for the fact that the tip often dries faster than I need to use the glue so I’m constantly scraping at it. But that may be my fault for not cutting a large enough hole at the tip.
I’ve yet to determine the difference between Beacon’s Zip Dry and 3-in-1. I now use the 3-in-1 for EVERYTHING not fabric related (that, of course, gets Fabri-Tac). The 3-in-1 is a larger bottle and is reasonably priced ~$4.
Great review! The 3-in-1 eats stryfoam, too. But seems great for everything else! (Minus the vellum, of course.)
Jenny says
Michelle, thanks for your input. Sounds like a need to to a head-to-had of 3-in-1 and Zip Dry. Challenge on! -Jenny
The Glueologist says
From Mike, Beacon’s Glueologist:
Hi all, and thanks for reviewing our glue!Zip Dry actually does work on vellum, with what we call the “kiss technique”. You “kiss” the sheets together briefly and gently, then carefully pull apart. The glue will begin its evaporation process, which is necessary for adhesion. Wait for about 30 seconds, then bond together. Oncer again, do not press hard.Pressing does not create a better bond-it tends to squeeze the glue out, thus creating a weaker bond (check out our tips and other videos on http://www.youtube.com/beaconadhesives )
Also, Zip Dry rubs away while wet-it isn’t necessary to use a paper towel for clean up. Just rub with a clean finger and there is absolutely no residue left-even on photos. Another tip” save the flat cap! That is for storage. The precision tip with the top is for application only, and will hasten the evaporation and thickening of the glue.
Differences between 3-in-1 and Zip Dry:These two are very different formulas. Both are Acid Free and Lignin Free, both have been used with Scrap Booking, photos etc. Neither will wrinkle paper and both dry quickly and have a fast grab.
The major differences between the two is:
Zip Dry has a higher % of solids, so it is a bit thicker and therefore stronger (Stronger because of the solids NOT the thickness)
Zip Dry also will allow you to bond a wider variety of surfaces because of its solvent. I’ve been told that for acrylics, it’s the only glue to use.
Zip Dry will also rub off, whereas 3 in 1 will not do that easily and is more apt to dry and leave a mess.
Zip dry will also bond acrylic rhinestones without attacking the back, 3 in 1 eats the foil on the back pretty good.
Zip Dry is also more expensive because of the packaging it requires. I can’t fill that on an automated line like I can with 3 in 1. It requires two labels to be applied by hand and two caps. This is all because of the chemistry. Also putting blister carding anything adds cost. We’re trying to address all that , but changing a formula and lessening it’s quality is just not something we do!
Having said all that, it comes down to personal preference. Hope this helped, and if you have any question, ask away!
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Thanks,
Mike
Portable Keyboards says
Thanks for the Zip Dry review. I have been looking for a better paper glue and now I think I have found it here.
studio monitors says
I am amazed at the different applications you can use Zip Dry for. It is obviously a very versatile and well made product. Thank you for providing your insights into this product.
Asian Tv says
These are my two absolute FAVORITE adhesives. The Zip is awesome for scrapbooking, and I use the 3-in-1 for all of my other craft projects involving fabric, felt, or whatever else. Sometime I sneak it in for scrapbooking, too.
Beacon gives out tips about their adhesives on their Facebook page and one of them recently was how to prevent the tip from bubbling up glue. Apparently you are not suppose to turn the bottle upside down; keep it at an angle. I’ve been doing that and it seems to help.
Great post!
Diane says
Zip Dry Glue is excellent for glueing heavy objects to cardstock and chipboard. I have a decorative but heavy metal belt buckle that I wanted to attach to the chipboard cover of my mini-album. There were only a few pinpoints where the buckle touched the chipboard cover, so a applied a glob of Zip Dry Glue to those points and hoped for the best while it dried. The next morning I turned the chipboard upside down and—–it stayed glued!!! And remains glued a month later.
Sharon says
My zip dry – I have the bottle and the tube – and they have both dried with barely any use! What can I do to revitalize it?
Thanks for any help you can give.
Sharon
Jenny says
Once it’s dried, it cannot be reconstituted. Sorry!