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We at Land of Odds get many questions about what glue to use with rhinestones and other beading and jewelry-making projects. We're craftspersons and silversmiths, and we have a shop where we sell rhinestones, beads, jewelry findings, cabochons and the like.

Nothing is perfect, but based on our experiences, here are some good tips:

1. Always experiment with your adhesives first, before you use an adhesive on your final project.

2. Glues vary widely in terms of which materials they stick to, how well they form a bond between two smooth surfaces, and how the glue bond ages, both in terms of durability and color.

3. Clean the excess glue off your piece before you display or sell it.

4. You will probably have to rely on more than one type of glue to accommodate all your types of projects.

Superglue

Superglue is not our favorite! It often ruins rhinestones and other pieces we use in jewelry-making. It's bond is tough, but it breaks easily. Superglue dries like glass, and breaks like glass.

We do, however, use superglue occasionally. We often use it seal end knots, or coat a frayed strand of cord. We sometimes use it on crimp beads to enhance the closure.

Hot Glue Guns

Hot glue guns are fun to use. When the materials you are using are large and bulky, hot glue guns make the projects go faster.

The glue's bond will not last forever. The glue will yellow with age.

There is a wide variation in the types of pieces called "rhinestones". Basically, rhinestones are mirror- or foil-backed pieces of clear glass crystal, glass or plastic.

Sometimes they are faceted; othertimes they are not. Some rhinestones have a flat back so they can be glued directly to the piece; others have a pointed back so they can fit into a cup or bezel. Each design element in the architecture of the rhinestone -- base material, overall shape, faceting, foil, and effect -- adds to its shine, sparkle and brilliance. The mirror or foil reflects and refracts light. Sometimes, the mirror or foil itself has a special color, effect or treatment applied to it. The clear "glass" can range from, at the most brilliant end, very-leaded glass to somewhat leaded glass to glass to acrylic at the least brilliant end. Sometimes the glass is coated with an effect or treatment.

Your goals for gluing rhinestones into a piece of jewelry or onto a piece of clothing are simple:

1. You want a bond that sticks and is durable
   
2. You don't want the adhesive to ruin the rhinestone
   
3. You want the glue to dry clear and "age" clear
   
4. You don't want the glue to show outside or over the edges of the stone
   
5. If you've gotten glue on the stone, you want to be able to get it off easily

Never use superglue with rhinestones! Superglue clouds the stone. Superglue dries like glass, so its bond shatters like glass w