How To Glue Rubber To Wood?

To glue rubber to wood, use an adhesive to create a strong adhesion between the glue and rubber. The most efficient adhesives for this project are the following types of glue:

Contact cement glue
Polyurethane glue
Super glue
Gorilla rubber cement

It is much easier to find adhesives to glue wood, but the options to choose from aren’t as generous when gluing rubber effectively.

But, before you can glue rubber to wood, you must prepare both surfaces. Otherwise, even if the glue is the right one, the adhesion won’t be the strongest it can be.

Keep reading to discover how to glue rubber to wood and prepare both surfaces to achieve the best adhesion and bond possible.

A Better Insight Into The Best Adhesives To Glue Rubber To Wood

As mentioned earlier, it is much simpler to choose the glue for wood but not as simple to choose rubber. Rubber is more difficult to glue because of its smooth surface.

For the glue to create a strong bond, it needs good adhesion, and to get good adhesion, it needs something it can have a good grip on, which the surface of rubber doesn’t usually provide.

This is why you also need to prepare the surfaces to create that better adhesion for the glue. But we will get into this in detail in just a minute.

Right now, let’s touch base on the recommended adhesives so you can choose the one that best suits your project with more ease and confidence.

Contact Cement Glue

Weldwood has a contact cement glue (The Original) designed for wood and plastic surfaces.

Here is what you need to know about this adhesive:

Can be applied both interior and exterior
Offers a permanent bond
Easy spread for large surfaces
Works well on porous and non-porous materials
It is neoprene-based
Delivers high strength
Solvent base formula
Water-resistant
30-45 minutes drying time at around 75 Degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity

Super Glue

Super glue is a well-known adhesive.

Here are the advantages of super glue:

The glue dries within seconds
It dries clear
Offers easy and precise application

The recommended super glue for this project is Loctite Super Glue Ultra Gel. It offers a more durable bond.

Polyurethane Glue

This type of adhesive is another great choice for gluing rubber to wood.

Polyurethane glue offers a durable and firm bond between the two materials.

Here are some of the other advantages of this glue:

High resistance to weathering
Great for effectively bonding larger surfaces
Easy to apply

Gorilla Rubber Cement

This adhesive focuses on effectively bonding rubber to various other surfaces, including wood.

This glue can withstand extreme temperatures, both high and low.

The strong bond Gorilla Rubber Cement offers durable even under heavy use.

How To Prepare Both Surfaces

The preparation stage of this project is just as important as the application process.

Without the proper preparation, the adhesion of the glue won’t be as firm and effective.

Prepare The Wood

Make sure your wood surface is leveled. If there are any bumps on it, level the surface out.

The surface that will be glued doesn’t need to be very smooth. You can use sandpaper to rough it up, so the glue will have a better grip.

Clean the surface well. Remove any stains, debris, and dust.

You can wipe it down with a damp cloth. Make sure the surface is fully dry when you apply the glue.

Prepare The Rubber

If grease stains are on the rubber, you must degrease the surface. To do this, you can use acetone and a clean cloth.

If there are any other stains on the rubber, such as tar, remove these as well.

Once the surface is clean from stains, create abrasion into the surface so the glue can bond effectively. Use sandpaper to roughen up the surface of the rubber.

Wipe it down to remove any dust after sanding it.