Gluing a finished puzzle together is easier than you may think. You will need the following few items:

• Puzzle glue
• Parchment paper (or wax paper)
• A soft and clean paintbrush 

Technically, you can use any type of adhesive that is clear to glue your puzzle together. But there is one aspect to look out for. 

Even though you choose a clear adhesive, some of them could cause a gray finish to the look, away from the color vibrancy and picture clarity of the puzzle. Some adhesives could even cause some damage. 

You also need to consider the type of material of your puzzle and choose an adhesive accordingly to ensure a firm and correct bond. 

The best and safest option for this is puzzle glue, designed specifically for this purpose. 

Keep reading to discover the steps to glue a puzzle together. 

Step One: Prepare Your Space

Make sure that the space you will be working on this project is leveled and smooth. 

Lay out parchment paper (or wax paper if you do not have parchment paper). Make sure it is bigger than your puzzle. 

You will see that sometimes, as you glue your puzzle together, some of the glue may get through your puzzle pieces or drip down at the edge of your puzzle down onto your working space. 

The parchment paper will protect your desk from the glue and prevent puzzle pieces from gluing to your desk or any other work surface. 

Step Two: Position Your Puzzle Within The Parchment Paper

Place your puzzle on the parchment paper with the picture side facing up. 

Make sure your parchment or wax paper is bigger than your puzzle. 

If your puzzle is big, you can tape multiple pieces of parchment or wax paper together. 

Step Three: Apply The Puzzle Glue

Start in the middle. 

Add a moderate amount of glue to the center of your puzzle. Work your way from the middle to the outer edges of the puzzle. 

Use the paintbrush to spread it evenly, working your way from the center toward the edges. You can also use a glue spreader, a plastic spatula, or an old credit card to spread the glue across your puzzle. 

This will help you use the amount of glue you need and not too much. 

And keep in mind that you don’t need thick layers of glue. In fact, with glue, a thin layer works best and creates the strongest of bonds. 

Plus, it will also dry quicker. 

Step Four: Remove Excess Glue

So even if you didn’t mean for this, you might have excess glue on your puzzle. 

Don’t worry if this is the case, as there is a very simple solution for this situation.

Once you have made sure that you have evenly spread the glue across your puzzle, covering every piece and every connection between the pieces, if there is excess glue, here is what you need to do:

• Use a spreader, plastic spatula, or an old credit card to push the excess glue off the edges of your puzzle

Step Five: Let It Dry

The drying time depends on the type and brand of glue you used. 

With some glue, you need to wait a few hours, while with most, you will need to wait up to 24 hours as it usually takes this long for the bond to form. 

You can speed up the drying time with a few tricks and tools, such as:

• Increase airflow by leaving a window open
• Use a fan and point it directly at the puzzle
• Use a hair dryer; keep it a few inches away from the puzzle

Step Six: Glue The Back Side Of Your Puzzle

Once the glue has fully set on the front side of your puzzle, it is time to glue it backside to strengthen its bond and stability. 

Carefully flip or turn your puzzle with the picture facing down. 

If your puzzle is small, you should be able to pick it up and flip it simply. If it is significantly big, use cardboard to help with this. 

If parts of the puzzle got glued to the parchment paper, use a firm plastic edge to separate the puzzle from the paper. Be gentle to avoid damaging your puzzle. 

Use a clean sheet of parchment paper and place the flipped puzzle on top of it. 

Apply the glue to its center and work your way toward the edges. Use the same methods as with the front of the puzzle to evenly spread the glue across the back side and get any excess amount off. 

Step Seven: Let It Dry

Now it is time to allow the glue to dry on the back side of your puzzle fully. 

Once the glue fully dries, your puzzle should be firmly connected. You should be able to display it without framing it. 

But framing it will add more stability and durability to it long-term. 

You can also glue a piece of cardboard to the back of your puzzle to give it more stability if you prefer displaying it without a frame.

Conclusion

You can glue a puzzle together, small or big, with the right adhesive and method. It is easy as:

1. Preparing your workspace 
2. Laying down a parchment (or wax) paper that is bigger than your puzzle
3. Placing the puzzle on top of the parchment paper 
4. Applying and evenly spreading the glue
5. Removing excess glue
6. Letting it dry 
7. Flipping the puzzle and gluing the back side of it, repeating the above steps 

There is glue specifically designed for gluing puzzles together. 

If you can’t find this type of glue, you can choose from several other adhesives. Just be mindful that some could damage your puzzle or cause a gray finish to the way it looks. 

You can also choose adhesives that will give your puzzle a matte or glossy finish. 

With the steps and methods described in this guide, you can display your puzzle without using a frame.