To Rubber Cement

This week on momfilter.com, we shared a simple project – the Word & Pattern Repair Shop – which combines a bit of everything I love: typography, patterns, paper, miniatures and… rubber cement. This is absolutely my glue of choice when working with paper. I have found rubber cement to be the unsung hero of glues.

Rubber cement is often misunderstood – messy, inferior to white glue or glue sticks – or remembered only for its tangential properties – the gluey ‘boogers’ on the underside of your 3rd grade desk, or its particularly strong and unmistakable odor.

The adhesive’s notable characteristics comprise strength, flexibility, cooperation, and an unobtrusive, accommodating nature. It does its job without distracting from the design or interrupting the surface and flow of the piece. When applied correctly, there is no wrinkling, no stiffness – rather a smooth, supple surface. As with any glue, it requires only a thin-thin layer. A gloppy puddle never dries.

For use: Apply a thin-thin layer to both paper surfaces. Allow the glue to dry completely on each surface – only then should you venture to adhere the two. Surface A meets Surface B and the bond is immediate and sound. It may last a lifetime. However, in addition to boasting strength, rubber cement also offers forgiveness. It remains patiently conciliatory. If the papers are mis-aligned, gently peel them apart and re-adhere. If the rubber cement has been spread too wide, rub the dried glue gently with your finger to remove the tackiness. It is gone without a trace.

For those who are familiar with the adhesive’s values and who use it correctly (namely, by letting it dry before adhering), complaints drift towards dissatisfaction with the container and brush. The stout, wide-mouthed cylinder has a screw-on cap that is affixed, inside, with a black-bristled brush. Using rubber cement is like using nail polish. Dipping into a full container leads to pesky dripping down the brush shaft. Dipping into a near-empty container leaves you scraping the brush around in the half-dried remnants. Two tricks: for full containers, leave the brush out, standing on its flat cap, and touch it lightly to the top of the glue when needed. For near-empty containers, leave it on its side so you can reach the last bits of glue more easily. A dash of rubber cement thinner remedies gloppiness.

For both the quality of its glue and the design of its container, I prefer Best-Test. The glue seems to last longer, and the tin is iconic, right down to its typeface and color palette (black, white, red). Rubber cement is acid free and can be found at almost any art, craft or office supply store. Have a bottle around for any paper projects – it is the right tool for the job. I have found rubber cement to be the unsung hero of glues.