What is Selleys Fix & Go Multi Grip, and where should you use it?

Selleys Fix & Go Multi Grip is a multi-purpose solvent adhesive for household, hobby and DIY jobs. It is fast bonding, flexible, water resistant, and it dries clear — which is what makes it usable on visible repairs and craft work where a glue line would otherwise show.

Think of it as the general-purpose glue for crafts and light repairs rather than a structural adhesive. The two things that decide whether it suits your job are the surface list and the moisture limit: it is water resistant but not for underwater use or constant moisture, and it will not bond polyethylene or polypropylene plastics.

Where to use it

• General household repairs
• Hobby and craft work
• DIY applications
• Light repairs
• Plastics, other than polyethylene and polypropylene

Surfaces must be clean and dry before you start. That is the standard condition for a solvent adhesive, and it is worth taking seriously on a repair — dust, grease or moisture in the joint is the most common reason a repair comes apart again a week later.

Two techniques that change the result

Selleys publishes two application variations that are worth knowing, because they solve the two problems people most often have with this kind of glue.

For a faster bond: apply the adhesive and leave the surfaces open for one minute before pressing them together. That short open time lets some solvent flash off before the joint closes, so the bond grabs sooner. Use it when you are holding a repair by hand and do not want to stand there for long.

For very porous surfaces: seal the surface first. Coat it with a thin layer of adhesive, let that layer dry, then apply a second coat to form the bond as directed. The reason this matters is that a porous material — untreated timber, some ceramics, card, plaster — soaks the first application into itself, leaving too little adhesive at the surface to make a joint. The first coat fills the pores; the second one does the gluing. Skipping this step on a porous material is why a joint can feel dry and still fail under load.

How to apply it

1. Make sure both surfaces are clean and dry.
2. Apply a thin layer to one surface. Thin is deliberate — more adhesive does not make a stronger joint with this kind of product.
3. Optional, for a faster bond: leave the surfaces open for one minute before bringing them together.
4. Press the surfaces together.
5. Allow the joint to set undisturbed. Full cure follows after several hours.
6. Replace the cap immediately after use.

Step 5 is the one that gets rushed. "Set" and "fully cured" are different states — the joint may hold itself together well before it has reached full strength, and putting it into service in that window is what breaks it. Leave it alone for several hours before you load it.

Limitations — where it should NOT be used

• Not suitable for polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) plastics. These are common in storage tubs, buckets, outdoor toys and many food containers. If a plastic item has a recycling mark of 2, 4 or 5, check before you glue.
• Not for polystyrene foam. Solvent adhesives and expanded polystyrene do not mix.
• Not for underwater use or constant moisture. Water resistant is not waterproof — an occasional splash is within scope, a permanently damp or immersed joint is not.

If your job involves polyethylene or polypropylene, Selleys makes a dedicated two-step primer and adhesive system for exactly those plastics — see Selleys All Plastics.

Storage and handling

Replace the cap immediately after use. Solvent adhesives lose their working properties when left open, and the nozzle is the first thing to block.

Hazard classification

Classified as hazardous under Safe Work Australia GHS 7, with the signal word Danger.

• Flammable liquids — Category 2. H225: highly flammable liquid and vapour.
• Eye damage/irritation — Category 2A. H319: causes serious eye irritation.
• Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure — Category 3, narcotic effects. H336: may cause drowsiness or dizziness.

It is Dangerous Goods Class 3, flammable liquid, under the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail and New Zealand NZS5433.

What is in it

Chemical entity	CAS number	Proportion (w/w)
Acetone	67-64-1	30–60%
Ethyl acetate	141-78-6	10–30%
n-Butyl acetate	123-86-4	1–10%
Non-hazardous ingredients	—	Balance

This is a 50 mL tube of craft glue with the flammability classification of a solvent. Somewhere between 40% and 90% of it is acetone and acetate solvent, and Category 2 means the vapour forms an ignitable mixture at ordinary room temperature — not at some temperature you would have to reach. It should be nowhere near a heat gun, a soldering iron, a candle, a pilot light or a hobby kiln, and the cap goes back on between uses for that reason as much as for the nozzle blocking.

The directions suggest leaving the surfaces open for one minute before pressing them together, to get a faster grab. That minute is the solvent leaving the glue line and entering the room. It is the right technique; it is also the moment of highest vapour concentration, which is the argument for doing it with a window open and away from any ignition source.

H336 is a narcotic-effects classification rather than a poisoning one, but the exposure that produces it is easy to arrange by accident with a product like this: fine work, head down, face close to the joint, in a small room with the door shut. Drowsiness or a headache partway through a craft session is the signal to open up the room, not to push on.

The acetone content is also the most likely explanation for the instruction not to use this glue on polystyrene foam — acetone is a solvent for expanded polystyrene, so the adhesive attacks the substrate rather than bonding to it. That connection is chemical inference from the composition, not a statement made in the safety data sheet.

Protection

• Eye protection — chemical goggles. The eye classification is Category 2A and the tube is squeezed by hand at close range.
• Gloves — nitrile rubber is indicated for intermittent contact; make your own final assessment for your conditions and glove construction.
• Ventilation — use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Natural ventilation is adequate under normal use conditions. Avoid breathing the vapour or spray.
• Ignition sources — keep away from heat, sparks, open flame and hot surfaces.
• Storage — in a well-ventilated place, kept cool, container tightly closed, stored locked up and away from food and drink.
• Wash hands before eating, drinking or smoking.

First aid

Exposure	What to do
Eyes	Hold the eyelids apart and flush continuously with running water — until told to stop by the Poisons Information Centre or a doctor, or for at least 15 minutes — then go to a doctor or hospital.
Skin	Remove contaminated clothing immediately and flush skin and hair with running water, continuing for at least 15 minutes. For gross contamination, drench with water and remove clothing. Cover any burn with a clean dry dressing; do NOT break blisters. Seek medical assistance if swelling, redness, blistering or irritation occurs.
Inhalation	Move the person to fresh air without becoming a casualty yourself. Loosen tight clothing, let them rest comfortably and keep them warm until fully recovered. Seek medical advice if effects persist.
Swallowed	Rinse the mouth with water. Do NOT induce vomiting. Give a glass of water. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Seek medical advice.

If poisoning occurs, contact a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre — 131 126 in Australia, 0800 764 766 in New Zealand — with the container to hand. Selleys emergency line: 1800 220 770 in Australia, 0800 220 770 in New Zealand.

Common questions about Selleys Fix & Go Multi Grip

How long does it take to cure?

It bonds fast, with full cure following after several hours. Let the joint set undisturbed rather than testing it early.

Does it dry clear?

Yes. That is one of its main features, and why it suits visible repairs and craft work.

Will it stick to plastic?

To most plastics, yes — but not polyethylene or polypropylene, and not polystyrene foam.

How do I make it grab faster?

Apply the adhesive, then leave the surfaces open for one minute before pressing them together.

What do I do on porous surfaces?

Seal them first. Coat the surface with a thin layer of adhesive, let it dry, then apply a second coat and make the bond as directed.

How much should I apply?

A thin layer to one surface only.

Can I use it outdoors or on something that gets wet?

It is water resistant, but it is not for underwater use or for constant moisture.

Do the surfaces need any preparation?

They need to be clean and dry.

Is it flexible once cured?

Yes, it is described as a flexible adhesive.

Is it suitable for craft projects?

Yes — household, hobby and DIY applications are what it is designed for, and it is suited to crafts and light repairs.

Why has my nozzle blocked?

Most likely because the cap was left off. Replace the cap immediately after each use.

What should I use for a heavy-duty repair instead?

For high strength repairs that need to survive rough conditions, Selleys Power Grip is the heavier-duty all-purpose option in the same category.