What is Selleys Super Glue Adjustable Gel, and where should you use it?

Selleys Super Glue Adjustable Gel is a cyanoacrylate gel adhesive that sets in 30 seconds, giving you time to adjust the pieces and align a break properly before the bond takes. It is intended for everyday household repairs on ceramics, china, metal, wood and most plastics, it requires no mixing, and its gel consistency makes it suitable for vertical applications.

That last point is worth understanding. A liquid super glue applied to an upright break runs down the face before the two parts meet, so the adhesive ends up somewhere other than the joint. A gel stays where you put it, which is why this is the format to reach for on a vertical repair — a handle on the side of a jug, a trim piece on a cabinet face.

Technical specification

Property	Typical result
Technology	Cyanoacrylate
Colour	Colourless to straw
Specific gravity	1.1
Set time	30 seconds
Cure time	24 to 48 hours

Available as a 3g tube, and as a pack of four 1 gram single-shot tubes. Indicative data only, not intended for the preparation of specifications.

Selleys qualifies the set time: set time and cure rate depend on the type, condition and closeness of the surfaces, and on atmospheric conditions. A tight joint in a warm room will behave differently from a loose one in cold, dry air, so treat 30 seconds as typical rather than guaranteed.

What the key numbers mean in practice

30 seconds is your adjustment window, not the end of the job. Bring the parts together, check the alignment along the break line, correct it, then hold still. Once that window has passed, moving the joint breaks the bond that has just formed — and a re-broken cyanoacrylate joint never goes back together as well as the first attempt.

30 minutes gives sufficient bond strength for practical use. This is the point at which the item can be handled, moved and put away.

Cure is 24 to 48 hours. The technical data sheet lists cure time as 24 to 48 hours, while its directions state maximum bond strength is reached after 24 hours. Where the repair will carry any load, work to the longer figure. There is nothing to gain from testing a joint early.

Where to use it

Selleys lists the adhesive as great for repairs on:

• Ceramics
• China
• Metal
• Wood
• Most plastics

Its stated features are more time to adjust and reposition, no mixing required, and a gel consistency ideal for vertical applications.

How to apply it

Surface preparation matters more than technique here: surfaces to be bonded must be clean, dry, free of dust, and close fitting. Cyanoacrylate bonds a thin film between two mating faces. If the break does not close cleanly, no amount of adhesive will make it hold.

1. Pierce the seal at the end of the tube by attaching the nozzle and cap and turning clockwise.
2. Remove the cap and apply a small amount of glue to one surface.
3. Bring the surfaces together and apply slight pressure, adjusting the alignment within the 30-second set time.
4. Allow 30 minutes for sufficient bond strength for practical use. Maximum bond strength is reached after 24 hours; the published cure time is 24 to 48 hours.
5. Wipe the tip of the tube after use and replace the cap immediately.

Why a close-fitting joint matters more than the adhesive

Selleys lists four surface conditions — clean, dry, free of dust, close fitting — and the last one carries most of the weight. A cyanoacrylate works as a thin film between two faces that already meet. Where they do not meet, there is nothing for that film to bridge, and adding more gel makes the joint worse: the excess in the middle cures slowly and stays the weakest part of the repair.

The check takes seconds. Hold the pieces together dry and look along the break. If they close to a hairline the whole way, the repair will hold. If they rock, or a gap shows, this adhesive cannot fix that and no technique will change it — that job needs a gap-filling product instead.

Dust is the other quiet cause of failure, and it is worst on the materials this adhesive is best at. A broken ceramic or china edge generates fine powder that settles straight back into the break. Brush or blow the faces out before you apply anything, rather than pressing that powder into the glue line.

Limitations — where Adjustable Gel should not be used

• It will not bond Teflon, polyethylene or polypropylene.
• Not recommended for repairing handles of vessels that contain hot liquids. This is the limitation people most often ignore, and it is the one with real consequences: a handle that lets go while the vessel is full of hot liquid is a burn, not an inconvenience.
• May cause leather to discolour or harden. If in doubt, test on a small hidden area first.

Clean up and storage

Uncured product may be removed with acetone. Cured product can be sanded and scraped. Acetone is a strong solvent, so check that the item's material and finish will tolerate it before you apply any.

Keep containers closed and store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, out of direct sunlight. Wipe the tip of the tube after use and replace the cap immediately — cyanoacrylates cure in response to atmospheric moisture, so a cap left loose is the usual reason a part-used tube is solid the next time you need it. If that is a recurring frustration, the four-tube single-shot pack exists for exactly this reason.

Hazard classification

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

• Flammable liquids — Category 4. H227: combustible liquid.
• Skin corrosion/irritation — Category 2. H315: causes skin irritation.
• Eye damage/irritation — Category 2A. H319: causes serious eye irritation.
• Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure — Category 3, respiratory tract irritation. H335: may cause respiratory irritation.

Not classified as Dangerous Goods for transport by the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail or New Zealand NZS5433. It is classified C1 (combustible liquid) for storage and handling under AS 1940, and is Poison Schedule S5 (Caution).

What is in it

Chemical entity	CAS number	Proportion (w/w)
Ethyl cyanoacrylate	7085-85-0	>60%
Non-hazardous or below reporting limits	—	Balance

One safety data sheet covers all three formats of this adhesive — the 3g bottle (product code 103426), the High Precision 3g (103427) and the Single Shot 4x1g pack (103428) — with the same composition and the same classification throughout.

The gel is the same ethyl cyanoacrylate as a liquid super glue, thickened. That matters for how you read the classifications above: the hazards are the chemistry's, not the format's, and the thirty seconds of adjustment time this product is bought for do not come from a gentler adhesive. They come from a thicker one.

The thickening does change your exposure, and mostly in your favour. A liquid super glue runs: off a vertical face, along a joint by capillary action, down a finger. A gel largely stays where it is put, which removes the commonest route by which H319 — serious eye irritation — actually happens, namely adhesive travelling somewhere unwatched while your attention is on the alignment. It does not remove the risk. A tube squeezed at the wrong moment still ejects, and the gel consistency that suits vertical work also means a blob can sit on skin rather than running off it.

Those thirty seconds of adjustment are thirty seconds spent close to a curing joint, and cyanoacrylate vapour is what H335 describes. The vapour is released during the cure, so the adjustment window and the peak vapour are the same moment. Work somewhere ventilated and keep your face out of the direct line of the joint rather than leaning over it while you position the pieces. Cyanoacrylates cure on contact with traces of moisture — the moisture on any ordinary surface, including skin and the surface of an eye — which is why the eye advice below is fifteen minutes of running water and then a doctor.

The skin first aid anticipates burns and blistering, which is more than the Category 2 skin irritation classification alone would suggest. That is characteristic of the chemical class rather than of this product: the curing reaction gives off heat, and cyanoacrylates are known to react quickly with cotton and wool, so adhesive soaking into a glove, a sleeve or a cloth is treated more seriously than a smear on a fingertip.

Protection

• Eye protection — chemical goggles.
• Gloves — nitrile rubber, suitable for intermittent contact. The safety data sheet notes that glove construction and local conditions vary and the final assessment is the user's.
• Ventilation — natural ventilation is adequate under normal use. Use outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, and avoid breathing the vapour.
• Storage — cool, dry, well ventilated, out of direct sunlight, container upright and tightly closed, away from food and from sources of heat or ignition, and stored locked up.
• Do not eat, drink or smoke while using it, and wash your hands before you do.

First aid

Exposure	What to do
Eyes	Hold the eyelids apart and flush continuously with running water for at least 15 minutes, or until the Poisons Information Centre or a doctor says to stop, then go to a doctor or hospital.
Skin	Remove contaminated clothing and flush the skin and hair with running water for at least 15 minutes, or until advised to stop. For a skin burn, cover with a clean, dry dressing until medical help is available. If blistering occurs, do not break the blisters. Seek medical assistance if swelling, redness, blistering or irritation develops.
Inhalation	Move the person to fresh air without becoming a casualty yourself. Loosen clothing, let them settle into whichever position is most comfortable, keep them warm and at rest 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. If vomiting occurs, give more water and 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 Super Glue Adjustable Gel

How long do I have to adjust the pieces?

The set time is 30 seconds, and that is the window in which adjustment is possible. Set time and cure rate depend on the surfaces and on atmospheric conditions.

When can I use the repaired item?

Allow 30 minutes for sufficient bond strength for practical use. Cure time is 24 to 48 hours, with maximum bond strength stated at 24 hours.

Do I apply glue to one surface or both?

One surface. Apply a small amount, then bring the surfaces together with slight pressure.

Why a gel rather than a liquid?

It gives you time to adjust and reposition, and the gel consistency is ideal for vertical applications where a liquid adhesive would run out of the joint.

What will it bond?

Ceramics, china, metal, wood and most plastics.

What won't it bond?

Teflon, polyethylene and polypropylene.

Can I fix a teapot or mug handle with it?

Not one that will hold hot liquids. It is not recommended for repairing handles of vessels that contain hot liquids.

Can I use it on leather?

It may cause leather to discolour or harden. Test on a small hidden area first.

Will it fill a gap?

No. Surfaces must be clean, dry, free of dust and close fitting.

Does it need mixing?

No. No mixing is required.

Why did mine take longer than 30 seconds to set?

Set time and cure rate depend on the type, condition and closeness of the surfaces, and on atmospheric conditions. A loose joint, a cold room or very dry air all slow it down.

Is it strong enough for a metal repair?

Metal is one of the surfaces Selleys lists for this adhesive, alongside ceramics, china, wood and most plastics. As with any of them, the joint must be close fitting.

What colour is it?

Colourless to straw.

How do I remove excess glue?

Uncured product comes off with acetone. Cured product must be sanded or scraped off.

How should I store it?

Keep the container closed, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, out of direct sunlight. Wipe the tip and replace the cap immediately after use.

What sizes does it come in?

A 3g tube, and a pack of four 1 gram tubes.

If you would rather start each repair with a fresh sealed tube, see the single shot 4x1g pack. The full super glue range covers the other applicator formats, and the super glue guide explains when each one suits.