Glue for Nightlights and Luminaries

[EclecticTreasures]

I have been making fused glass nightlights and luminaries for several months. The glass instructor at the local glass shop advised me to use silicone caulk as my adhesive because of its “moisture” resistance since many nightlights and luminaries are used in bathrooms. I started doing this – seemingly successfully at first – but now I find that the base clips come off when I try to attach the clip to the nightlight base. I’m afraid that even if I can get the base on successfully, the glue will fail when it’s in a wall socket and the glass will not survive a fall of this kind.

Does anyone on the forum make and sell nightlights and luminaries and, if so, what kind of glue do you use? I use E6000 for my pendant bails, but I have to say that even though I use my dremel to rough up the glass and the bail, put the glue on with a toothpick, wait a few minutes to press together, and then leave them alone for 24-48 hours, I still get a failure rate of 5-10% on my pendants as well. So I’m hesitant to use the E6000 on the nightlights.

Any suggestions??

Thanks,

Barb

[Anonymous]

Hi Barb,

E6000 is a silicon glue and, as such, cures with the help of moisture.

Apply the glue, “wiggle” the pieces to make sure the glue is in contact with both surfaces and immediately pull them apart.  Allow to sit for 3 – 5 minutes and then put it back together and don’t even look at it for 24 hours.

Pulling it apart briefly povides the interior of the glue with accesst to the moisture in the air so that the glue cures more thoroughly.  Not looking at it for 24 hours ensures that sligh movements don’t break the bond while it is still fragile.

We do this on countless night lights without issue.

---

Paul
FusedGlass.Org
Helios Kiln Glass Studio
PaulTarlow.com

 

[EclecticTreasures]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the advice and the process. I will try the E6000 again since I have not tried the step of putting them together and pulling them apart. I will also start with a fresh tube of glue, since the opened one I have, even though it still flows well, may be “old” and not worth the risk of having to glue multiple times. I glued 22 pendants yesterday using the tutorial instructions from Barry’s website and I had only TWO that held, so I’m going to assume the glue is bad.

I’ll let you know how it works out.

Barb

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