Last Updated on November 25, 2020 by Dave Farquhar
I’m not sure where I read this first, but I love this trick for making instant repairs. If you’re putting together something made of paper, wood, or a combination of the two, join it together with a bit of Aileene’s Tacky Glue (this also works with ordinary Elmer’s white glue or Elmer’s wood glue), then zap it in a microwave for 20 seconds. That 20 seconds is enough to instantly cure the glue for a strong bond.
Of course, use of a microwave means you can’t use metal clamps or pins to hold the joint tightly. But if you can fit it in the microwave and get it to hold for 20 seconds one way or another, this trick can really speed up your build/repair process.
When making wooden trains for my sons, I typically spend more time waiting for glue to dry than I spend cutting wood, and sometimes I can’t continue until the previous assembly step is dry. With this trick in my back pocket, I could probably assemble multiple cars in a single evening session after they’ve gone to bed.
Elmer’s Glue-All is cheaper and also works. But I don’t recommend Elmer’s School Glue for this. Here’s why.
David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He started his career as a part-time computer technician in 1994, worked his way up to system administrator by 1997, and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He invests in real estate on the side and his hobbies include O gauge trains, baseball cards, and retro computers and video games. A University of Missouri graduate, he holds CISSP and Security+ certifications. He lives in St. Louis with his family.