Let’s talk about glue. Not so much about the quality – but about the price.
I have a spreadsheet with formulas that you can adjust to current pricing or add lines for other products:
Excel (PC / Android)
PDF (can’t adjust, but works on almost any device)
I have an Apple Numbers version but WordPress says “nah.” You can email me at crystal@papercraftcrystal.com if you would like that version.
Most craft glue is white glue, a polyvinyl acetate emulsion in water. It works on porous materials like paper, fabric, and wood. The water needs to evaporate, so this is not the best choice on non-porous materials like plastic. There is a bewildering variety of types, brands, and sizes available. Is craft glue better than school glue? Yes. Is it FORTY TIMES better? I don’t think so, and yet the price per ounce varies from 40 cents an ounce to nearly $17 per ounce.
Bottom line, you are paying for the dispenser more than the product. Glue pens are outrageously expensive, ranging from $4.37 / ounce (Aleene’s) to a staggering $16.63 (Nuvo Smooth Precision.) If you prefer a small tube, your best bet is to buy empty tubes and fill them yourself. There’s a link a the end to a helpful tutorial on YouTube (by someone else) showing that process.
If you can handle a larger bottle, 2 to 4 ounces, I’d suggest the Scrapbook .com, Bearly Arts, or Art Glitter products sold with tip kits. You can refill these almost endlessly with any glue.
Elmer’s and Aleene’s are the low-price options, mostly ranging from 40 cents to $1.03 / ounce. Art Glitter, Bearly Arts, Reptile, and Scrapbook .com Artis are the next tier mostly ranging from $1.32 to $2.70 / ounce.
There is certainly a place for special-purpose adhesive (like Tack It Over and Over or Tombow Mono Multi) as well as different application methods. I use a jar of multi medium gel just as often as a needle-nose bottle. I want to highlight this information so you can make the best choice for you and your crafty dollars.
There is a similar range for dry adhesive – tape runners and dot runners. The prices I found range from 1 cent per foot to 16 cents per foot. The implied price of the dispenser ranges from zero (tear tape) to $23 (ATG). These calculations can help you be mindful of the cost of the plastic housing.
Prices current as of the day I typed this all out (obvs) and do not include sales tax, shipping, or coupons.
Natasha Foote video on filling a glue tube https://youtu.be/NeBwdFOuEYE?si=BOFbQUB2pUqteHyj
Mary Palanco’s video comparing quality part 1 https://youtu.be/DaaRhzmA0H4?si=RAMRcOkryP_aTW2N and part 2 https://youtu.be/r-wMLKJLWv8?si=ccC068xS0UNVvj-w
Papercraft Crystal 