LED lights are a great way to save money and be more environmentally friendly. But sometimes, they can take a beating from the elements. This article will answer your question of “can you use super glue on led strip lights?”
can you use super glue on led strip lights?
Can you use super glue on led strip lights? The short answer is no. Superglue has chemicals that degrade the plastic components of the LED strips light, causing them to fail over time.
Also, using super glue to hold up led strip lights can cause severe damage to the surface on which you are applying the glue.
To learn more about the reasons why using super glue on led strip lights is a no-no, read on.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Super Glue On Led Strip Lights
1. Super Glue Hardens After Drying
Super glue hardens when exposed to oxygen. The chemical reaction of this hardening process is called cross-linking.
This leaves the super glue completely hardened, which makes it difficult to remove without damaging the led strip lights.
When super glue is applied to LED strip lights, it causes a chemical reaction with the plastic.
The cross-linking makes the super glue difficult to remove when it has dried. This also makes it difficult to use around curves in led strip lights.
2. Super Glue is Extremely Difficult To Remove From LED Strips
There is no room for error when you use super glue on led strip lights.
There is no room for error when using super glue on LED strips. Superglue sticks to surfaces almost instantly, which means little time to reposition. If you miss the spot or it isn’t straight tough luck.
Even when you have had enough of the light or after it has served its purpose or you simply want to replace them, trying to remove super glue is extremely difficult.
You will need to use chemicals or heat, which can damage the led strip lights even further.
3. Super Glue Can Cause Short Circuits
Another thing I found surprisingly common with using super glue to secure led strip lights is that it can lead to short circuits.
This happens because superglue bonds with conductive surfaces, which can create a short circuit.
This leads to the light not working properly and can cause it to fail, even if you use super glue sparingly.
4. Super Glue Can Damage The Surface
Using super glue to hold up your led strip lights is also not a good idea because it can cause severe damage to the surface you are putting them up on.
Most people use super glue to stick led strip lights up and then remove them when they are no longer needed.
The chemicals in the super glue can cause permanent damage to the surface. When you want to move around your led strip lights, superglue damages the surface you are sticking them to.
For example, super glue can damage the wallpaper or paint on the wall when you want to take your led strip lights down.
5. Not Suitable For Use On Some Materials
Using superglue on led strip lights is not suitable for use on some materials. This includes materials such as plastics, silk, polystyrene.
This is because super glue has chemicals that can damage or degrade these materials through rapid heating and cooling chemical reactions.
Also, if your led strip light itself contains plastic, super glue has the potential to cause severe or irreversible damage.
6. Super Glue Can Stain Surfaces
One of the main problems with using super glue to stick led strip lights up is that it is very watery so it can stain your surfaces.
When you use super glue on your led strip lights, you can end up staining around the area.
This is because watery substances, such as super glue, can seep into the porous surfaces and cause discoloration or can seep to other unwanted areas of the surface where it is not wanted.
The liquid in superglue is capable of staining surfaces, such as wood, painted surfaces, etc.
What Should You Use Instead Of Super Glue?
There are a few alternatives that would be a lot better than using super glue to hold up your led strip lights. A few of these include;
Double-Sided Tapes
Double-sided tapes as you might be aware of are widely used to stick led strip lights up and it is a lot easier than using super glue.
Double-sided tapes are also very easy to remove and you can use them on any material.
Also, double-sided tapes are reusable so they will be more cost-effective than super glue.
The best part about using double-sided tapes is that it won’t damage your led strip lights or the surface you are sticking them on.
My personal go-to double-sided tape for this is the Scotch Heavy Duty Tape which is perfect because it is clear and goes almost unnoticeable.
I would highly recommend this because it won’t damage your led strip lights or the surface they’re on.
Hot Glue Gun
Another alternative to using super glue is a hot glue gun because it works well on most surfaces and won’t damage your led strip lights.
While the hot part of the hot glue would normally scare people into thinking it might harm their led strip lights, this is not the case.
This is because hot glue does not heat up to extremely high temperatures and at the same time it cools down really quickly without leaving any residue on the surface.
Hot glue is a great option because it has the ability to stick almost anything together and can be used on any surface as long as you let it dry.
You can get a hot glue gun from any hardware store and it is really cheap to buy so you won’t have to worry about spending too much money on it.
I personally use the Surebonder Pro Series High-Temperature Glue Gun which is perfect because I can adjust the temperature as well.
This is a great option if you need something that won’t damage your led strip lights or the surface they’re on and it is also cost-effective.
Velcro Strips
Another great way to attach led strip lights up without using super glue would be to use velcro strips because it is reusable and won’t leave any residue behind.
Velcro strips are an excellent option for sticking led strip lights up because they are very strong and reusable.
You also don’t need to worry about buying velcro strips because you can use any type of strip as long as it has velcro on the back.
The best part is that you can add and remove led strip lights whenever you want to with no residue left behind.
Velcro strips are also great for sticking led strip lights up because they are water-resistant and won’t get damaged by any liquids.
I personally use the Scotch Outdoor Fasteners which are great because they can be used on any surface and won’t leave residue behind.
Clips
Clips are another alternative that you can use to stick led strip lights up without using super glue.
While clips might not be as strong as the other alternatives, they are great because they are a great way to reinforce the led strips to the surface on which they are mounted.
These clips are great supports if the led strip light has an adhesive backing.
Final Thoughts
Using super glue on led strip lights is not a good idea because it can damage your light strips and the surface they are mounted to, so you should use any of the alternatives mentioned above.
All these options are a lot better than using super glue and won’t damage your led strip lights or the surface.
FAQ’s
Q: Can you use gorilla glue on led strip lights?
A: No, gorilla glue is too thick to use on led strip lights and it will damage the surface. They are also made up of harsh chemicals so they might cause some damage to your led strip lights.
Q: Is hot glue safe for led strip lights?
A: Yes, as long as you use a high-temperature hot glue and don’t let it touch the light strip it should be okay to use.
Q: What are clips used for when mounting led strip lights?
A: Clips are used as supports if the led strip light has an adhesive backing. While they can be used on their own, they are not as strong and might result in your led strip lights dripping at some points.