Which adhesive is best for applying our NFC Tags?

Adhesives Comparison

When it comes to stocking adhesive, we have two options: stock and sell our preference, or make a good recommendation for adhesive that you can source locally.

Ultimately, we’ve seen that stocking and selling adhesive becomes a barrier to delivering your solution in a timely manner, so we decided to buy adhesive options from different regions and test them to help inform you to make a local purchase.

What we tested:

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1. Loctite 480 – Instant Adhesive

What we like:

• Nice strong bond once properly set
• Comes in a small bottle which is easy to use and store
• No mess

What we don’t like:

• Very long setting time (it is definitely not instant)
• Affects the readability of some NFC tags

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2. Permabond 105

What we like:

• Sets in three minutes
• Strong bond
• Comes in a small bottle, which is easy to use and store
• No mess

What we don’t like:

• Slightly affects the readability of some NFC tags
• It makes a hazy mark around the bond on metal parts

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3. Selleys Araldite 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive

What we like:

• Smooth, clear finish
• Powerful bond
• Sets in two minutes
• Comes in a syringe

What we don’t like:

• ‍‍The two components of the adhesive needs to be mixed before using

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4. Permabond ET500 Epoxy

What we like:

• The setting time is around 15 minutes
• Smooth, clear finish
• Comes in a syringe
• Includes an instant mixing nozzle

What we don’t like:

• It does not stick to PVC
• It does not cure into a hard epoxy
• Only one mixing nozzle included
• The mixing nozzle is disposable

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5. J-B Weld Epoxy‍

What we like:

• Extremely durable
• Waterproof, petroleum, chemical, and acid-resistant once cured

What we don’t like:

• It comes in two separate squeezable tubes
• Requires hand mixing
• Long setting time (4-6 hours)
• Messy job and finish

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6. Loctite Epoxy

What we like:

• Comes in a syringe with two self-mixing nozzles
• Sets in 15 minutes
• Nice, clear finish
• Rigid bond

What we don’t like:‍

• Small package (only 14 ml)

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7. Gorilla Super Glue Gel  

What we like:  

• Fast setting time, 10-45 seconds
• Strong bond once properly set
• It comes in a small bottle that is easy to use and store
• No mess  

What we don’t like:

• It is recommended primarily for indoor applications only
• It makes a hazy mark around the bond on metal parts

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8. White Gorilla Glue  

What we like:

• For indoor and outdoor use 
• Strong bond
• It comes in a small bottle that is easy to use and store

What we don’t like: ‍

• ‍It is not suitable for our application  ‍
• Requires clamping because the chemical reaction produces a foam that uplifts unclamped objects from glued surface
• One surface needs to be dampened with water

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9. Gorilla Epoxy

What we like:

• ‍‍Smooth, clear finish
• Powerful bond
• Sets in three minutes
• Comes in a syringe

‍What we don’t like: ‍

• It is necessary to mix two components of the glue before using

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The results:

Without hesitation, we can say that Gorilla Epoxy (9) and Selleys Araldite Epoxy (3)are the best adhesives for gluing our NFC Tags to carabiners or other metal surfaces. They provide an extremely strong, smooth, and clear bond. They are waterproof, suitable for indoor and outdoor applications, and do not require clamping.

Loctite Epoxy (6) also performed well in our test, the only disadvantage being a long setting period which extends the gluing time.

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While Gorilla Super Glue Gel (7) and Permabond ET500 (4) have a final rating higher than 4,  they have some cons and do not suit our application.

Gorilla Super Glue Gel is designed only for indoor applications, and Permabond ET500 does not cure into hard epoxy material—it remains flexible, and it does not stick to the PVC shell of the tag.