Wheat paste vs glue sticks for big signs...

I tried making a big banner for Friday's rally and used wheat paste on half of it and glue sticks on the other half... the glue stick side started peeling off after 2 hours in the sun. Has anyone else had this problem with glue sticks failing on cardboard signs?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancyjones1mo ago

Wait, glue sticks? Like the ones from the school supply aisle? I didn't think those were meant for anything outside of paper.

wyatt1351mo ago

Glue sticks are fine for a quick indoor fix but they'll melt or turn brittle in direct sunlight, learned that one when my flyers peeled off a fence by noon. Wheat paste is the way to go if you need something to stick for more than a few hours outside, especially on porous surfaces like brick or wood. For a heavy-duty outdoor job, mix in a bit of flour to thicken the paste and add a touch of dish soap to help it spread in cold weather. Keep a spray bottle of water handy to rewet the paste if it dries too fast while you're working. That combo has never let me down, even on rainy days.

jamesf291mo ago

Glue sticks are basically useless outside, learned that the hard way myself. Wheat paste is the only thing I'll use now for anything that has to survive more than an hour in the sun.