What Type of Glue Sticks to Corkboard?

If you want to modify your corkboard with fabric or glued-on embellishments, choosing a suitable glue ensures you won't be left with an unsightly mess stuck to the cork but not to the other object. While everything from craft glue to hot glue or spray adhesive may work, check the glue container to ensure the adhesive is suitable for both the surfaces you're attaching.

Hot glue, which comes in sticks designed for use in a glue gun, adheres to an abundance of surfaces, including cork. To stick a thin corkboard sheet onto another object, apply lines of hot glue around the perimeter of the corkboard's back and a few lines in the middle areas. To stick small items onto the corkboard, such as buttons or wine corks cut in half to make a border, apply the glue first to the backs of the objects instead. Hot glue may not work on some types of foam such as upholstery foam or shipping foam -- the heat may melt the material. Test the glue with a scrap piece of the non-cork material first to be sure it works properly. General-purpose hot glues that work on cardboard or wood generally work well with cork.

General-purpose spray adhesives that work on wood or fabric also adhere to corkboard. Spray adhesives are messy and do not offer a great deal of spraying control, so use this only for larger objects. For instance, spray adhesive is ideal for adhering lightweight corkboard to a plywood panel or the backing board from a picture frame, but it's not a good choice for gluing beads or small paper cutouts to the corkboard because of the mess involved. Check the can before using spray adhesive -- some brands recommend spraying the glue onto both surfaces, waiting a minute or two, then pressing the items together.

Regular white glue, also known as school glue, adheres corkboard to many other materials, especially if the second material is porous. Apply a bead of glue over the back of the material being adhered to cork. To repair thin corkboard sheeting that has pulled away from its backing board, apply lines of glue to either the cork or the backing material, spreading the glue thin with your finger or a foam brush. Wood glues also work well for cork. These common white and yellow glues work best for adhering cork to porous materials; they most likely will not hold cork to metal or plastic.

Multipurpose craft adhesives and epoxies adhere cork to numerous materials; check the adhesive package first to ensure you make the best choice. Any craft glue designed for paper, wood and fabric should stick to corkboard as well. Glues that adhere to porous materials are generally not the same glues that work best on nonporous substances, so you may need an epoxy or "super" style craft adhesive to bond metal or plastic to your corkboard. Some of the stronger glues and epoxies also emit strong fumes and should be used only in well-ventilated areas; check the package for warnings to be sure.