How to make Silicone Glue dry quickly

Silicone is a leak-proof adhesive and sealer with many uses around the house. Whether you use them for home repairs or professional practice, this glue will serve you well. Silicone sealant can be used for car repair, maintenance of furniture around the house, and construction work. If you need this adhesive or sealant to dry quickly, here are a few guidelines to help speed up the process.

Table of Contents

Speed up the drying process of glue

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Use a drying catalyst to speed up the process. You can buy a tube of catalyst for less than $10 at your local hardware or hardware store. To use the catalyst, squeeze some catalyst out of the tube and apply it directly to the silicone adhesive. The catalyst hardens the silicone by removing water from the compound and increasing the purity of the binder. ^{[1] X Research Source}

You can apply 2 coats of catalyst to speed up the process even more.

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Remove excess glue with a scraper. If the glue is too thick, it will take a long time to dry. By removing excess glue, air will flow to the glue and shorten the drying time. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If you don’t have a scraper, you can use a butter knife to remove excess glue.
Same with sealants. If you add too much, the drying time will be longer. Remove excess sealant with a spatula.

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Open a window near the item that is waiting for the glue to dry to ventilate the room. Glue must be dried at room temperature and ventilated area. Open windows and large doors around the glue to make sure the room is well ventilated. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

There is a mistake that the hotter the room, the easier it is for the glue to dry. The truth is that moisture will prevent the glue from drying, so keep the room well ventilated.

Do you know? Drying and curing are two completely different processes. Drying is the initial process, when moisture and water evaporate. Solidification is a slower process and involves the chemical changes that occur when silicone is exposed to oxygen gas. Silicone can work well as a sealant when it’s just dry – you don’t have to wait for them to harden.

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Dry the silicone with fan air. Please place the fan about 1m away from the glue. If using a fan, you should only choose a medium wind speed, not high. Turn on the fan for about 1 hour to dry the glue. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

You can also use a dryer to speed up the process. However, make sure to turn on the dryer on low or moderate heat, and at least 30 cm away from the glue. If high power is turned on, the high temperature will make the silicone take longer to dry.
Only use the dryer for about 5-10 minutes.

Buy and store quick-drying silicone sealant

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Buy special low temperature glue if you have to work in winter. Silicone-based adhesives don’t freeze in cold weather, so you can use them even when temperatures drop. These glues dry faster in cold or humid environments, making them incredibly flexible to use. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

You can also purchase a low temperature sealant, but be careful when using it in extremely cold conditions. Low temperature sealants can be stored between 0-4 °C, but they will not cure well below freezing.

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Buy glue that says “Quick-Dry” on the bottle. Most companies will produce a quick-drying version of the glue in addition to the regular one. Some products are advertised as drying faster than others, so a bottle of glue can dry quickly even if not labeled as such. Look for descriptions like “water exposure after 30 minutes” if “quick-drying” cannot be found. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Another description you might come across is “instant glue”.
Quick-drying silicone sealants are also commercially available. The price is also not higher than other silicone sealants, so it is also a good choice if you are in a hurry.

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Make sure the glue doesn’t have an expiration date by checking the expiration date on the bottle. If the glue tube has expired, the glue will take longer to dry. If the glue takes longer to dry than indicated in the instructions for use, it is because the glue has expired. However the sealant can be used well for 12 months. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Many types of glue are introduced that can be used for a lifetime. This is not wrong, because expired glue still dries, just takes longer than before.

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Avoid storing glue in extreme temperatures. The ideal temperature for glue storage is 20°C. Fortunately, you can store them in a wider range of temperatures. Between 15-27°C, the glue will still be in good condition. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Do not store glue in the garage in the summer. If you do, the glue will be thick and lumpy, not drying quickly.

Tip : To prolong the life of a tube of silicone sealant, cover the tube with plastic wrap and screw the nozzle into the tube.

Steps

Speed up the drying process of glue

Buy and store quick-drying silicone sealant

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