ditching the rubber cement

I am a student teacher this term (high school English), and before the year started, I helped my Cooperating Teacher with some classroom displays. He used Rubber Cement, which is only $1.79 a bottle compared with other adhesives at $6.00 or more per bottle. The bottle said,"acid-free," and "photo-safe," and I saw that it was repositionable and that it dried clear. I thought I'd hit a goldmine! I assumed that "acid free" meant archive-safe. I used Rubber Cement on several cards, but before I used it on a LO, I wanted to call my local Archiver's to see if rubber cement was really as good as I thougt. They said, 'NO!" I am all for cutting expenses, but not to the point of jeopardizing the longevity of my LOs. I also used to use Scotch Magic tape, but I still like the idea of brushing an adhesive on--sticks much better, and it's easier. Mod Podge, here I come!

Anyone else have a way to cut corners that wasn't so good after all?

I have to disagree.
I've used rubber cement on scrapbook pages with absolutely NO problem.

In fact, I just looked at some layouts done 10+ years ago with rubber cement. Nothing is discolored, nothing is falling off...

That's good to know!

Thanks!

i use Glue Stic for the same reasons you mentioned.

I have nothing to add, except Rubber Cement smells GOOD. That stuff is intoxicating.

I'd say ditch the glue stick.

That stuff does NOT hold! Unless you WANT your projects to fall apart, it seems like a waste of time and money.

• Bxr-Linda Said:

I found out the hard way! LOL Threw mine away!

I don't care for rubber cement - it seems to always come apart!!!

There are glue sticks that are better than others. Super Stik, for example.

But my favorite glue, bar none (and a tiny bit goes a long way) is Best Glue Ever from ScraPerfect.com. It glues everything from paper and cards, to fabric, metal, paper clay, plastic (rhinestones, buttons) and wood to layouts or mini-albums.

Plus you can make your own custom sized glue dots.

If the rubber cement is acid free, then why would Archivers say it was a bad thing? Is it because they don't cell RC?

I haven't used rubber cement, but I have used glue sticks. Maybe it does depend on the brand, because I gotten horrible results with my glue sticks.

mmmmmmmmm rubber cement....... wait. what were you saying?

Rubber cement holds fine but eventually after decades, it degrades and everything WILL literally fall off the pages. I learned this in art school thirty years ago before everything was done on computers. A teacher said he had gone through an old portfolio and everything was in pieces. If you don't mind that though, the way to use rubber cement is to apply it to both surfaces and when they're both dry, press them together. It used to be the best way to glue things without having ripples. After it's dry, an eraser works great to pick off any glue that seeped out the edges.

Not all glue sticks are created equal, but I think in the only thing that separates them is the "when" not the "if" your pages will fall apart! RC - never used, just because of the smell. Everything degrades eventually.... except tires.... and I figure RC is pretty close to that!