Asked on Aug 05, 2015

What do you use to permanently glue fist sized rocks together?

Lu Schmidt
by Lu Schmidt
I am making Trolls (Like in the movie Frozen) with my grandchildren by gluing rocks together to form the head and body. We then add small rock eyes, noses and seashell ears. We tried hot glue, but it doesn't take much pressure to make them come apart. Is there another kind of glue that will hold well, but dry fairly quickly? We also embellished with reindeer moss. With the first rain it bled all over the rocks and after a few days it was badly faded. Is there anything that could be sprayed on the moss to make it hold up longer?
  10 answers
  • What about construction adhesive? What a cute idea!
    • Lu Schmidt Lu Schmidt on Aug 07, 2015
      @Amanda @ Our Storied Home I'm not sure what you mean by construction adhesive. Liquid nails?
  • Heidi Geores Heidi Geores on Aug 05, 2015
    Maybe that E6000 glue from Walmart?
    • Lu Schmidt Lu Schmidt on Aug 07, 2015
      @Heidi Geores I had never heard of this glue before. I'll have to check it out.
  • Ginny Atwater Ginny Atwater on Aug 05, 2015
    Try Gorilla glue...or check at the hardware store - they may be able to recommend something since this will be outside.
    • See 2 previous
    • Lu Schmidt Lu Schmidt on Aug 07, 2015
      Thank you for the idea.
  • Diane Diane on Aug 06, 2015
    I would try cement patch that comes in a tube like calking.
    • See 2 previous
    • Lu Schmidt Lu Schmidt on Aug 26, 2015
      @Diane Thank you. Sounds like a good idea.
  • Freda Freda on Aug 06, 2015
    If the E6000, which is everywhere, doesn't hold the weight I would try the adhesive they use to hold the cap on block walls.
  • Gail@Purple Hues and Me Gail@Purple Hues and Me on Aug 07, 2015
    Try outdoor silicone caulking used in construction or repairs - everyone swears by E6000 but I used it for my outdoor clay pot people and it didn't last and besides, it doesn't dry quickly.
    • Lu Schmidt Lu Schmidt on Aug 07, 2015
      @Gail@Purple Hues and Me Thanks for sharing your comments about E6000. Glad to find out it didn't last outdoors before I went that route.
  • Huntington Henry Huntington Henry on Aug 07, 2015
    Get some epoxy putty Has two parts you mix together. Sets in five minutes
  • Lu Schmidt Lu Schmidt on Aug 07, 2015
    Thank you for all the suggestions. I tried liquid nails. It does a fairly good job but you have to wait 24 hours for it to dry. Not something you can do with impatient children! LOL I'll be trying some of these other ideas.
  • Chris Chris on Jun 01, 2020

    If you ask an astromical physicist when enough rocks are next to each other they magically stick together.

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Dec 05, 2020

    Hi lu, I realize this is quite an old question, but I thought I'd share this brilliant site that let's you enter what you want to glue to what and it will tell you the best glue to use - https://www.thistothat.com/ I always use it to check first.