I wanted to find a glue that was simple to use, not too expensive, was very strong, and would maintain its strength in wet conditions. There are many glue options to choose from. I ended up choosing two popular brands: Liquid Nails and Loctite. For each brand, I chose either the strongest option or the option that was designed for wet environments. I didn’t include epoxy in my test because I didn’t want to mix two parts together and apply the mixture using a stick. Below are the two options I chose.
- Loctite PL Marine 10 fl. oz. Fast Cure Adhesive Sealant
- Liquid NailsFuze It Max 9 oz. Interior/Exterior All Surface Construction Adhesive
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/dumani/My_Blog/image_1TKd5_DFq.png?ik-sdk-version=javascript-1.4.3&updatedAt=1656476845158)
I first glued a piece of 2×4 to a concrete landscape block.
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/dumani/My_Blog/image_nvwOhGyw3.png?ik-sdk-version=javascript-1.4.3&updatedAt=1656476472226)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/dumani/My_Blog/image_1__CTAgAsn42.png?ik-sdk-version=javascript-1.4.3&updatedAt=1656476473655)
After waiting 1.5 to 2 days to fully cure, I attached each piece of wood to a chain to suspend the wood / concrete block combo in the air.
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/dumani/My_Blog/image_2__DjV7Z7n8-.png?ik-sdk-version=javascript-1.4.3&updatedAt=1656476473544)
After 2 days, both adhesives kept the wood attached to the concrete block. I then wanted to see if water would affect the bond. I submerged each test in water without having it touch the bottom of the bucket of water.
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/dumani/My_Blog/image_3__HDe6ErO222.png?ik-sdk-version=javascript-1.4.3&updatedAt=1656476472333)
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/dumani/My_Blog/image_4__vz1EJoQn6h.png?ik-sdk-version=javascript-1.4.3&updatedAt=1656476473892)
After 12 hours, the wood pieces were still connected to the concrete blocks. But, after 23 hours, the Liquid Nails Fuze-It MAX lost its strength and the wood piece became disconnected from the concrete block.
![](https://ik.imagekit.io/dumani/My_Blog/image_5__D3d2Y5XG0w.png?ik-sdk-version=javascript-1.4.3&updatedAt=1656476473873)
So, the winner is Loctite PL Marine, although if you are gluing something in a dry environment, Liquid Nails Fuze-It MAX is probably sufficient. Unsurprisingly, the Marine adhesive is stronger both in dry and wet environments, including while being completely submerged in water.