A Sticky Situation

It was a shining moment in cardstacking history when the first-ever suspended house of cards was unveiled at the 2006 World Series of Poker. Loctite Super Glue commissioned the creation of the 400-pound, 12-by-18-foot structure, which attracted the eyes of poker players and card-playing fanatics at the tournament. Its presence could not help but beg the question: What does super glue have to do with playing cards?

When Bryan Berg, the Guinness World Record holder for cardstacking, prepared to create the first permanent card structure from cards, poker chips and dice, the answer was clear. Only with a super glue that provided strength, speed and precise application would Berg be able to complete his re-creation of the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign by gluing the thin edges of 26,000 playing cards.

This project was quite different from the initial intentions for super glue. The first super glue hit stores in 1955, but its origins date back to World War II, when researchers attempted to use the stickiness of cyanoacrylate to make clear viewfinders for guns. What they created instead was a formula that turned out to be a terrific glue.

Since then, super glue's strong-bonding, quick-curing attributes have made it the go-to choice for repairing nearly anything. Initially, the product was only available in small tubes, which often created a messy, sticky situation. Today, a wide variety of applicators and formulas exist that make the product more convenient than ever. New

slower-drying, Goof Proof formulas are available for the shakiest of hands, giving users a few extra seconds to align and position small, delicate pieces.

Sticky fingers and oozing are other common symptoms of a gluing session gone awry. Thanks to new formula innovations, the days of messy drips are gone. Formulas like Loctite Control Gel Super Glue are great for vertical applications-in addition to making life-sized card replicas.

Super glue remains one of the strongest and fastest repair tools. Whether it is repairing a family heirloom, assembling model planes or constructing a gigantic card house, super glue can be an effective and easy solution to a sticky situation.



By: Stacey Moore