Contact adhesives also known as contact cement are rubber based and can be made from natural or synthetic rubbers. These adhesives are very good for bonding veneer or plastic laminate to manufactured boards.

This means it is a good adhesive for cabinet making or for furniture that is made from manufactured boards such as particle board.

Contacting adhesives are harder to work with compared to other adhesives such as PVA glue and this is because they require a great deal of accuracy.

This adhesive is applied to both surfaces being bonded and is then left until touch dry. Once the adhesive is touch dry the two surfaces are then secured with some pressure and the bond is immediate.

Because the bonding is immediate there is no margin for error because once the timber is bonded it cannot be removed.

Contacting adhesives have great holding strength and don't require clamps to hold the timber together because there is no drying time and once contact is made the bond is permanent.

These adhesives are usually toxic and flammable but they can be made with a water base so that they are non flammable or toxic although care should still be taken when working with them.