How the Adhesive Converter Works
The Adhesive Converter divides adhesive mass by the density of the glue type. The default 1.10 kg/L fits PVA wood glue.
Pick the adhesive
PVA, polyurethane, cyanoacrylate, contact cement, construction adhesive and silicone differ in density.
Enter the density
Use the TDS or the table value.
Enter the mass
Type the glue weight in kilograms.
Read the volume
Use the liters to plan bead length or spread rate.
Adhesive Converter Formula
The adhesive formula is V = m ÷ ρadhesive. Bead length from a cartridge equals volume ÷ bead cross-section area.
- ρadhesive
- Adhesive density, kg/L
- r
- Bead radius, mm
Worked Examples
- PVA wood glue: 0.5 kg ÷ 1.10 = 455 mL.
- Construction adhesive cartridge (290 mL): 0.29 × 1.40 = 0.406 kg.
- Bead length: 290 mL ÷ (π × 3² mm²) = 10.3 m of 6 mm bead.
Adhesive Converter Conversion Table
1 kg of PVA wood glue fills 909 mL. The table lists 8 adhesive types.
| Adhesive Type | Density (kg/L) | Liters per 1 kg | 290 mL cartridge (g) | lb per US gal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact cement (solvent) | 0.850 | 1.176 | 247 | 7.09 |
| Hot melt (molten) | 0.950 | 1.053 | 276 | 7.93 |
| Acetoxy silicone sealant | 1.030 | 0.971 | 299 | 8.60 |
| Cyanoacrylate (super glue) | 1.060 | 0.943 | 307 | 8.85 |
| PVA wood glue | 1.100 | 0.909 | 319 | 9.18 |
| Polyurethane glue | 1.120 | 0.893 | 325 | 9.35 |
| Construction adhesive | 1.400 | 0.714 | 406 | 11.68 |
| MS polymer adhesive | 1.500 | 0.667 | 435 | 12.52 |
What is an Adhesive Converter?
An Adhesive Converter is a calculator that converts glue and sealant weight into volume using the adhesive density.
PVA (polyvinyl acetate) glue is a water emulsion with 45–55% solids. The water evaporates into the wood, and the polymer particles fuse into a bond line.
Filled construction adhesives and MS polymer sealants carry calcium carbonate filler. The filler adds body and pushes density to 1.4–1.6 kg/L.
What are the Uses of an Adhesive Converter?
There are 4 main uses of an Adhesive Converter.
Woodworking
Shops convert glue jugs into bottle refills.
Cartridge counts
Builders convert bead length into cartridges needed.
Production lines
Plants convert kg/h dispensing into L/h.
Packaging design
Packers size tubes for a target fill mass.