Why I Stopped Recommending Gorilla Glue for Container Repairs (And What Actually Works)

Here's my position: most people searching for "how to dissolve Gorilla Glue" have already made the same mistake I made in 2019—using the wrong adhesive for a container application and now dealing with the messy consequences.

I've been handling packaging and print orders for our distribution team since 2017. In that time, I've personally made (and documented) 23 significant mistakes, totaling roughly $4,800 in wasted budget. Now I maintain our team's checklist to prevent others from repeating my errors. And the Gorilla Glue incident? That one cost $340 and three days of cleanup time.

The Container Adhesive Mistake Everyone Makes

In March 2019, I needed to repair some gorilla containers—heavy-duty storage bins we use for shipping samples. The crack wasn't structural, just cosmetic. I grabbed Gorilla Glue because, well, the name seemed fitting. Gorilla container, Gorilla Glue. Made sense at the time.

Here's what I didn't know: polyurethane adhesives like Gorilla Glue expand as they cure. On a flexible plastic container, that expansion created bubbling and warping around the repair site. Twelve containers, all with visible foam residue that wouldn't come off cleanly.

To dissolve cured Gorilla Glue, you've got limited options:

• Acetone works on uncured glue but can damage many plastics
• Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) softens it enough for scraping
• Mechanical removal—chisel, sandpaper, patience
• Heat gun on low setting can soften it, but you risk warping the container

I ended up using the isopropyl alcohol method. Took about 20 minutes per container. That's when I learned to match adhesive chemistry to substrate material before applying.

Does Gorilla Tape Actually Work Underwater?

I get this question a lot, probably because we ship to clients who do outdoor events. The honest answer: it depends on what you mean by "work."

Per Gorilla's own product specifications (accessed January 2025 at gorillatough.com), Gorilla Tape is water-resistant, not waterproof. It'll hold up to rain, splashes, temporary submersion. But continuous underwater application? The adhesive bond degrades over time.

I tested this myself in September 2022 after a client insisted we use it for an outdoor installation near a fountain. Applied Gorilla Tape to a test panel, submerged it in a bucket. Results:

• 24 hours: Bond intact, no visible issues
• 72 hours: Edges starting to lift
• 7 days: Significant adhesive failure, tape peeling

For truly underwater applications, you need marine-grade adhesives or mechanical fasteners. Gorilla Tape is great for temporary water exposure—but if your container or sign will be continuously wet, it's not the right call.

The Poster Printing Price Reality

This is where I might surprise you. I used to assume cheap poster printing meant garbage quality. Then the Q1 2024 budget cuts happened, and I was forced to test that assumption.

We needed 18x24 posters for a trade show—50 units. Our usual vendor quoted $8.40 per poster. I found a budget option at $3.20 per poster. The numbers said go with the cheap option—62% savings. My gut said stick with the known vendor.

I went with my gut on 25 posters from each vendor. Here's what I learned:

The budget posters were... fine. Not exceptional, but absolutely usable. Paper weight was slightly lighter (100lb vs 110lb), colors were maybe 5% less saturated. From six feet away at a trade show? No one could tell the difference.

But here's the thing: cheap poster printing 18x24 works for temporary displays and trade shows. If you need archival quality, fade resistance, or exact color matching for brand materials, the premium pricing has justification. Context matters.

When Budget Printing Makes Sense

• Single-event displays
• Internal presentations
• Draft proofs before final production
• High-volume, low-permanence applications

When It Doesn't

• Client-facing permanent installations
• Brand materials requiring Pantone matching
• Outdoor applications (UV resistance matters)
• Anything that needs to last more than 6 months

A Quick Note on Catalog Requests

I've noticed some folks searching for camping world catalog request alongside packaging terms. If you're looking for physical catalogs for reference materials or display purposes—whether that's Camping World or any other retailer—most companies have shifted to digital-first. You can usually request printed catalogs through their website's customer service section, though expect 2-4 weeks for delivery.

For packaging professionals: if you need catalog-style materials printed for your own products, that's a different conversation entirely. Custom catalog printing typically runs $2-8 per unit depending on page count, paper stock, and binding method. We can help with that.

Frequent Flyer Programs and Shipping: The Unexpected Connection

Someone on my team asked about the United frequent flyer program (MileagePlus, for those wondering) in context of our shipping accounts. Here's the connection that isn't immediately obvious:

If your company ships via UPS, you may be able to link shipping spend to airline miles through corporate partnerships. As of January 2025, UPS's corporate programs can connect to various loyalty programs depending on your account tier and volume. It's not automatic—you need to contact your UPS account rep and specifically ask about rewards integration.

I can only speak to domestic operations on this. If you're dealing with international logistics and trying to optimize loyalty point accumulation across carriers, there are probably factors I'm not aware of.

What I'd Tell You If You Were Sitting In My Office

Look, I went back and forth on whether to even publish this piece. It's not a neat, tidy "here are 7 tips" article. It's more like... the notes I wish someone had handed me in 2017.

The adhesive thing alone would've saved me $340 and a weekend. The poster printing revelation saved our department about $2,100 last year once I stopped automatically choosing premium for every application.

The pattern I've noticed: people either over-engineer solutions (premium everything, maximum strength adhesives, highest-cost vendors) or under-engineer them (cheapest option always, no testing, fingers crossed). Neither extreme serves you well.

Match the solution to the actual requirement. A gorilla container repair doesn't need Gorilla Glue—it needs the right adhesive for that specific plastic. A one-day trade show doesn't need archival-quality poster printing. An outdoor installation near water needs more than "water-resistant" tape.

Anticipating Your Objections

"But what if the cheap option fails at the worst moment?"

Test first. Always test first. I never commit full budget to an untested vendor or material. The 25/25 split on those posters? That was deliberate risk management, not recklessness.

"You're just saying premium is always a waste."

Not at all. I'm saying premium is sometimes a waste—specifically when the application doesn't require premium characteristics. I still use premium vendors for client-facing materials, color-critical work, and anything permanent.

"This doesn't apply to my situation."

Maybe not. This worked for us, but our situation was a mid-size B2B operation with 200-500 orders monthly. Your mileage may vary if you're doing high-volume consumer packaging or one-off specialty projects.

Here's what I believe, and what seven years of documented mistakes have taught me: the right choice depends on honest assessment of your actual requirements, not assumptions about what "quality" means.

That's the hill I'll die on.