MasterPieces – Puzzle Glue with Wide Plastic Spreader, Easy to Apply, Dries Quick and Clear, Protects Finished Jigsaw Puzzles, Water-Soluble, 2 Pack, 5 oz Each

This glue is absolutely remarkable. It is incredibly clear and dries fully transparent with a nice glossy shine. I've seen a number of complaints from other reviewers that I'd like to respond to, as I think they were quite unfair:1. Complaints that this glue is messy -- Actually, assuming you take proper precautions (see below) this glue is definitely NOT messy and is super easy and clean to apply. All you do is pour the glue in the middle, then spread it around using the included paddle/scraper, which you can then throw away. No need to buy a paintbrush or other tool, nothing gets on your fingers, no issues at all. I don't see how this can qualify as messy. The glue itself is quite thick, so it also isn't going to get runny and go places it shouldn't. I think people aren't being careful and are somehow spreading the glue beyond the edges of the puzzle. That's not the manufacturer's fault. The glue is so thick it is quite easy to control. I've glued several puzzles and never had more than a single drop go over the side.2. Complaints that the glue will seep between the puzzle pieces -- Why is this a surprise? Did you think your puzzle pieces were waterproof/airtight? The glue is obviously liquid (though it is pretty thick and viscous), so how can you possibly blame the glue manufacturer for the gaps between pieces in your puzzle? That said, I have never had a problem with glue seeping through (partly because I buy quality German puzzles with tight-fitting pieces, and partly because I put wax paper underneath the puzzle before gluing).3. Complaints that the glue will glue your puzzle to table/paper/cardboard underneath -- This is related to the above, with glue either seeping through or people spreading glue beyond the puzzle, so that drips of glue run over the size. And, yes, if you do that, then if you don't put a non-stick surface (like waxed paper) underneath, the glue will stick to it. Again, why is this a surprise? Frankly, anyone who has ever done any gluing knows you need to be careful with what surface you are working on. I tape 2 strips of waxed paper together, slide the waxed paper gently under my puzzle, then apply the glue. Never had a problem.4. Complaints that the glue will cause the puzzle to curl or become wavy -- Again, this isn't the glue's fault. It is inherent in the gluing process. Frankly, this glue doesn't create as much of an issue as I would have expected, provided you take proper precautions. Curling is caused when glue isn't spread evenly. As the glue dries, there is a little bit of shrinkage, and if different puzzle pieces or sections shrink by different amounts on a tiny, tiny scale, then you get some curling. So the most important thing is to spread the glue evenly. You also want to avoid spreading it on too thick, as that can also lead to uneven drying. If, after being careful, you do wind up with some curling, it is easy to fix. First, let the glue dry several days until the surface is no longer sticky or tacky. Second, flip the puzzle over and place it face down on a couple of sheets of waxed paper. Third, stack heavy books or other flat objects on the back of the puzzle, and wait a few days. After that, the puzzle should be nicely flat.5. Complaints the glue doesn't cover as much as it should -- This is actually a fair complaint. Each bottle says it contains enough glue for 2-1000 piece puzzles. Ultimately, it isn't really about the number of puzzle pieces, but the size or area of the puzzle that you need to cover. Without indicating how much area the glue covers, the 1000 piece number is meaningless. In practice, I have found that I need BOTH bottles in order to cover ONE SIDE ONLY of a Ravensburger 1,000 piece 27" x 20" puzzle. That works out to 540 square inches for both bottles, or 270 square inches per bottle.A few tips:A. Tape two strips of waxed paper together, then gently slide them under your puzzle with a back-and-forth sawing motion.B. I find it easier to pour the glue into two "pools" (one in the middle of each half of the puzzle), rather than a single puddle in the middle, then spread from there.C. Since the glue is quite thick, it takes a while for all of it to dribble out of the bottle. I like to hold the bottle over the edges of the puzzle and let it drip around the outside edge of the puzzle. This makes it easier to ensure the edges get enough glue.D. Related to (C)...make sure the edges get enough glue!!! Seriously, it is easy to think you have the edges covered, but then when it dries you realize you didn't go quite to the edge and now some pieces are loose.E. After applying the glue, look at the puzzle from different angles or inspect with a flashlight to make sure you covered all of the puzzle with glue. This stuff is so clear, it can be hard to tell where it was applied and where no. I use the different light angles to try and spot differences in the amount of gloss. Wherever the puzzle is slightly matte, I know I need to spread some glue there.F. Ummm...don't spread glue beyond the edge of the puzzle.G. Let the glue dry for a few days before touching or moving.H. After it is dry, flip the puzzle over and glue the back. I just paint on a thin layer of Modge Podge, because I have it on hand and it is fairly cheap. You don't need to buy more of this puzzle glue for the back. No one will see the back and it would frankly be overkill.One more thing: there is absolutely no comparison between glossy Modge Podge and this stuff. This puzzle glue is 100x better and makes the glossy Modge Podge seem dull and hazy by comparison!Hope this helps,Adam

Very easy to apply and strong. Have used this glue on puzzles for sometime now and it is the best I have found.

This is the best puzzle glue in my opinion. One bottle goes a long way; the largest puzzle I’ve glued was 2000 pieces. I apply the glue to one side of the puzzle, allow it to dry for about an hour and turn it over and apply to the other side. Very easy to use and it’s easy to remove from wood or glass surfaces before or after it dries.

The glue work great and leaves a glossy finish on puzzles however, it would be nice to add a blurb on how much to use on 1000 piece puzzles.

This product works very well. I will purchase again, as needed. Go for it!

This works very well!

Bought this probably 10 times! Love it. Easy to use! Dries smooth and not sticky. Seems to cover a lot of puzzles for the money! Doesn’t stick to hands which is nice. Just rub hands together and it will come off.

Works great! This product is less messy than others I have used and the puzzle looks great!