Blu Tack

About Blu Tack

Blu Tack stands as Britain's most trusted reusable adhesive putty, providing a clean, damage-free solution for temporarily mounting lightweight items to walls, doors, and countless other surfaces. This malleable, permanently plastic compound has earned its place as an indispensable item in workshops, offices, classrooms, and homes throughout the UK. Unlike permanent fixing methods such as screws, nails, or liquid adhesives, Blu Tack offers a repositionable alternative that leaves no marks or residue when removed correctly, making it the go-to choice for both professional tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts alike.

The selection at Tooled-Up.com includes Blu Tack products from Bostik, the brand's original manufacturer, available in various formats to suit different usage requirements. Economy packs provide excellent value for regular users who rely on adhesive putty daily, whilst handy pocket-sized versions fit perfectly in toolboxes, vans, or site bags for on-the-go convenience. Traditional blue formulations remain the most popular choice across trades, though white variants are also stocked for applications where colour-matching lighter surfaces is important, such as display work or client-facing environments.

Whether you're a tradesperson holding plans or measurements in position on site, a facilities manager organising safety notices, or a retail worker mounting promotional displays, Blu Tack delivers a practical, cost-effective solution that can be reused multiple times. Its compatibility with most clean, dry surfaces—including painted walls, glass, metal, and plastic—ensures versatility across professional and domestic applications, from cable management to template positioning and beyond.

Jargon Buster

• Adhesive Putty: A soft, pliable compound that creates temporary bonds between surfaces through pressure and surface contact rather than chemical adhesion, allowing for clean removal and multiple reuses without damage.
• Reusable Adhesive: An adhesive material that maintains its bonding properties through numerous applications, unlike single-use products such as tape or liquid glue which cannot be repositioned effectively.
• Tackiness: The measure of an adhesive's stickiness and ability to bond to surfaces upon contact without requiring curing time, heat activation, or additional preparation.
• Load Capacity: The maximum weight that adhesive putty can reliably support when properly applied to a suitable surface, typically measured in grams and varying according to surface type and application method.
• Non-Permanent Fixing: A mounting method designed for temporary attachment that can be removed cleanly without damaging the underlying surface or leaving visible residue behind.
• Surface Residue: Any material left behind after adhesive removal; quality Blu Tack products are specifically formulated to minimise or eliminate this on most surfaces when removed using the correct rolling technique.

Who Uses Blu Tack?

• Office Managers and Administrators: Mounting notices, health and safety information, and organisational materials on walls and noticeboards without permanent fixings
• Teachers and Educators: Displaying classroom materials, pupils' artwork, and educational posters whilst preserving wall surfaces in rented or listed buildings
• Tradespeople and Contractors: Temporarily holding drawings, site plans, measurements, or templates in position during installation work or client consultations
• Electricians and IT Technicians: Securing cables temporarily during installation, organising wire runs, or positioning junction boxes before final fixing
• Shop Fitters and Retail Staff: Mounting promotional materials, pricing information, and point-of-sale displays that change frequently
• Decorators and Painters: Holding colour swatches, wallpaper samples, or finish options in place for client approval before committing to decisions
• Facilities Managers: Maintaining building signage, safety notices, and directional information without drilling holes in walls
• Exhibition and Events Staff: Quick mounting solutions for temporary displays, presentations, and demonstration materials that require frequent repositioning
• DIY Enthusiasts and Homeowners: General household fixing tasks, picture positioning, seasonal decorations, and children's artwork display

How to Choose the Right Blu Tack

Selecting the appropriate Blu Tack product begins with considering your frequency of use. Regular users working in offices, classrooms, or on sites should opt for economy packs, which offer superior value and ensure adhesive putty is always available when needed. For occasional use or keeping supplies in a van, toolbox, or site bag, handy pocket-sized packs provide convenience without occupying excessive storage space.

Colour selection may prove important depending on your specific application. Traditional blue Blu Tack suits most surfaces and professional applications, but white versions available from Tooled-Up are preferable when working with lighter-coloured walls, whiteboards, or display materials where the adhesive might remain partially visible. White adhesive putty blends more effectively against pale backgrounds, providing a cleaner, more professional appearance in client-facing environments such as showrooms or reception areas.

Quantity requirements should influence your purchasing decision. Consider how many fixing points you typically need—mounting a single A4 notice requires far less product than organising an entire noticeboard, safety information display, or exhibition stand. Economy packs contain multiple strips or larger quantities, making them considerably more cost-effective for high-volume users including schools, offices, retail environments, or busy trade contractors.

Think carefully about the weight and size of items you'll be mounting. Blu Tack is designed specifically for lightweight materials such as paper, card, laminated notices, cable runs, and small decorative items. For heavier objects, you'll need to use more substantial amounts or consider alternative fixing methods entirely. Always ensure surfaces are clean, dry, and suitable for adhesive putty application—avoid fresh paint, loose emulsion, or porous materials that might be damaged during removal.

Popular Accessories

• Drawing Pins and Push Pins: Complementary fixing solutions for cork noticeboards and soft display surfaces where adhesive putty may not provide sufficient hold
• Adhesive Tape and Mounting Tape: Alternative temporary fixing methods offering different holding strengths and surface compatibility for varied applications
• Picture Hooks and Hangers: Semi-permanent solutions for heavier wall-mounted items such as framed artwork, mirrors, or substantial decorative pieces
• Cable Ties and Organisers: Additional cable management solutions that work alongside Blu Tack for comprehensive wire routing and organisation systems
• Notice Boards and Display Boards: Dedicated surfaces specifically designed for mounting temporary materials in offices, workshops, and communal areas
• Spirit Levels and Measuring Tools: Essential for ensuring accurate positioning before fixing items in place, particularly important for professional display work
• Poster Frames and Display Cases: Professional presentation solutions for frequently changed materials in retail, educational, or corporate environments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Blu Tack damage painted walls or wallpaper?

When used correctly on sound, properly cured paintwork, Blu Tack should not cause damage to walls. However, it may pull away fresh paint (less than four weeks old), delicate wallpaper, or loose emulsion. Always test on an inconspicuous area first, and remove it by gently rolling rather than pulling directly away from the surface. Avoid leaving it in place for extended periods exceeding several months on porous or delicate surfaces.

How much weight can Blu Tack reliably hold?

Blu Tack is designed exclusively for lightweight items, typically supporting objects up to approximately 100-150 grams when properly applied to suitable non-porous surfaces. The actual holding strength depends significantly on surface type, cleanliness, amount used, and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. For heavier items, consider alternative fixing methods such as picture hooks, command strips, or mechanical fixings appropriate to the surface and load.

Can I reuse Blu Tack multiple times before replacing it?

Yes, Blu Tack is specifically formulated for multiple uses, making it highly economical. Simply remove it carefully from the surface, knead it back together to restore its pliability and even consistency, then reapply as needed. It will gradually accumulate dust, debris, and surface particles with repeated use, which may reduce its effectiveness and tackiness. When it becomes too dirty, loses its characteristic stickiness, or becomes difficult to knead, replace it with fresh adhesive putty.

What surfaces work best with Blu Tack adhesive?

Blu Tack performs optimally on clean, dry, non-porous surfaces such as painted walls with sound emulsion or gloss finishes, glass, metal, plastic, laminated materials, and sealed wood. It may prove less effective on textured surfaces, porous materials like bare plaster or unsealed wood, fabric-covered boards, or dusty surfaces. Always ensure the surface is completely free from dust, grease, moisture, and contaminants before application for the best adhesion and cleanest removal.

How do I remove Blu Tack residue from walls without damage?

If small amounts of Blu Tack remain on surfaces after removal, use a fresh piece of Blu Tack to dab and lift the residue—it will stick to itself more readily than to the wall. Alternatively, gently rub with a clean, dry cloth or use a small amount of white spirit on a cloth for stubborn marks, always testing first on an inconspicuous area. Avoid harsh scrubbing, abrasive materials, or excessive force which may damage the underlying paint or surface finish.