Fine Woodworking Adhesives

Use the right woodworking adhesives for the job! Although, many woodworking projects call for the use of "yellow glue", "carpenter's glue", or 'wood glue' which, by the way, are one in the same - it's important to select the correct adhesive for the job at hand. Yellow wood glue is the proper glue for most fine woodworking projects - like items made of pine, interior and decorative items, and the like.

For heavier applications, like gluing pressure-treated lumber (which is also pine), or gluing paneling boards and 'tongue and groove' boards to walls, “construction adhesive” is needed. Construction adhesive is much thicker than wood glue, and comes in tubes, for use in caulking guns. Specially formulated types of this adhesive are available for even the most demanding jobs, like gluing frozen exterior-grade lumber, and gluing down sub-flooring.

Keep wood glue stored at reasonably warm temperatures, this means temperatures over 45 degrees. Cold or freezing temperatures will ruin wood glue, if wood glue is exposed to low temperatures too long, you'll have to throw the glue away, as it will loose its bonding properties. Since wood glue is rather expensive, try to buy it in gallon jug sizes. You can refill pint size squeeze bottles, as needed. With pints of woodworking adhesive running $5 to $7 and gallons for just $20 to $25, you can see why this is a good idea. Also, keep in mind that you'll be using a lot of woodworking adhesives, so it just  makes good economic sense to buy this woodworking adhesive in bulk.

Another thing to keep in mind about storing woodworking adhesives is that it has a shelf life. The glue will not last indefinitely! Yellow wood glue generally has a shelf life of no more than one year, but this can vary, according to the manufacturer. So, if you don't anticipate using a whole gallon within 9 or 10 months, try to split a gallon with a woodworking buddy. Woodworking adhesives will congeal or thicken up, if exposed to air for prolonged periods. Keep the cap tightly fit on the container. If you have a small amount of glue in a large container like a half pint in a gallon jug consolidate the small amount into a more appropriately sized bottle. When gluing boards together, try to use a flat stick, a old brush, or a foam applicator to spread glue out evenly over surfaces.

When clamping glued boards together, you will often have excess glue running out the sides of the clamped boards. Many woodworkers are tempted to wipe this excess glue away immediately, but this is not always the best thing to do. Unless you get all the glue completely cleaned off the wood, you'll have “glue stains”, which will show up dramatically when the wood is stained. If you must clean up the glue right away, use denatured alcohol, and make sure you get all the glue cleaned up. Lacquer thinner can also be used, but this solvent is much more volatile in nature, and the fumes can make you sick.

*Here's a way to help the situation: Wait for drips and runs of the wood glue to “skin” over, or harden somewhat (after an hour or two). You can then take a razor blade and slice the glue away neatly. If you remove glue this way, be careful not to dig or nick the wood!

Wood glue is easiest to apply out of a squeeze bottle. Most wood glue products are sold in these squeeze-type bottles, and as previously mentioned, it's easier and more economical to buy large amounts of woodworking adhesives, like gallon size jugs, and refill smaller bottles (like squeeze bottles) as needed. Squeeze bottles can be bought in pint or half-pint sizes and even smaller. You can also buy new, (empty) plastic squeeze bottles at restaurant supply stores (and other stores) - these bottles are cheap, costing just a dollar or two apiece. When using squeeze bottles, you'll need to clean out the squeeze nozzles periodically. The glue tends to harden at the tip, where there's air exposure. Clean out the nozzle with a toothpick, and be sure to replace the cap when not in use.