How to glue wood together? And add extra strengthening.

Whether you are a pro woodworker or a fanatic, knowledge about gluing wood together is important for us as an important part that determines the end result of our projects. 

From working on a wooden DIY project to repairing a broken table, there’s no greater nightmare than working through the details for days, then watching the project fall apart because it was improperly glued.

What furniture can be fixed together with wood glue?

You can also use wood glue to stick wood together just how you want. Since the glue is designed to create a firm bond between wooden surfaces, wood glue is ideal for joining wooden joints, antique furniture, panels, and broken wooden pieces.

Furniture joints you don’t need to disassemble later like a kitchen cabinet or a bookshelf all fall into this category.

From woodworking furniture meant to hold lightweight furniture like TV stands or grocery racks in the kitchen, pantry glue has a place in every area of your home when woodworking requires strengthening wood joins.

Choosing the right type of wood glue

1. PVA glue

Benefits of joining wood with PVA glue

• PVA glue is odorless and can be used for indoor-related work.
• When wet the glue can be wiped with water and a rag without the need for harsh chemicals.
• We find most quality types dry up easily and don’t turn yellow over time.
• Expect a strong durable hold.
• Not toxic to work with.

Uses of PVA glue

• Gluing wood for indoor projects.
• Binding book covers.
• Art projects.
• Connecting leather for the craft.

2. Polyurethane glue

Benefits of PU glue

• Polyurethane glue forms a strong bond.
• Does not require clamping, hence it saves time.
• Can withstand wear and tear over time.
• Is waterproof.
• Doesn’t require mixing with other types of solvents.

Where to use Polyurethane glue?

• Bonding building materials.
• Attaching components to wood.
• Joining parts of outdoor furniture.

3. Hide glue

Why use hide glue to join woods?

• Can be reversed by heating the joints.
• Is not toxic since it’s made from animal collagen.
• Easily washes off from clothing.
• Does not normally clog up tools.
• Transparent when dry making a clear and clean finish.

What projects to use hide glue?

• Joining indoor furniture pieces.
• Making antiques.

4. Epoxy

Reasons to use epoxy for gluing  wood

• It is waterproof, hence the best for both indoor and outdoor projects.
• Can make rotten parts of wood reusable for a longer time.
• Spreads, so only a small amount is used at a time.
• When epoxy dries, it leaves no residue.

Where to use epoxy?

• Glass repairs because of its hardening nature.
• Jewelry making.
• Filling chips and gaps in heavy-duty work.
• Gluing plastics, wood, and metals.

5. Superglue

Benefits of using super glue

• The versatile nature makes this compatible with porous and nonporous items.
• Requires no mixing before usage.

What projects to use super glue?

• Fixing broken furniture.
• Decorations.

How to prepare a wooden surface for glue?

The wood surface needs to be clean and free from any old glue. Wipe away all dust particles and dirt.

If stubborn grime persists on the surface, use light grit sandpaper or use rubbing alcohol but wait about 3 minutes for it to evaporate because of the flammable nature.

For old stuck glue, use a chisel, knife, or paint scraper to scrape the hard drips away.

Old glue weakens the strength of new glue, so you must scrape and remove it.

Prepare your clamps to hold steady until done

For loose pieces, use wide C-shaped clamps because they easily reach over to secure different pieces together.

If some pieces don’t need much pressure you can use thick rubber bands to keep the pieces together.

But when serious holding is needed on large pieces, get multiple clamps so that glue can dry evenly. 

G clamps, C clamps, and quick release clamps do the trick.

Consider the addition of a biscuit join or dowel

If you require more added strength to your glued join you can beef it up with additional support.

Wooden dowels work by drilling and installing the dowel [1] at chosen spacings.

The same can be done with a biscuit joiner, achieving a similar strengthening result much faster.

Applying the wood glue

Apply the wood glue using a brush or by using a scrap piece of wood to ensure the spread is even over the entire wooden surface.

Also, to give a firm grip without glue spilling over the edges or there having areas joined with no glue reducing the strength of the join.

Using a brush works like painting in ensuring a uniform spread. If there are parts that are unreachable, use the paddle end of a brush. 

You can also rotate both pieces of wood to be glued in a figure 8 pattern, to spread the glue more evenly on the edges for a stronger connection.

Connecting different wood pieces

A. Connecting 2×4 flat surfaces

1. Using a bristled brush, spread a layer of glue on the surface. 
2. Press the pieces of wood together to join.

B. Connecting large wood panels

1. Using a brush roller or a long piece of scrap wood, evenly apply a thin layer of glue on the surface. 
2. Press the panels together to connect.

C. Connecting woodworking joints

1. Using a brush, apply glue inside the joint. 
2. The glue will need to spread evenly on the entire joint ensuring that everything remains strong.
3. Quality clamps will keep your woodworking joints looking tight and professional when the glue dries, without any gaps.

D. Repair chair rungs

1. Due to their small sizes, the glue can be hard to get in the right spot. 
2. Using a syringe, pour glue into the holes.
3. Press the rungs in and out with a twisting motion for an even spread of the glue.

E. Connecting tabletop pieces

1. Pour glue on the edge of one slab of wood in a zigzag shape.
2. Spread out the glue using a scrap piece of wood or an old brush.
3. Press the edges together and move them in a small figure 8 motion.
4. Hold the glued boards together using two or strong winch-style clamps.
5. Add another clamp on top of the tabletop with a straight edge to provide even pressure and to stop twisting for a flat tabletop surface.
6. Wipe away any squeezed-out excess glue.

Here are some tips for gluing wood together:

You can add extra pressure with small strap wrenches used to hold things down on a truck; also pipe clamps, or better a quick-release g or h clamp, with a long enough extension.

Waiting for setting and glue drying time

Wood glue requires enough time to set and dry before removing any clamps. After application, do not wipe out excess glue immediately.

For chemical glues like polyurethane, glues leave excess glue for about 30 minutes then use a knife to remove it to avoid smudges. Always clamp the wooden pieces together until the glue dries.

How to add strength to glued edges that have applied force?

1. Dowels

• Drill dowel holes with the right-sized drill bit on both edges in alignment with each other.
• Pour glue into the dowel holes.
• Insert the dowels into the holes.
• Cut and sand off protruding dowels if they are too long for connection.
• Glue the joints together like normal.
• Use clamps to hold everything tight.

2. Biscuit joins

• Identify and mark points where the biscuits will be installed.
• Cut enough biscuit slots and clean them to remove dirt and debris by blowing.
• Fill each biscuit slot with enough wood glue
• Put the biscuits into the slots and wipe out any excess glue.
• Align and fit the wooden boards together like normal.
• Clamp tightly and leave for the glue to dry.

3. Dovetail joins

Dovetail joins provide considerable strength because once assembled, they cannot be twisted [2].

They are shaped in a way that makes it impossible to take apart as well. They have a large gluing surface area which offers even more strength. 

Dovetails can be used to show your woodworking skills.

4. Finger joins

With glue, the chances of twisting are reduced because it is made up of interlocking wedges held together with glue.

Here are more ways to join wood.

Why biscuit joiners are time efficient and strong with glue?

They save time because there are no exact measurements for the holes and joints. AS the tool works as a gauge at the same time to set the depth.

The cuts are simple to make. Therefore, many of them can be made in a short period of time.

Due to the number of holes made, they offer more strength.

Gluing tips and tricks

• Dry wooden surfaces do not bond. For better results, evenly spread the glue.
• Excess glue pouring out of a joint means there’s no area lacking glue, this is a good sign.
• Each glue has a special drying time depending on the manufacturer. Some take 20 minutes while others take 12 hours or more to dry up.
• After you join large timber slabs, running over the joins with a belt sander makes for a fast clean surface if the surface is not perfectly flat and smooth yet.

Conclusion

Gluing small pieces of wood together is pretty easy and so is gluing larger panels.

With the right adhesive, you can never go wrong in achieving your dream project connection.

Provided you read the manufacturer’s instructions on your glue packaging and spend quality time with your work, you are guaranteed an excellent outcome.

Most importantly after you choose the right type of glue for your join remember that the more surface area that the glue covers the stronger the join will be.

So make sure to spread your glue like grandma’s jam on your toast. 

And for extra strength consider opting for a biscuit join and use clamps, rubber bands, or straps to hold everything secure until this wet stuff dries hard.