Shopsmith Forums

My latest woodworking project requires the gluing up of several panels of 1 1/2" and 3/4" thick material.This is the first time I have done so much gluing to obtain the needed wood to build the project at hand as I usually use plywood and dimensional lumber available at the local lumber yard. I have been using Titebond 111 but was wondering what others use for their gluing needs and why they decided on that particular type or brand? Is there a reference or information source comparing the different glues and their various uses? Thanks for your input

Sarge

I also use Titebond III. There was an article on glues in a previous issue of a mag I read. I'm not sure which one, but it was either Woodworker's Journal, Popular Woodworking, or Wood. You can probably check their web sites for the article.

Hey Sarge. Maybe this site will give you some answers:

http://www.thistothat.com

George

I've used Titebond, Titebond II, I buy it by the gallon. For all face to face and edge to edge bonds, I use a roller and spread evenly on both surfaces. For other joints I use shaped applicators from an inexpensive kit, choosing the applicator that best fits the joint. I have re-used the squeeze bottle from that kit for 6 or 7 years. Just washing it out at re-fill time.

Years ago, about 40 years, I used Resorcinol. This is a brown powder mixed with water. The powder comes in cans, like pain cans. I am seriously thinking about getting another supply of it. It's essentially water proof, but the best thing is it has a long open time. The bad part is they say uncured glue is toxic, and sanding dust is toxic. I didn't know that part 40 yrs ago and never had a problem. As I remember, there is no odor! Mixed it with a stick and spread it with the same stick. Must have gotten some on my bare hands. Wonder what the effects of the toxicity are? Guess I'll have to look into that!

I also am an advocate of Titebond, Titebond II and Titebond III. Made a big mistake once using Gorilla glue - Didn't know it expanded so much. Had a cracked table leg and a major mess to remove all the excess glue that squeezed out after I had already cleaned what I thought was all of the squeeze out.

I have tried Titebond, Titebond II and Titebond III and I prefer Elmer's Carpenter's wood glue and I really really like their Probond Woodworking glue.

All yellow glue has a shelf life and each manufacture puts a code on their bottles to let you know the date of manufacture. Elmers puts theirs on in month and year format. I don't need to remember anything to figure out how fresh it is.

I also use epoxy and instant glue for different tasks.

I use to buy by the gallons but lately I have had to throw to much away. I'm not using it fast enough and after about year it goes bad.
Ed

Am a big proponent of alphatic (yellow) glues such as Titebond and Elmer's Carpenter, and use mostly Titelbond II and III for furniture and general woodworking. Use epoxy (West System) for airplanes and some woodworking tasks where I need an adhesive with equally strong adhesion and cohesion. (Most adhesives are just that -- their adhesion is through the roof, but their cohesive strength sucks dead toads.) Also use epoxy for wood-to-metal joinery where there's a lot of surface area. Use cyanoacrylate glue for small wood-to-metal joints, on the fly woodworking repairs, and some turning tasks (such as filling small voids or adhering the bark permanently to wood). Finally, I use hide glue for musical instruments and any application where I may want to disassmble the joint later on without harming the wood surface. All of which is to say, I couldn't do woodworking with just one adhesive. Few craftsmen could. Anybody up for a sawdust session on the subject?

With all good wishes,

Hi Nick,

You bet! A Sawdust Session on glues would be of benefit to a lot of us I"m sure.

From your other posts I see Shopsmith is doing very well in the sales department with the new Sawdust Sessions and Nick's Tips. I'm very happy to hear that as are the others who frequent this forum, I'm sure.

Keep it up - - IT'S WORKING!:D

It would be a good one Nick! Gonna be a chore squeezing the subject into one session.

Yes, Nick. A session on glue would be very good.

Maybe I can learn to use something other than hot hide and Titebond III.