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Joiner’s glue: what kind of wood glue to buy

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Almost half of the carpentry work involves gluing parts. Moreover, not all masters have sufficient knowledge regarding the types of adhesives. Our today’s educational program will close most of the questions on the choice of wood glue and the features of its use.

Joiner's glue: what kind of wood glue to buy

Properties of wood glue and the difference from universal

Not everyone understands why certain types of glue are positioned as a means of gluing certain materials, because, in fact, they are all a sticky substance that hardens over time. However, in reality there is a very subtle difference in what type of structure and surface the glue has to work with, in general, three most significant factors can be distinguished..

The most important criterion is how the products to be glued are arranged at the micro level. Almost all materials have natural porosity, even plastics and metals are not an exception. The function of the glue is to fill these pores and then harden to a minimum thickness of the glue line. If we are talking about glue for wood, its particles must be small enough to seep into the pores of the wood, and strong polymer chains of sufficient length must form during the drying process..

Joiner's glue: what kind of wood glue to buy

Another aspect in matters of choosing an adhesive is the physicochemical properties of the materials to be glued. So, polystyrene cannot be glued with a universal rubber glue due to the content of an aggressive solvent in the latter. For gluing wood, the most suitable materials are those that do not have a destructive effect on lignin and cellulose, and also do not allow the wood to absorb too much moisture, that is, do not cause warping of products.

Joiner's glue: what kind of wood glue to buy

Finally, the third factor is the specific use and purpose of the parts to be glued. For example, glue for shoes must be elastic and waterproof, while ceramics require increased hardness and fluidity, because the quality of adhesion is also ensured by the microfracture of fracture. Wood glue should have a comparable degree of thermal expansion, respond adequately to changes in humidity, and provide mechanical strength comparable to the properties of wood. It must be remembered that when gluing different types of wood, the same composition can demonstrate different strength indicators. Of all the known substances, the most suitable properties are polyvinyl acetate, animal proteins, some thermosetting polymers and epoxy resins.

Adhesive grades for moisture resistance and strength

For each type or group of adhesives, GOST is in force, which regulates the procedure for conducting tests and assigning a class to the composition, according to its basic physical and mechanical properties. The problem is that for each type of glue, the test order is different, which can be very confusing for the novice carpenter. Therefore, they are usually guided not by technical conditions, but by GOST 17005–82, which establishes a general method for testing the strength and moisture resistance of glued wood products. Thus, wood glue can be assigned one of four conditional groups of resistance in terms of strength and moisture resistance.

Joiner's glue: what kind of wood glue to buy

On the labels of wood glue, designations of the type D with a digital index from 1 to 4 are more common. This classification system comes from the European standard DIN EN 204, which is very similar to the GOST mentioned above. Such designations are more common due to the dominance of foreign brands in the market and the desire of domestic manufacturers to imitate the more popular classification system. In short, the strength grade of the adhesive determines the minimum allowable breaking force of the glue joint after a certain period of exposure under normal conditions, then wetting for several days and drying. D1 adhesive does not allow direct exposure to moisture, D2 and D3 can retain their properties with short-term exposure to running water and condensation, D4 is designed for constant exposure to high humidity.

Joiner's glue: what kind of wood glue to buy

Of all types of adhesives, the highest class is assigned to polyurethane and polyvinyl acetate. D3 marking is typical for high-quality PVA-based adhesives, as well as some types of casein and flesh wood glues stabilized with organic polymers. Most joinery adhesives meet the requirements of classes D2 and D1, regardless of origin.

DIY materials

The cost of the glue is very important, especially when used in the commercial joinery industry. On the one hand, the purchase of a high-quality branded product guarantees compliance with the standards for the strength of the joints, on the other hand, there is always an opportunity to save money by preparing the adhesive composition yourself, adhering to a certain technology. As a rule, self-made adhesives are used to make non-critical connections, for example, for sticking decorative elements.

Joiner's glue: what kind of wood glue to buy

Typically, denatured animal proteins are used for the preparation of glue, supplied in the form of granules, fibers or powder. By origin, the glue can be casein or bone, which usually corresponds to the D1 and D2 strength grades, or the flesh, which meets the D3 grade requirements. Also, to impart additional properties during the preparation of the glue, wood powder, stone dust, antiseptics or hardening accelerators are added to it..

The disadvantage of self-made glue is its short shelf life, as a rule, the composition must be used within 2-3 days. It is also extremely important to observe the cooking technology: do not overheat the water bath, do not exceed the cooking time, and ensure appropriate storage conditions. The quality of the adhesive can be severely degraded if the purity of the raw material has not been ensured.

On sale you can find wood glue from at least a dozen manufacturers. Each of the trademarks is popular with individual craftsmen, in general, the quality of the original glue is consistently high.

Joiner's glue: what kind of wood glue to buy

Titebond is perhaps the most famous representative of the range of wood glues. This manufacturer provides over 20 varieties of wood glue for industrial applications. Among them there are both the most popular Titebond Premium II and III based on PVA, as well as better two-component compositions based on aliphatic resins with a maximum strength class of D4. Special attention should be paid to the EZ hot glue product line.

Joiner's glue: what kind of wood glue to buy

Kleiberit is the second most popular manufacturer from Germany. The series of products includes polyurethane and polyvinyl acetate adhesives of all classes, the main advantage over competitors is a relatively low price with good quality, as well as a fairly extensive range. The line also includes contact adhesives intended for spray application, including on synthetic resins.

Joiner's glue: what kind of wood glue to buy

Rakoll is another representative of the German chemical industry, which specializes in the production of industrial joinery adhesives based on PVA and PUR without volatile solvents. The peculiarity of these compositions is their high versatility: they can be used for gluing chip materials and dissimilar parts. Experts emphasize the convincing quality of veneer gluing with U 290, and the convenience of working with GXL-4 glue when decorating wood clapboard is also noted..

Joiner's glue: what kind of wood glue to buy

Among domestic producers, the products of the Moment trademark, a subsidiary of the Henkel concern, deserve attention. The range includes five types of PVA-based adhesives, designed for both the classic gluing method and for urgent repair of wood products. One of the advantages of Moment adhesives is a low price with a quality comparable to imported counterparts.

In search of the best glue for themselves, joinery craftsmen can also pay attention to Casco products – this series of carpentry adhesives is not very popular, but it is famous for very decent quality. Decollo products are also interesting – PVA-based glue corresponds to the D3 class, due to the introduction of a catalyst, it can increase its characteristics to D4. It is a versatile everyday adhesive well suited for commercial joinery.

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Comments: 2
  1. Giselle

    “What kind of wood glue should I buy if I need a reliable and strong adhesive for joinery projects? There are so many options available, such as PVA, epoxy, and polyurethane. I’m not sure which one would be the best for my needs. Any recommendations or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!”

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  2. Logan Brooks

    Which type of wood glue should I consider purchasing for joinery projects? I’m looking for a reliable and versatile option that provides strong bonding. Any recommendations or specific brands that you’ve found effective and easy to work with?

    Reply
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