If you are a carpenter, a woodwork hobbyist, or just do DIY wood projects every once in a while, then you might have realized how important it is to have some good wood glue handy.
Getting the ideal type of glue requires you to think of some fundamental factors before you buy. Most people will only consider the strength that a certain type of wood glue holds the wood together with, but there is more to consider if you want to get an ideal wood glue for your project.
Think of the conditions you will use the glue in, durability against the weather elements, how easy it is to clean the excess glue off your projects, among other things.
In this guide, I will be telling you of the six best glue types for wood on the market and what you need to look for in a glue type to make a perfect choice. I have put together a list of the best wood glues based on honest reviews. Let’s look at them and see how they compare.
1. Gorilla Wood Glue
It is water-based wood glue that dries to a natural wood color to give your project an invisible joint line. It dries fast too within 20 to 30 minutes of clamping the wood together, which means you won’t have to stall your project for long as you wait for the glue to dry. Take precaution not to subject the jointed side to a lot of stress before 24 hours pass.
This adhesive is also quite versatile as you can use it on wood projects both indoors and outdoors. Its water resistance qualities make it very resilient against weather elements. It works well with all kinds of wood too, soft, hard, and also wood composites.
You get a very strong bond with this glue; it also cleans off easily by just sanding off the excess.
If you are looking for wood glue that is safe to use on household projects, then you would be glad to know that the gorilla wood glue is FDA compliant. This makes it safe for indirect food contact.
Pros
- FDA compliant
- Very strong bond
- Quick 20 to 30 minutes drying time
- Invisible bond line
- Ideal for indoors and outdoors projects
Cons
- Can be relatively clumpier
2. Titebond 1416 III Ultimate Wood Glue
Its FDA approved, making it ideal for household items like chopping food and other kitchen woodwork items.
It dries fast but not too fast that you don’t get enough time to align the joints’ wood. The Titebond glue is easy to clean up quickly too. You can wipe off the excess using a dump cloth and sand off any remnants later for a nice smooth finish.
It dries quickly; you need just about 20-25 minutes of clump time. Its resilient against weather elements like rain, the sun’s well as mildew. This is what makes it for use on both indoors and outdoors woodwork projects.
Pros
- FDA approved
- Water-resistant
- Suitable for both indoors and outdoors projects
- Dries quickly
- A very strong bond
- Easy to clean the excess
Cons
- Couldn’t find any
3. Darice 1096-61 Wood Glue
It dries fast, which means you don’t have to stall your projects for too long while you wait for it to stick. You will also get a very durable bond for your projects.
It’s easy to clean the excess glue off the wood and sand any remnants that may be left on the wood later when the wood dries.
It dries to a natural opaque woody color, which gives your projects a concealable bond line.
It’s manufactured in conformity with the ASTM D4236 standards, which means you will be getting a quality product.
Pros
- Natural concealable bond line
- Dries fast
- Conforms to ASTM D4236
- Very strong
Cons
- Takes a relatively a long time to set in
4. Elmer’s E7050LMR Carpenters Wood Glue
It takes a short time to set in, usually 20 to 30 minutes of clamping, which is perfect as you don’t need to unnecessarily stall your project waiting for it to dry. Take caution not to stress the joint before it’s fully cured, which takes up to 24 hours.
It’s easy to clean the excess glue off the wood using water and later to sand any excess glue that remains on the wood.
It’s versatile and works on all kinds of woods, soft, hard, as well as natural wood composite. It’s also non-toxic, which makes it ideal for home carpentry projects and repairs.
Pros
- Very strong
- Non-toxic
- Easy to clean off the excess
- Dries fast
- Affordable
Cons
- Only works best on indoors projects
5. Elmer’s E7310 Carpenter’s Wood Glue
It has a bond stronger than wood with no toxicity, which makes it ideal for household woodwork projects. It’s mold, heat, and mildew resistant. This makes it ideal for both indoor and outdoor uses.
It dries pretty fast, taking only 20 to 30 minutes of clamp time, after which you can go on with your project as long as you don’t put pressure on the joint.
Easily cleans with water before the glue fully sticks, after which you can easily just sand the excess glue away to give your project a nice smooth finish. It dries to a woody natural look, which helps conceal the joints on your projects.
Pros
- Very strong bond
- Perfect for use on both indoors and outdoors projects
- Non-toxic
- Heat, mold and mildew resistant
- Very durable
- Dries within 20 to 30 minutes of clamp time
Cons
- Can be relatively more viscous
6. Titebond 5064 Original Wood Glue
It’s not toxic, which makes it ideal for use on household projects. It’s easy to dry the excess using water, and sanding the project once it dries.
It dries fast, which means you won’t have to stall your project for long as you wait for it to dry. Just don’t stress the joints before they are fully cured.
While varnishes distort other wood glues, you can relax knowing that this wood glue is not affected by varnishes or painting finishing.
It is easy to clean the excess glue off the wood. Just use water or a damp cloth and sand away any that might remain when the wood fully dries.
Pros
- Dries fast
- Stronger bond than wood
- Results in a natural concealable joint line
- Easy to clean the excess glue off
- Non-toxic not affected by finishing like varnish
Cons
- A bit on the pricey side
Considerations for the Best Glue for Wood
With the many wood glue brands in the market, it might be challenging deciding on the one that will work on your wood project best, especially if you don’t know what to look for in wood glue. If you this is you, I’m about to let you in on what factors make wood glue great. Here are important things to consider when looking for wood glue.
Think of the Purpose of the Wood Glue
When you are buying a wood glue, think of the purpose you need the glue for. Do you want to use it for exterior projects or interior projects, or do you need it for both? Some wood glue can only be used on interior projects, while other types of wood glues can only be used on exterior woodwork. There is a third option, which is wood glue that can be used on both interior and exterior woodwork projects.
Some people forget to look into this and end up buying wood glue they don’t use because it does not suit the purpose. The manufacturers will specify on the product description, pay attention, or ask before you buy.
Strength
Wood glue can even be stronger than wood. You want to get a strong one that keeps the wood pieces together as long as possible. This way, you don’t have to worry about you’re your woodwork project coming apart.
Solvent Resistance
Wood glue that interacts with solvents will mess up your woodwork projects if you decide to apply some kind of finishing to the final piece. If it can dissolve in water, then the pieces you make will also come apart if they ever contact water. To be on the safe side, get glue that is not affected by solvents.
Food Security
If you are shopping for wood glue to use on items that might come into contact with food in the future like cutting boards, you want to ensure that the glue is food safe. Usually, wood glue that is safe for future food contact will have some kind of certification or approval. In the US, it needs to be FDA approved.
Easy to Clean
You want wood glue that easily comes off the wood. This is because when you apply glue to wood and clamp the joints together, there is always excess glue that spills over. If you don’t clean the glue off properly, it will spoil your final product’s appearance.
Versatility
The best wood glue holds all types of wood together. Some blue brands don’t hold hardwood together very well. This limits you on the type of wood you can use on your woodwork projects. To avoid this, buy a glue type that you can use on all kinds of wood.
Volume
Think of how much wood glue you need for your woodwork project before you buy some. This will help you determine the amount of wood glue you need to buy beforehand.
Some people forget to look at the volume of wood glue they are ordering especially if they are ordering online. This leads to disappointment when you receive less than you thought you were buying. Remember to look at the volume.
Setting Time
This is very crucial. You don’t want to get wood glue that sets too quickly that you don’t have time to align the pieces of wood you are joining, neither do you want to buy wood glue that takes too long that you have to stall your project for hours waiting for it to dry. Good wood glue will take 30 minutes clamping time maximum, and then you can continue working with the wood as long as you don’t stress the joint.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wood Glue
Is it Possible to Glue Wood on the Ingrain?
Yes, it is, but often, the bond is not very strong. To help improve the bond, you can first squeeze some glue into the wood so that you have got the wood soaked in glue before you align the wood. If you don’t do this, most of the glue will soak into the wood, and the bond created will be weak.
What’s the Best Wood Glue?
As I have already explained, there are some considerations you need to think of before buying wood glue. This way, you get the most suitable wood glue for your needs.
In Conclusion
Wood glue is the best way to join pieces of wood. When working with wood, you want to work good wood glue as it will come in handy. I hope this article helped make the choice easy for you.
While all the wood glue listed here is great, check out Titebond 1416 iii ultimate wood glue. It is FDA approved, works great for both indoors and outdoors projects, dries quickly, cleans up easy, and hosts other great things.