Quick Tip: Wood Glue

There are shelves of glues, adhesives and sealers for all types of jobs, but how do you know which is the right one for your specific project?

Sometimes asking for advice at a hardware store can be of little assistance if the staff aren’t clued up on the products available, In fact, after reviewing some of the queries I received, the advice offered can be detrimental to a project. Even I was given the wrong advice on what adhesive to use for a specific task.

HOME-DZINE: My recommendation to anyone who is uncertain as to the correct glue or adhesive, or even which sealer to use, is to use the power of the Internet to do a bit more research.

WOOD GLUE

As its name implies, wood glue is intended for joining timber and board. But not all wood glues are the same, and even within this category you need to know when and where to use a specific wood glue. It is also important to bear in mind that projects glued together cannot be taken apart later on, so only use wood glue on the joints that require strength by bonding with wood glue.

When selecting wood glue for a project, take into consideration the various types of wood glues and what each offers. There are quick-drying, waterproof and wood glues for interior or exterior projects.

Ponal wood glue:

Ponal is one of the most often used glues for joining timber and board. Its runny consistency makes it ideal when using biscuit joints, where it needs to be absorbed into biscuits – or dowels – to make them swell to bond sections together. However, the runny consistency can be messy when joining other sections.

Alcolin wood glue:

This glue is also used for joining timber and board but it has a much thicker consistency – offering more control and less mess. The Alcolin range of glues includes a waterproof glue that can be used for interior and exterior applications.

Pattex No More Nails adhesive:

This adhesive offers high-tack and fast drying, but it isn’t absorbed deeply into timber or board and should not be used for joints that need to bear weight. However, the fast-drying action of this adhesive makes it perfect for quick or temporary holding until you can use more traditional fastening methods, or for decorative projects using timber or board products.

Top Tip: When using wood glue with pine or other timber, immediately wipe away any glue that oozes out of joints, as this will spoil a stained or tinted finish.