The Best Wood Glue
This Old House Reviews Team
Wood glue is an easy way to join two pieces of wood together without using nails or screws. Here are Amazon’s best wood glues for your next woodworking project.
From furniture making to house building, wood glue is a versatile supply that every handyperson should have on hand. To help you find the right adhesive for your project, the This Old House Review Team researched the best wood glues on Amazon. Here are our favorite options.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LGKHW5R
Gorilla Wood Glue
What We Like: You can use this wood glue on hardwoods, softwoods, and composite woods. It has a clamp time of 20–30 minutes that’s followed by a cure time of 24 hours. After 24 hours, it dries a light brown to blend into your wood.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001YS16U
Titebond Ultimate Wood Glue
What We Like: Whether you’re working on an interior or exterior project, this wood glue can get the job done. It has a waterproof formula that hardens after one hour of clamping and several more hours of curing. If you spill any product on an area that you don’t want glued, you can wipe it off with water.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QFC118C
Krazy Glue Wood Glue
What We Like: If you don’t have the patience to wait for your wood glue to dry, this product is for you. It dries in as few as six minutes depending on the wood type and humidity level. It also has a sandable and washable formula.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0045PXPH6
Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Glue
What We Like: This glue has the perfect formula for outdoor use. It doesn’t degrade in direct sunlight or high heat. It’s also waterproof, so it won’t grow mold or mildew after a heavy rainstorm. If you have both indoor and outdoor projects, you can also use it inside, as it doesn’t produce toxic fumes.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C32ME6G
STARBOND Super Glue
What We Like: This cyanoacrylate glue uses a water-thin viscosity to seep into cracks. For a particularly large crack, you can fill the opening with sawdust before applying the glue and letting it harden. If you have blemishes on other surfaces around your home, such as leather, ceramic, metal, and rubber, you can use this glue for them as well.
Types of Wood Glue
If you’re not a carpenter, it can be confusing to determine which wood glue to use and when to use it. Some glues work better than others depending on the wood you’re building with and the conditions you’re working under. For more information, read about the different types of wood glue below.
Hide
Hide glue, which is made using collagen from animal skin, comes in both liquid and solid forms. It creates flexible, long-lasting joints, but it needs to be warm and diluted to work properly.
PVA
PVA glue is one of the most widely used types of wood glue. It is non-toxic, easy to clean, and versatile. The biggest drawback to PVA glue is that it leaves behind a residue.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane glue is waterproof, so it’s useful for outdoor projects. It doesn’t dry out sensitive wood fibers either. However, because it’s toxic, it can irritate your skin if it gets on you.
CA
CA glue is meant for small repairs or temporary bonds. It can stick on both porous and nonporous surfaces, bonding almost instantly at room temperature. However, CA glue shouldn’t make contact with your skin. It can also be too thin and runny for some woods.
Epoxy
Epoxy isn’t technically a wood glue. It’s typically used to coat and protect wood, concrete, and other surfaces. However, you can use it to join multiple materials together. It does take a long time to apply because it has a two-step process with a resin and a hardener. Once you apply it, it takes a few hours to cure.
Buyer’s Guide
After type, consider a wood glue’s strength, drying time, shelf life, viscosity, and color.
Strength
Wood glues can provide permanent or temporary bonds. For example, PVA and polyurethane fall into the former category, while CA is the latter type. If you’re building a piece of furniture, you want it to stay together permanently, so use a strong glue. For quick, minor repairs, a CA glue should suffice.
Drying Time
Think about how quickly you need your wood to dry. For fast projects, focus on epoxy or CA glue. However, if adhesive strength is more important to you than cure time and you’re fine with waiting longer, then stick with PVA or polyurethane glue.
Shelf Life
Different types of wood glue last longer than others, which may be a consideration if you’re only using a little of a large bottle. PVA and polyurethane glues last in storage for about a year before they begin to lose their effectiveness. CA glue can last much longer if it’s kept at the proper temperature.
Viscosity
Wood glue viscosity varies based on the type and brand. PVA, polyurethane, and epoxy glues are usually thicker than hide and CA glues. Glues with a thinner viscosity are better for filling small gaps or cracks, while thick glue is meant to join pieces of wood together.
Color
Some glue, such as PVA glue, dries tan or brown to match the wood it’s filling. Others, including CA and epoxy, apply and dry clear. If neither of these options are right for your project, you can usually sand over the glue and stain or paint it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I clamp glued wood together?
Check the individual instructions to see how long your wood glue needs to stay clamped. Standard PVA glue usually needs 20 or 30 minutes of clamping time. After that, you have to let it cure for an additional 24 hours. CA glue, on the other hand, dries almost instantly without clamping.
What’s the difference between using wood glue and using screws?
Glue is stronger than screws when it comes to joining two pieces of wood together. That’s because the screws only secure the specific places you use them in. However, with glue, you can apply it to the entire surface. For smaller projects, screws alone should suffice. If you need extra strength, you can use both wood and glue.
Is wood glue waterproof?
Many wood glues are waterproof or water-resistant. If your glue isn’t at least water-resistant, you shouldn’t use it outside.
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