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"How strong is your glue?"

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Forum topic by Dadoo posted 695 days ago 1656 views 0 times favorited 12 replies Add to Favorites Watch
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Dadoo

1674 posts in 741 days


695 days ago

Topic tags/keywords: glue joint failure gorilla

Gorilla Glue took a major hit in the shins recently with an article published in the Aug07 issue of Fine Woodworking magazine. Seems that “The Toughest Glue on Planet Earth” is not. Out of six various glues tested, Gorilla came in with a very poor last place. #1 was Titebond III followed by Epoxy and then regular wood (PVA type) glue. Numbers’s 4 & 5 were “hide type” glues. I’ve also noticed that in the same magazine the Gorilla Glue ads have removed the “Toughest Glue” statement from their labels, yet the picture of the one posted shows the statement. Damn! I just got back from a 400 mile trip to Ohio where I fixed my mother’s dining room table with Gorilla glue. I wanted to use “The Toughest Glue on Planet Earth” so to insure the stability of the leg joint. I’m just glad I put in some hefty 3” screws as well. Gorilla glue seems to have some uses though…I used it recently (for it’s foaming effect) to glue some Birchbark to a piece of plywood. So far, so well. I figure someday I’ll need to glue some pennys to a window and Gorilla Glue will once again come through…but I have bought my last bottle. >:(

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

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scottb

3338 posts in 1078 days


661 days ago

Yeah, I”ve used Gorilla glue in setting up the kitchen, I did some seamless miters around the countertops… but now, It’s waterproof titebond for everything. I’ve got to say, I”ve been very happy using it, and now after reading said article… I’ve got great piece of mind as well.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

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Buckskin

483 posts in 739 days


661 days ago

I have been pro Gorilla glue for handy man repairs. I have fixed aluminum window screens with it. My bathroom door hinges where stripped out with Gorilla glue and duct tape to the rescue. When it comes to initial assembly of wood projects I like the Titebond series.

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Bob #2

2663 posts in 772 days


661 days ago

My rule of thumb is :
If it fits use regular wood glues .
If it doesn’t fit use urethanes.
If it’s at all punky use Epoxy.

bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

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brunob

1422 posts in 920 days


661 days ago

I’m also a Titebond fan for almost everything.

-- Bruce from Central New York

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mikeP

6 posts in 662 days


660 days ago

I use Titebond also, but for some of my projects with glass I’ve been using Elmers ultimate polyurethane glue for attaching wood to glass. Anybody else use this glue? opinion? Any other wood-on-glass glue you would recommend?

-- mike, wisconsin, www.whatwooddo.com

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Dadoo

1674 posts in 741 days


660 days ago

Mike, does the Elmer’s poly glue foam like Gorilla glue? I think the air bubbles are its biggest weakness, plus it tends to foam out of the joint creating a cleanup mess.

Bob, FWW mag tested tight, perfect and loose joints with the 5 glues given. Gorilla didn’t hold up. Are there any other type “urethane” glues with a stronger bond?

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

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mikeP

6 posts in 662 days


659 days ago

Yes Dadoo, the Elmers does foam. I’ve learned to use less to cut down on the cleanup. I trust the strength in places where the glass fits into a same-size groove that I’ve cut, but I have a couple of pieces where I’ve glued glass shelves flat on top of smaller wood blocks. They seem tight and sturdy, but I am nervous about the long term and selling it to a customer, so I’m staying away from designs like that in the future.

-- mike, wisconsin, www.whatwooddo.com

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Robert Smith

95 posts in 672 days


659 days ago

I use the elmers polyurethane,if i glue up pieces for carving.its not noticable after staining or painting{and its cheaper}

-- Robert, mountainwoodcarving@netzero.net

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TheGravedigger

209 posts in 775 days


659 days ago

Titebond III is my main glue for clean wood with a good joint. I HAVE used polyurethane in repairs where I had a torn-up joint that I couldn’t restore properly (old church pews with bad joints to begin with, for example). The gap-filling qualities can come in handy if strength isn’t a primary concern, & I haven’t noticed any real difference between the major brands. I think Dadoo is right about the bubbles being the Achilles heel of these glues.

Epoxy is great stuff, but sometimes it’s hard to get in place, like on the aforementioned pews.

-- Robert from Raymond, MS. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is therefore not a practice, but a habit." - Aristotle

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

3315 posts in 815 days


659 days ago

I use Gorilla Glue, Titebond III and liquid hide glue, dependent on fit, need for strength and complexity of glue up. Gorilla Glue wins for me especially with lamination, as the PVAs tend to swell thin sheets shop-made veneer.

What I would really like to know is, does anyone here use that Titebond HiPurformer hot reactive PU glue gun? I have itched for one for several years, but have held off for a number of reasons, cost being one of them. I think that stuff might not foam.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

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WeeWilly

17 posts in 818 days


657 days ago

I use Gorilla glue on the barrels that are inserted into wood blanks for pen turning. The glue expands to make a tight bond with the metal barrels to the wood blank and fills in the gap. The barrels never slip when turning the blanks. For wood projects that have close tolerance, I use Titebond III.

-- WeeWilly

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allenworb

33 posts in 2 days


1 day ago

Gorilla Glue now has a great white wood glue product for the more traditional woodworking uses.
Yes I do work for them as a freelance writer. I wouldn’t if I didn’t find their product good for woodworking.
Performance is right up there with the rest of the brands. Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.

-- Andy

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