Sometimes accidents happen. When it happens to a nice piece of furniture, it makes it even more difficult to part with and buy a new one. In these circumstances, wood glue happens to be a miracle. When choosing wood glues, how do you know which ones are the strongest?
Below I’ll list the top 8 strongest wood glues on the market. These wood glues are the top on the market and will help you tackle any task:
- Elmer’s E7330 Carpenter’s Wood Glue Max
- Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue
- Gorilla Wood Glue
- Evo-Stik Resin W Exterior Weatherproof Wood Glue
- Starbond Heavy EM-40 Heavy Thin
- Franklin International Titebond II
- Titebond Genuine Hide Glue
- Alcolin Cold Glue
Choosing wood glues is a tough task and if you choose the wrong one, it can make your already difficult time even that much more of a headache. Below I’ll post links to the wood glues and a quick review of each, indicating how strong each one is.
In this video, we used Titebond II to glue the corner pieces of our solar powered houseboat together, because it creates a super strong bond.
Types of Wood Glue
First lets start with a few different type of wood glues. As all glues are not equal in strength, they aren’t all made of the same properties.
PVA Glue
This is the most common glue. PVA stands for Polyvinyl acetate glue. Aliphatic resin is another name for this time of glue. This type of glue is usually on the cheaper side and very common. This glue is yellow based, and non-toxic.
This glue is a highly effective bonding agent but that comes at risk. This is often easily removed with water and doesn’t prove to be that durable. However, if you’re using it for small weighted furniture or crafts, it’s probably a good option.
Epoxy
Epoxy based glue is another type of glue. This glue is perfect for filing gaps. If you’re using either softwood or hardwood, you could use this glue to fix divots and gaps. Epoxy based glue is best used indoors and for projects that aren’t stuck in the elements as that may destroy it.
Epoxy is fairly strong, but it takes longer to bond. If you are looking to glue a few pieces together, applying the glue and then clamping the wood together is highly recommended. This will give you the strongest bond but will take a bit longer to set.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane glue carries a reputation as being strong and durable. While marketed towards wood, you can use Polyurethane based wood glue on many other materials such as ceramics, foam, plastic and glass. The versatility of Polyurethane isn’t the only unique feature of it.
While cleaning any surface you’re intending to apply wood glue to is highly recommended, Polyurethane requires you to not only clean the surface but wet it as well. The moisture creates an extra layer of bonding for the wood. Another unique feature with Polyurethane is that it’ll require a stronger chemical than just soap or water to remove. Chemical thinner or mineral spirits is highly suggested to use when cleaning.
Hide Glue
Created from actual animal hide, hide glue works differently from other types of wood glue. It forms an adhesive bond that can be applied in solid form with a brush. Hide glue is fairly strong and is primarily used on antiques due to the fact that it creates a unique appearance after used on the product.
Cyanoacrylate Wood Glue
This type of wood glue is commonly called super glue. The main draw for this type of “super glue” is it’s relatively quick ability to dry. This makes your projects that much faster.
Another facet of Cyanoacrylate wood glue is it’s strength and durability. It’s strong enough to bond to materials together. Because of it’s quick drying nature, it’s a go to for many people. The one down side is it’s runny nature. This enables the glue to be a bit messy for its’ handler and this can cause issues, especially depending on the materials you’re working with.
Now that we’ve looked at the different make-ups of wood glue, let’s look at some of the strongest wood glue products on the market. Below are the strongest wood glues available on the market today.
Strongest Wood Glue (In-depth)
Now that we’ve covered the different types of glue, lets get into the meaty portion and dive deep into each of the 8 glues.
Elmer’s E7330 Carpenter’s Wood Glue Max
Elmer’s E7330 Carpenter’s Wood Glue Max sits atop our list. This products reputation is well known in the wood working and carpentry communities for a reason. The glue industry’s top dog sits atop the throne alone, and it’s no wonder Elmer’s foray into wood glue is any different.
Being known to form bonds that are stronger than the actual wood itself is a pretty great accomplishment. This wood glue is resistant to heat, cold, mold and even mildew. While it’s marketed as an interior wood glue, it can undoubtedly be used in really any environment. A unique feature to this wood glue is the fact that its created with actual wood fibers, which allows it to bond much easier.
As with others on this list, Elmer’s E7330 is ANSI certified which means it’s water resistant. Another cool feature of this wood glue is its ability to be cleaned up simply with water. The glue is non-toxic, meaning no harmful fumes are released. This glue is so durable and strong, you can use it for anything from wooden furniture to stone and ceramic. It truly is incredible. In the off chance you need to use it on outdoor furniture, the wood glue will hold up to the elements just fine.
Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue
The first wood glue we’ll take a look at is the Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue. This glue features a waterproof design with a 60 minute set time. The curing time clocks in at a full day, 24 hours.
This glue is a epoxy compound that bonds well with wood. If you’re using this for specific wood bonding, you’re good to go. Trying to use it to bond other material together might not be the best idea.
Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue is made to be used in both interior and exterior settings. The bonding adhesive is perfect for outdoor wooden projects, just be sure to let it cure for the full 24 hours or else you’ll have yourself a runny mess. The low application temperature required makes this product great as well.
If safety is your priority, then the Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue would be your best bet. In fact, this product is FDA approved for indirect food contact. That doesn’t necessarily clear it to be used as a condiment on your hamburger, but if you get a bit on your hand you’ll probably be okay.
Gorilla Wood Glue
Gorilla is best known for their tape, which is said to compete with original duct tape in terms of strength. It’s no surprise then, that the Gorilla Wood Glue comes in as one of the more stronger standard wood glues on the market.
The Gorilla Wood Glue passes the ANSI/HPVA type II water resistance criteria. It is polyurethane based and is one of the strongest wood glues in the polyurethane class. The Gorilla Wood Glue penetrates deep into the wood, creating a stronger adhesive than other types of glue that don’t get as deep. The physical properties of the glue also prevent it from being runny or messy, leaving a thick liquid.
Clocking in at only 20 minutes of clamp time, this glue is one of the fastest drying glues on the market. As with most, it takes about a full day, or 24 hours to completely cure. Another positive about the Gorilla Wood Glue is that it will perform well in any sort of weather. It’s also multifaceted, meaning you can use it on many types of materials, such as hardwood, softwood, ceramic, plastic or metal.
Gorilla Wood Glue has another feature that makes it fairly unique. Gorilla Wood Glue uses an all natural wood color, so after bonding it sets with a pleasing aesthetic that matches the color of the wood. Even after application, Gorilla Wood Glue can be sanded down or stained to blend with it’s surrounding wood better.
Evo-Stik Resin W Exterior Weatherproof Wood Glue
Long known in the adhesive community, Evo-Stik’s entrance into wood glue has been a thing to behold. The bonding of this product is extremely strong, and will help bolster your workpiece’s durability and strength.
What really makes this wood glue a strong option is it’s fast setting properties. This wood glue is advertised to set in 5-10 minutes. Once cured, the wood glue is open to sanding or being painted while maintaining its integrity. Other than its quick drying speed, another feature of this wood glue is it’s weatherproofing. You can use this glue on virtually any wood in any condition. Allowing the elements to be an ally rather than a foe, this wood glue is one of the best on the market.
After the 24 hour cure window is over, the Evo-Stik Resin W Exterior Weatherproof Wood Glue is ready to be adapted into any environment. If you need to stain it to match the wood, go for it. If it needs to be painted, that works too! This wood glue is able to blend in with any type of material.
While the Evo-Stik Resin W Exterior Weatherproof Wood Glue is priced higher than others on the list, it’s well worth it. Consider the amount of time you’ll save on your projects due to the setting speed half that of its competitors and you might even think it a bargain!
Starbond Heavy EM-40 Heavy Thin
The only cyanoacrylate glue on this list, Starbond puts out a great wood glue. This industrial grade adhesive is sure to hold anything you need together. Due to its super glue properites, its best to take extra precaution when using this wood glue. Even though it’s non toxic and has a safe formula, this stuff is so strong and runny you’d be wise to play it safe with gloves and goggles.
The Starboard Heavy Thin wood glue penetrates deep into the wood. By infiltrating the wood so deep, the wood glue can create a much stronger bond than standard wood glues within the market. This is accomplished thanks to its thin viscosity. Olive oil is even thicker than this product, and that truly helps when relying upon it to hold together important things.
One way to use this product is by applying numerous coats of it. Once it dries, you can sand it down and the wood glue turns into a nice polish due to its cyanoacrylate property. This wood glue isn’t simply just for wood. You can use this on anything from rubber to leather, or gemstones to carbon fiber. This can even be used on boats!
One drawback to this particular type of wood glue is that it isn’t too durable and needs to be kept in a cold climate if stored. When stored in under 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the Starbond Heavy EM-40 will last you years.
Franklin International Titebond II
The second Titebond on our list, but not the last. This Franklin International product is widely popular. Being one of the first one consumers go for, the Titebond II is an excellent choice for all your wood related projects.
Titebond II is one part PVA wood glue and like it’s distant cousin, Titebond III, it passes the ANSI type II water resistance specification. This makes the Titebond II ideal for outdoor projects from outdoor furniture to birdhouses and everything in between.
The fast dry time of roughly half an hour is on par with it’s competitors. While this doesn’t make it the fastest drying wood glue on the market, it definitely makes it’s drying speed competitive. Like others, it’s FDA approved for indirect food contact and is non-toxic. This basically means that you can use it for certain kitchen projects like cutting boards without fear of harm to your health.
Due to its chemical properties, the Titebond II is ideal for radio frequency’s???????? as well as hot press systems. Meaning it can be used with an array of tools for gluing. Once it’s applied, set and cured, the durability of this glue is off the charts. Sanding it down or staining it won’t effect it’s ability to bond, and t’s water resistance capabilities are sure to turn heads and attract customers.
Titebond Genuine Hide Glue
The last Titebond on the list, the Titebond Genuine Hide Glue answers to no one. Applauded for it’s “crackling” effect, this wood glue is quite unique. It’s the only glue on our list that’s made from animal hide, but that doesn’t hold it back on the strength charts.
Critically applauded in the antique community, the Titebond Genuine Hide Glue has somewhat of a cult following. A hide glue pioneer of sorts, Titebond Genuine Hide Glue is the first ever hide glue to be offered in a ready-to-use liquid formula. In the past, carpenters or users had to mix hide glue with other chemicals to turn it into a liquid that is usable.
While the durability for this wood glue is nothing to scoff at, it’s more known for it’s aesthetic quality. I’m speaking of the crackling effect it emits of course. The swelling of the Hide Glue pulls apart the top coat of paint as it sets, leaving the piece with an aged look.
The manufacturer recommends applying the Hide Glue to only sanded surfaces. This ensures that it’s adhesive properties are boosted and allows the hide glue to bond best. The uniqueness of this glue lends itself to the user practicing with it a bit before actual usage on a project, mainly because most of its consumers are using it on antique pieces that require special care and consideration.
Alcolin Cold Glue for Wood
One of the more popular PVA glues, this is the last inclusion on our list. The Alcolin Cold Glue for Wood is a solid addition for anyone seeking an all PVA glue. While this glue isn’t as versatile as others on this list, it does a great job on the surface that it’s intended for.
In production for 50 years, Alcolin Cold Glue is primarily for use with soft to medium woods, leather, cloth, paper or cork. The Alcolin Cold Glue is made to really bond with any porous material and creates a strong adhesive capable of standing up to most harsh weather environments. It’s also proven especially effective at tackling joint jobs such as mortise and tenons and box joints. A little definitely goes a long way with this wood glue.
The high quality of this wood glue allows you to use much less than you would with other glues on this list. The 4.2 fluid ounces should be more than enough for most projects. Its set speed is just as fast as others on this list, while its ability to be sanded is also just as good. Once set, you can sand it, paint it or stain it just as you would with other types of wood glues.
Well, there you have it. A comprehensive list of the eight strongest wood glues on the market right now. Whether you’re just starting out and making a small cutting board or a seasoned woodworker making a giant treehouse for their kids, these wood glues should all be up to whatever task you ask of them.