There are many kinds of wood glue, with PVA and Gorilla glue being some of the most commonly used ones. This article is about how to apply PVA and gorilla glue to wood.
Before anything, cover your work surface with wax paper. This will help prevent your glued items and tools from sticking to it.
Gorilla glue and other kinds of polyurethane glues become activated by moisture. Before applying the glue, wipe the areas to be glued with a damp cloth.
Cover areas near the glued portion with masking tape to prevent them from being affected by the glue. If you will use wooden blocks to hold the pieces while clamping, cover these with tape as well.
Pour the wood glue to the surface and spread it well. You can use a paint brush, a paint roller, or a notched trowel to apply the glue evenly. Use a big applicator to cover a wide area.
You only need a small amount of glue for it to work. On the other hand, too much glue can cause run-out problems. Use thin, even coats of glue on the surfaces that need joining.
The right amount of glue will show up as a thin, beady line along the edge. Too much glue creates a bulky line, while too little glue will not show along the edges, or it may appear as a discontinuous line.
Apply the glue to the edges of the boards. Rub them against each other until the glue spreads evenly. Clamp them together afterwards.
Metal clamps may leave marks on the wood. If you’re not using scrap wood to hold the item in place, cover the clamps with wax paper.
Avoid over-tightening the clamps—this can distort the piece and weaken the joint by squeezing out the glue. Wood blocks taped to the jaws of the clamps protect the surfaces from being stained or marred. They also distribute the pressure more evenly to achieve stronger glue joints.
The clamps may be removed after 15 to 30 minutes because this is the working time of most wood glues. However, for best results, keep the clamps on for 45 minutes to 4 hours. Stressed joints need to be clamped for an entire day.
Remove excess glue with a cloth. For polyurethane glues, use mineral spirits when wiping. If the glue has hardened, use an abrasive pad or paint scraper.
If you’re gluing numerous boards together, add the boards one at a time so they can be aligned. Let the joint set for 30 minutes, remove the clamps, and add the next board. Do this with the other boards until you’re done.
Take note that PVA glue is watery so it may cause glue joint edges to swell. If you sand or plane panels with PVA glue too early, you may end up having a piece with receded joints. If you are using this kind of glue, wait two or more days before planing and sanding.
Caution: glue fumes may be dangerous, so you must glue in a well-ventilated area and avoid open flames when gluing. Wear gloves to protect your hands.
As you can see, using wood glue is easy if you apply it correctly and leave the glued item clamped long enough. You may not get it perfectly the first time, but you will eventually get the hang of it.
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