What is Wood Glue?

Wood glue creates a bond between wood surfaces that, when done correctly, is stronger than the wood itself. The key requirement: long-grain to long-grain contact and adequate clamping pressure during cure.

Main wood glue types: - PVA (yellow glue): Titebond Original, Titebond II. The standard for interior furniture. Open time: 5 to 10 minutes. Cure: 24 hours. Clamp time: 30 to 60 minutes. Not waterproof. - PVA Type III (waterproof): Titebond III. Passes ANSI Type I water resistance. Same open time and cure. Use for cutting boards, outdoor furniture, and anything exposed to moisture. - Polyurethane (Gorilla Glue): expands while curing, fills small gaps, bonds to end grain better than PVA. Messy, foams, and stains skin. Clamp time: 1 to 2 hours. - Epoxy: two-part adhesive with gap-filling properties. Best for structural repairs, mixed materials, and situations where clamping is difficult. Cure: 5 minutes to 24 hours depending on formula. - CA glue (superglue): instant bond for small repairs, inlays, and crack stabilization. No structural strength for joints.

Coverage. Apply a thin, even layer to both surfaces. Target 6 to 8 mil thickness (about the thickness of a piece of paper). Squeeze-out should appear as a thin, consistent bead along the joint. No squeeze-out means you used too little.

Common wood glue mistake. Gluing end grain without treatment. End grain absorbs glue, starving the joint. For end-grain joints, apply a sizing coat (thin layer of diluted glue), let it dry 15 minutes, then apply a full coat and clamp.

In the cut list workflow, glue does not affect part dimensions. SmartCutList uses finished sizes regardless of the adhesive method.