In this blog post, we will discuss some of the reasons why your wood glue is not holding and how to fix the problem.
8 Reasons Why Your Wood Glue is Not Holding
While glue failure isn’t common, there are a few reasons why it happens:
1. Shelf Life
Manufacturers state that wood glue typically lasts 1-2 years when stored in optimal conditions. After this, the glue starts to lose its effectiveness.
However, I have used wood glue well after the suggested 1-2 years and haven’t had any issues.
2. Temperature
More specifically, freezing temperatures. Bob Behnke, senior technical specialist at Titebond states “The worst storage conditions allow freezing, then thawing and heat,” explains Behnke. “Most wood glues are designed to withstand a minimum of five freeze/thaw cycles. With each cycle, the glue forms gels.
Mixing easily breaks up these gels, but each subsequent freeze/thaw incident will make the gels more difficult to disperse.”
Check the expiration date on your glue, if it’s well beyond the expiration date and has been through a couple of freezing cycles, this could be your problem.
3. Using Oily Wood
Some woods like Padauk have higher levels of oil which make it difficult for the glue to adhere properly to the wood.
If you are using oily wood, try sanding the surface you are gluing and wiping it down with acetone. This should remove the surface oil.
4. Using Dense Wood
High-density woods can be difficult because the glue can’t penetrate the wood to create a strong bond. When using dense wood, try sanding the surface area to be glued.
This will help the glue to penetrate the wood, allowing for a stronger bond.
5. Dirty Surface
Even if you can’t see any dirt, there could be something on the surface that is preventing the glue from adhering correctly.
Be sure to wipe down all surfaces that are going to be glued to ensure that there is no dirt that could weaken the glue bond.
6. Type of Glue
This might sound like a no-brainer but make sure you are using wood glue for your project. Some glues are not meant to be used on wood and will not create a strong bond.
7. Set Time/Cure Time
Weather conditions have a significant impact on cure times for wood glues. If it’s too cold, the glue will take much longer to fully cure than if the temperature is just right.
When in doubt, allow extra time for the wood glue to fully cure and reach it’s maximum bonding strength.
8. Clamping
When using wood glue, it is important to clamp the pieces of wood together while the glue sets. The length of time required for the glue to set depends on the type of glue and the temperature and humidity levels.
In general, however, most wood glues take about 24 hours to reach full strength. For best results, it is recommended to leave the wood clamped overnight before unclamping them.
How Long Will Wood Glue Hold For?
Wood glue should hold for many years assuming you use the correct glue for your project.
For instance, if your project is going to be exposed to moisture like a cutting board or outside furniture then you want to make sure that you use waterproof glue.
Conclusion
With the above mentioned reasons as well as tips and tricks that will help you solve the respective issue, you should not have any problem with figuring out why your wood glue is not working the way it should.
