Top 5 Best Wood Glues

5 Best Common PVA Wood Glues

Greetings wood crafters! There are many wood glues out there that you can buy, and a lot of folks have asked me what the differences are. I’m hoping that this little post will help you decide what type of glue you want to use for your project.

Number 5: Elmer’s Wood Glue

The Good:

1. Open time/work time is about 20 minutes, which is great for intricacies
2. Clamp time is 30 minutes
3. Easy to clean up and bonds very strong
4. Can be sanded once fully dried
5. Inexpensive, but reliable

The Bad:

1. If over applied, it will run down your work piece more than other glues do
2. Dries in a very yellowish color, making dried drips very obvious if you are a sloppy gluer
3. Cannot be used for any outdoor or water contact pieces

 

Number 4: Titebond Original Wood Glue

The Good (much like the previous):

1. Open time/work time is about 20 minutes, which is great for intricacies
2. Clamp time is 30 minutes
3. Easy to clean up and bonds very strong
4. Can be sanded once fully dried
5. Inexpensive, but reliable

The Bad (much like the previous):

1. If over applied, it will run down your work piece more than other glues do
2. Dries in a very yellowish color, making dried drips very obvious if you are a sloppy gluer
3. Cannot be used for any outdoor or water contact pieces

 

Number 3: Elmer’s Wood Glue Max

The Good:

1. Open time/work time is about 15-20 minutes
2. Clamp time is 30-60 minutes
3. Easy to clean up and bonds very strong
4. Can be sanded once fully dried
5. Inexpensive, but reliable
6. Can be used for any outdoor or water contact pieces

The Bad:

1. Its temperature range for initial application is a little less than some of its Titebond competitors
2. It claims to be stainable, but any glue will never match any wood when stained with the same stain

 

Number 2: Titebond Wood Glue Max

The Good:

1. Great initial strength when wood is first joined
2. Clamp time is 30-60 minutes
3. Easy to clean up and bonds very strong
4. Can be sanded once fully dried
5. Can be used for any outdoor or water contact pieces
6. Its temperature range for initial application is 55°
7. FDA approved for indirect food contact (tables, cutting boards, etc)

The Bad:

1. It is not stainable, meaning that color will not change with stain application
2. Open time/work time is about 10-15 minutes

 

And Finally, My Number 1 Favorite Wood Glue: Gorilla Wood Glue

The Good:

1. Open time/work time is about 20-30 minutes
2. Great initial strength when wood is first joined
3. Clamp time is 30-60 minutes
4. Easy to clean up and bonds very strong
5. Can be sanded once fully dried
6. Can be used for any outdoor or water contact pieces
7. Its temperature range for initial application is 45°
8. FDA approved for indirect food contact (tables, cutting boards, etc)

The Bad:

1. It is not stainable, meaning that color will not change with stain application

 

In summary, I would just like to say that all 5 of these wood glues are used by me all the time.  There are some different applications for each of them, but my rule of thumb is that if you can get an interior/exterior wood glue instead of just interior, that is your best bet if you are unsure about what to buy. If you have the extra several dimes to spend, Gorilla Wood Glue would absolutely be my first recommendation.

I am speaking here of personal experience and not necessarily their spec sheet data. Disagree with my number 1? What is your favorite wood glue to use and why?