Your spice racks were some of the biggest, hunkiest, and most heavy-duty wood that you could find, but they still warped. No matter how quickly you reacted to the warping phenomenon, it still happened. After the warping happened, your spice racks became a jumble of unsecured, unusable shelves.
You update your spice racks numerous times, using various construction techniques, hoping to fix the problem. You brace them, nail them together, fasten them―no matter what you do, it doesn’t matter The warping happens, and you’re left with a useless shelf.
Wood is healthy, sturdy, and long-lasting as a material to build with, but you can’t work with wood like you can with metal. Wood doesn’t have the same properties, and tools (often hand tools are used to put wood together) are harder to access and use.
Beyond the fact that you may sometimes run into problems with warping, ripping, and drying, woodworking can also be a dusty, dirty, and messy undertaking. If you aren’t careful, you’ll end up with wood glue all over your work area and saws and other tools will be harder and harder to keep free of bad smells and unwanted debris.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue | Best Overall |  |
| Gorilla Wood Glue | Budget Pick |  |
| Gorilla Clear Glue | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue
Pros:
- High-quality wood glue
- Easy to use and helps fix minor wood cracks and joinery issues
- Fairly inexpensive and widely available
- Works great on most types of woods
Cons:
- May take a few hours to dry
- Some customers complain about the cap cracking so that you can’t screw it onto the opening
- It doesn’t work with oily woods
What’s great about this glue is that it’s one of the best wood glues out there that you can find in the market. It’s a waterproof glue that works well on wooden furniture, countertops, stud walls, staircases, and other wood based projects. It does require clamping, but the hold is incredible. It is also easy to wash away when you’re finished with your glueing jobs.
2. J-B Weld 8251 WoodWeld Quick Setting Wood Epoxy Adhesive
Pros:
- No mixing required
- Easy to work with and spread
- Good for filling larger holes
- Bonds well with wood and other soft surfaces
- Keeps wood from expanding and contracting
- Easy to use
- Non-smelly
Cons:
- Not quick-drying
- Expensive
Tube, Clear.
The J-B Weld WoodWeld epoxy is a high-quality, non-toxic epoxy that’s perfect for fixing broken furniture, patching wood flooring, or filling in the holes and cracks caused by termites.
The glue’s formula is made to be thinner for easy and fast spreading. It’s also odorless, non-flammable, and non-staining. This means that you can actually apply this glue and let it sit out, without worrying about it stinking up the place.
3. Elmer's E7310 Carpenter's Wood Glue Max
Pros:
- Works well on porous and non-porous surfaces
- Maximum holding power
- Versatile use
- Good price
Cons:
- Does not stick well to glass
- Nontoxic formula
- Water-based formula
Elmers Carpenter Wood Glue is a fantastic option for general wood working projects. It can be used to bond wood, particleboard, and veneers together to make cabinets, furniture, and decorations.
Elmer’s E7310 Carpenter’s Wood Glue Max is non-toxic, and instead, it uses synthetic latex to ensure a high level of flexibility. It can be easily sanded and painted after drying. It also dries clear and offers a medium sheen. This glue is suited for both interior and exterior painting.
It delivers a high level of flexibility, so the bond that it creates is much more durable. It has a maximum holding power, and the feat of holding fibers together is enormous.
4. Sili-Brush – Silicone Glue Brush
Pros:
- Surprisingly effective
- Less expensive than natural hair brushes
- No mess
- The quality is surprisingly good
- Easily portable – great for trips
Cons:
- Started off strong but after a while the glue would not stick anymore
- The glue would stick to the container of the glue more
5. Titebond 5064 Original Wood Glue
Pros:
- Great value for money
- Works well with both porous and nonporous woods
- High-strength bonds
- Exceptional water resistance
- Biodegradable
- Paints and stains well
This is a general-purpose wood glue is quite strong and is great for both indoor and outdoor applications. It’s highly versatile, and works well on hardwoods, softwoods, and particle board. It’s also formulated for particleboard, plywood, T&G joints, as well as particleboard panels. On top of that, this glue has a high initial tack and it bonds well with both porous and nonporous woods. Titebond 5064 Original Wood Glue is also formulated to resist water, and it’s also paintable and stainable.
This glue can be a bit challenging to use, and you need to make sure that the joint is perfectly flat and sanded to get the perfect joint. That being said, it’s still quite user-friendly, and has a relatively strong initial tack. That means you can apply pressure and it will still stick to the back. However, you should wait a little bit before joining the boards so that the glue can set.
6. Franklin International 6123 Titebond Trans Glue
Pros:
- Highly versatile glue – great for wood, stone, ceramic, metal, and plastics
- Resists stains and water penetration
- Contains zero VOCs
Here’s a quick rundown of the Franklin International 6123 Titebond Glue. It’s an all-purpose glue that’s perfect to use on woodworking projects and repairs. It actually has the strongest bond strength of all Franklin International brands. This also means it’s resistant to moisture, stains, and water.
This glue is also versatile, meaning you can use it for wood, stone, ceramic, metal, or plastic. We all know glue has many applications, and this one performs very well across the board. It’s useful to have around and makes for a great addition to your home workshop. We love that this glue is ideal for strong and permanent bonds that are water-resistant.
7. Gorilla Clear Glue
Pros:
- Water resistant
- Shrink-proof
- Brush-on applicator
- 100% clear and glue-colored
- Also available in large-size one-gallon bottles
- Good quality glue delivered on-time
Gorilla Clear Glue is a clear liquid glue suitable for most surfaces. It's made from water resistant, strength-enhancing polyvinyl acetate copolymer and is approved for use by homeowners and craftsman alike.
There are zero fumes associated with the Gorilla glue and it's totally applicator brush-on type. The off-white color of the glue blends it properly with the color of your material and it has a consistency that's neither too watery nor too thick.
The manufacturer claims that the Gorilla glue is so strong that it sets up in 25 minutes and there's no need to clamp the pieces together. However, experts recommend adding weights and clamping to minimize the time for a better bond.
8. Gorilla Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive
Pros:
- Ultra-strong
- Easy to spread
- Long shelf life
- Does not contain solvents, and therefore, does not give off strong odors
- Forms an instant bond for use on certain softwoods
- Can be painted over without waiting more than 24 hours
Cons:
- May not be suitable for uses that require flexibility
- Very expensive
The Gorilla Glue is best suited for heavy-duty applications. This is because it contains no solvents, and has a very strong bond-forming power. It may get quite messy, however, so if you’re not ready for that, you might want to look elsewhere. It dries after two hours, which is a bit longer than some other products. That being said, we would strongly recommend this product because of its ability to stay where it’s placed.
The only major thing to watch out for is price. Most customers feel that this is a bit overpriced, but they’re willing to pay more to get the increased reliability.
9. Krazy Glue 2063184 Fast Dry Wood Glue
Pros:
- Very strong bond when curing properly
- Does not overpower raw wood
- Easy to use nozzle applicator
- No lingering smells
Cons:
- The glue can be slightly expensive
- Can be a little tacky in the uncured state
This Krazy Glue wood glue can be used to assemble a variety of wood products and is perfect for outdoor applications.
It comes with a closed nozzle applicator handle that makes it easier to control the amount of glue you want to apply to a joint. The nozzle is wide enough so that even large amounts of glue can be applied to the joint without the user having to worry about overflow.
One factor that helps to make this a great option for use with outdoor furniture is that it is rated for use in climate zones four through eight. So, in the event that the weather is warm enough for outdoor furniture, this can be the wood glue of choice.
10. Elmer's E7502 4-Ounce Advanced ProBond Advanced Professional Multi-Surface Bond
Pros:
- Can be used on multiple surfaces
- Bonds fairly well to multiple surfaces
- Gives a durable bond when dried
- Dries quickly
Next, we have Elmer’s E7502 which is an advanced woodworking glue that bonds very well on a variety of surfaces and is durable when dried. It is formulated with real wood fibers and dries fast, so it’s ideal for large-scale projects. It can also be used in less than ideal weather conditions.
The only major issue with Elmer’s E7502 is that it doesn’t come with a pour spout, so you’ll need to keep an eye on the tip when dispensing the glue to avoid spills.
11. Gorilla Wood Glue
Pros:
- Wide range of applications
- Dries quickly
- Waterproof
- Strong bond
- Non-flammable
- Low-temperature curing
- Won’t crack as it dries
Cons:
- Considered one of the more expensive glues
- Prolonged exposure to some woods can cause discoloration
- Even with a clamping system, it may still swell the wood
The Gorilla Wood Glue is a polyurethane wood glue suitable for a wide range of applications, including veneer. It has a water-based formula and is very strong. It can be used with wood, marble, brick, stucco, foam core, fiberglass, concrete, pottery, ceramic, and cork. It adheres to a broad range of surfaces and can be used on both porous and non-porous materials.
It can also be sanded, drilled, stained, painted, and varnished. It is waterproof and is unaffected by high or low temperatures. Its working life is long, and dries in approximately 10-15 minutes. With a strong bond, it is suitable for interior and exterior use. This glue comes in a pack of 1, 8-ounce bottle and is priced reasonably.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the strongest glue for wood?
Epoxy wood glue comes with different options of setting time. With standard setting of 30-45 minutes, it doesn’t provide ample time for adjustment or perfect alignment. Longer setting time may easily get in the way and cause less perfect alignment when gluing.
This is why setting accelerator should be used. Accelerator gives more time to align the pieces before the glue sets to the full extent. This is also useful for those who work in a hurry and don’t have time to position and align the pieces correctly.
For those who have the luxury of time, choose the standard setting epoxy glue. But for those who don’t, the accelerator.
Which Gorilla Glue is best for wood?
The Gorilla Brands manufactures two wood glues: Gorilla Wood Glue & Gorilla Epoxy Glue.
I’ve used both products, and here are my thoughts on them.
What is the best waterproof wood glue?
There are two types of wood glue that are important for woodworkers: carpenter glue and waterproof glue. When adding a finish to a wooden surface, it is crucial to first adhere it to another surface, so you donʼt get the finish on your surface. And if you use the wrong glue, it will cause the finish to peel off.
This is how I use wood glue:
It is the most widely used glue. It forms a soft white bond between wood pieces. It doesn’t shrink and doesn’t have a memory and this is what makes it ideal for making joints that are not otherwise easy to make.
Here are the best wood glues on the market:
Is Gorilla Glue stronger than wood glue?
Gorilla Glue is a fast-curing wood glue that is stronger than most traditional wood glues because of the way it is formulated. Б§Gorilla Glue uses a modified form of polyurethane that can be formulated both for indoor and outdoor use. Б§Whereas, most traditional wood glues are only formulated for indoor use. Б§Should you prefer to use Gorilla Glue, and will be using it in an area with larger humidity, or an outdoor area, it is advisable to use Gorilla Glue Wood Glue and not just the standard Gorilla Glue. Б§Typically, outdoor projects use a waterproof-type glue, because the area it will be used in is more likely to get wet than an indoor area.
Conclusion
Whether you're working on home projects, repairing furniture, gluing ceramic pieces together (or anything else where you need an adhesive), it's important to have the best wood glue. In this article, we've explored some of the best wood glues available so you can find the best one based on your specific needs. We looked at price, how long it takes the glue to dry, how strong or durable it is, how well it sticks, how easy it is to apply, and other factors. Our goal was to give you a list of recommendations and reviews so that you can pick the best product for your needs.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue | Best Overall | |
| Gorilla Wood Glue | Budget Pick | |
| Gorilla Clear Glue | Upgrade Pick | |