Best Wood Glue
Wood glue is a miracle worker that can save your favorite chair by fixing its leg, it can stop your shed door from falling apart, and it can repair the arm of your daughter's much-loved wood doll.
When you have the right wood glue in your home, you feel like there is nothing you can't do. You feel on top of the world.
But, finding the right wood glue can be a long and arduous journey. There is nothing worse than waiting 24 hours for your glue to dry only to find it has done nothing.
Let us help you avoid that pain, with this guide to the best wood glue on the market right now.
Gorilla Wood Glue (Best Of The Best)
Size: 4 ounce - 60 ounce
Type: PVA-based
Set time: 20-30 minutes
Curing time: 24 hours
Waterproof: Yes
Indoor or Outdoor: Both
Toxic: No
Before you roll your eyes and call us cliched, bare with us.
Gorilla Wood Glue is possibly the best-known wood glue brand in the world. There is a reason why the companies sell millions of bottles of the stuff around the world every year.
This stuff is so strong, that even a gorilla would have a difficult time removing it. This is why so many people choose this product again and again.
Gorilla Glue hits the sweet spot between being well priced, easy to find at the hardware store, and working really well.
This glue is designed with woodwork in mind, it is a waterproof PVA-based fixative. It can be used inside or outside and is pretty much weatherproof. It takes 20-30 minutes to set and 24 hours to cure. It is also non-toxic.
When looking into the history of the company we found multiple people saying that the glue has held strong for over 10 years. We haven't tested this product for a full decade, but we can confirm that the garden gate we fixed with it 2 years ago is still going strong.
The one minor downside to this glue is how well it works. We understand that this does not sound like a problem and it isn't… Until you store the bottle incorrectly and it sticks to the shelf or the lid glues itself shut.
You will want to make sure that you clean out the glue nose after each use. Otherwise, you will find that the glue will dry and make the tube difficult to use. You will end up wasting a lot of your time trying to unblock the tube.
This will be frustrating because the glue is so easy to use, it will take you longer to unblock it than it will to fix your shed door.
We normally find that the best product in a category is one of the most expensive, however, there aren't many wood glues out there that are better value than Gorilla Glue.
Gorilla Glue costs less than $10 for an average-sized bottle, but if you want to get even better value for money you can buy it in bulk.
You can get Gorilla Glue in Clear and in Wood Color.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Non-toxic
- Indoors and Outdoors
- Works for years
Cons
- If stored incorrectly can cause damage
Apel Premium Wood Glue (Best Of The Bargains)
Size: 16 ounce - 32 ounce
Type: PVA-based
Set time: 30-35 minutes
Curing time: 24 hours
Waterproof: Yes
Indoor or Outdoor: Both
Toxic: No
If you are dead set against using Gorilla Glue then you will want to look into Apel Premium Wood Glue. This wood glue is not glamorous in any way, but it gets the job done, and it's cheaper than the majority of its competitors.
When you start to use this glue, you might be fooled into thinking that you have accidentally brought some elementary school glue. It looks and smells just like that. But don't let your children get anywhere near this stuff - it is incredibly strong.
Just like with Gorilla Glue, you will have to be careful how you store this stuff because of how strong it is.
Apel glue is PVA-based, non-toxic, waterproof, and can be used outside and indoors. Apel looks boring but it's designed to glue wood together. It does that and it does it very well.
You will find that it doesn't dry down as fast as other glues. This means that you have more time to put everything in the right place, but you have to spend longer waiting for it to cure. Things are more likely to go wrong when things cure slowly.
Many cheaper tubes of glue tend not to dry clear, however, we were pleasantly surprised by how clearly Apel dried. If you put too much in one place then you may find it goes a little cloudy.
This glue does not come in a smaller size, so if you very rarely have to use your wood glue then this 16-ounce bottle may solidify before you get a chance to use it up.
Also, like all other bottles of wood glue, unless you carefully clean the tube, it will end up blocked with this incredibly strong glue. The tube on this glue is also a lot shorter than other wood glues we have used - we found that it made it harder to apply the glue accurately.
You can buy this glue in 16-ounce twin value packs, or in a larger 32-ounce bottle if you are looking to save more money.
Pros
- Amazing price
- Non-toxic
- Mostly dries clear
- Very strong
- Waterproof
Cons
- Tube too short
- Can be too strong
Elmer's E7310 Carpenter's Wood Glue Max
Size: 4 ounce - 60 ounce
Type: PVA-based
Set time: 30-35 minutes
Curing time: 24 hours
Waterproof: Yes
Indoor or Outdoor: Both
Toxic: No
Next on our list of amazing wood glues is Elmer's E7310 Carpenter's Wood Glue Max. This is a souped-up version of their original Carpenter's Wood Glue and it is much more powerful. If you want your repairs to last for years - then this might be the glue you are looking for.
This is one of the strongest wood glues you will be able to get your hands on. Once it's set, it's nearly impossible to remove. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor use, it is weatherproof and heat resistant.
One of the small issues with this glue is that because of its heat resistance properties it doesn't set if you use it on a cold day. If the temperature is less than 50F then this glue can take up to 5 days to completely set.
If you live in a cold and/or damp part of the country then you are going to want to pick out a different glue.
The other small issue that we have with the Elmer's glue is that it doesn't always dry clear. If you are working on wood that has been painted white you don't have an issue. But, the glue will stick out against any other shade of wood.
Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Glue Max is already great value for money - however, you can get it in a range of sizes. You can get it in bottles as small as 4 ounces and as big as 60 ounces.
Pros
- Incredibly strong
- Great price
- Heat resistant
Cons
- Doesn't work in cold weather
- Doesn't dry clear
Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue
Size: 8 ounce
Type: PVA-based
Set time: 30-35 minutes
Curing time: 24 hours
Waterproof: Yes
Indoor or Outdoor: Outdoors
Toxic: No
If you used Titebond 1, or maybe even Titebond 2, you might be a little wary about trying another glue from this brand. However, with Titebond 3 Ultimate Wood Glue they have finally perfected the formula.
If you are looking for a STRONG glue that works at all temperatures and can handle any weather then you will want to pick up a bottle of Titebond 3. This is not really suitable to use indoors but it works flawlessly on those jobs that you have outside the house.
Because it can only be used outside, it would be nice if it came in a smaller size that you have a better chance of finishing before the glue dries out.
We are hoping that Titebond will release a version of this glue that dries clear. At the moment, this glue dries brown - which is not a problem unless you are working with light wood.
If this glue was better value for money or came in a better range of sizes then it would be in the top 2 of this list.
Pros
- Very strong
- Waterproof
- Works in low temperatures
Cons
- Doesn't dry clear
- Only comes in one size
Sdintar Instant Super Glue for Wood
Size: 20 grams
Type: Super Glue
Set time: 10minutes
Curing time: 6 hours
Waterproof: Yes
Indoor or Outdoor: Indoors
Toxic: No
If you need to repair a wood item that is constantly in use - like a favorite wooden toy or a cooking utensil, then you should look into using a hybrid wood glue-super glue. The Sdintar Instant Super Glue for Wood is one of the best out there.
This glue is best used for items that are going to be handled a lot but are not going to get wet or end up outside.
Like most superglues, this glue comes in a very small tube. You will feel like you are paying a lot of money for not a lot of glue, but as soon as you start using it you will realize a little bit that goes a long way.
This glue also dries completely clear.
Pros
- Dries clear
- A little bit goes a long way
- Very, very strong
Cons
- More expensive than everything else on this list
- Only works on indoor items
- Best for small repairs
Best Wood Glue - A Buyer's Guide
In this section, we are going to give you 5 questions that you can ask yourself to work out what you want from a wood glue and which product is going to be best for you.
Let's dive straight into these questions.
How Often Do You Use Wood Glue?
If you find yourself constantly needing to use wood glue then you might want to consider buying a glue that comes in a larger size. If you do this you will get a lot more product at a much better cost peruse. You may make good use of a 32-ounce bottle.
However, if you rarely use wood glue, but like to have it on hand just in case - then a 4- ounce bottle may be helpful for you. You do not want to pay for a larger bottle only for it to try out before you get a chance to use it all up.
Do You Want to Do Your Repairs Inside or Outside?
If you want to use your wood glue on items outside then you are going to need to find a glue that is waterproof, heat resistant, and is generally weatherproof.
You will also want a glue that doesn't take too long to cure (less than half an hour) and set (24 hours or less).
If you only want to repair items that are inside then you don't need to worry about most of the factors that we mentioned above. You will want to make sure that the glue is non-toxic and doesn't smell too strongly.
Some glues can be used both inside and outside.
Where Do You Live?
You may not have considered this, but the weather in the area that you live with affects the type of wood glue that you use.
If you live in an area that is really wet in the fall and gets really cold in the winter then you are going to need to get a glue that sets in the cold and can handle freezing temperatures.
The glue companies won't talk about this, so you will need to find this information from the people reviewing the products.
If you live in a really hot area then you are going to buy a glue that has heat resistant properties.
What Color Wood Are You Working On?
Some glues dry clear. Some glues dry brown. Some glues dry white.
You need to be aware of what color the glue dries before you start using it. You may not think that it matters too much, but using the wrong color glue can ruin the overall look and finish of the item you are working on.
You can find what color the glue dries by checking the bottle. But we do also recommend that you check the reviews for glues that claim to dry clear - sometimes these descriptions aren't very accurate.
How Much Do You Want to Spend On Your Glue?
The final question you need to ask yourself is - how much do you want to spend on a bottle of wood glue? Your answers to the questions above will also feed into your answer.
If you find yourself using wood glue a lot then it might be worth investing in the item. However, if it is going to be a "just in case" item in your DIY kit then you might be hesitant to splash out.
Remember that you can get better value for money if you buy the glue in larger sizes. However, if you don't use the glue very much, then that won't give you a better cost peruse.
Best Wood Glue Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to learn more about wood glue then you have come to the right place. These are the questions that are asked most frequently about wood glue.
Wood glue is a useful tool that you can use to give new life to broken toys, furniture, wooden structures, and much more.
Keep reading to learn more about wood glue.
Does Wood Glue Really Work?
Yes!
Modern wood glue is incredibly strong and can hold broken pieces of wood together for many years.
The most important things you can do to make sure your wood glue works are to give it enough time to cure and enough time to set before you use the item again.
How Do I Get Wood Glue Off Skin?
We have a 3 step process for removing wood glue from our skin.
Step 1 - Wash your hands with warm soapy water.
Step 2 - Mix a large pinch of salt into some Vaseline and massage the mixture into your hands. The oil and the salt will help to remove the wood glue quickly.
Step 3 - Wash your hands with soapy water again to remove the soap, wood glue, and Vaseline.
Can I Use Wood Glue On Things That Aren't Glue?
It is best that you only use wood glue on wood, as that is what it is designed for. If you use it on other materials you may damage them.
