Wood glue, also called wood adhesive, is used in carpentry and joinery works to bond materials together. If glue is of high quality, you won't need screws or nails to keep two pieces of timber together. Wood glue is an easy-to-use solution for putting shelves and cupboards together and putting them in place. There is no need to drill holes or drive in nails, causing damage and holes in walls. Wood glue gives a clean bond, is secure, and does the work in no time.
Wood Glue Should Be Allowed to Dry
Wood glue should be given enough time to dry to strengthen the bond between the two pieces of wood. If the wood glue hasn't dried properly, it will result in a weak bond and break easily.
The drying time for wood glue can vary depending on several factors, including humidity, temperature, and the type of wood glue used. Generally, it takes 10 to 30 minutes for wood glue to dry. It's important to note that drying and curing are not the same; drying occurs more quickly while curing can take up to 24 hours.
Drying Wood Glue
So, how long does it take for wood glue to dry? This depends on several factors, like the type of glue, temperature, humidity, the materials that are being bonded, and the thickness of the glue applied. The trick is to make sure that the joint does not separate when it is drying. It can take up to 24 hours or more for joints like tables, chairs, or shelves to be clamped because they support heavy loads. Thus, the wood glue must be clamped for 24 hours to dry.
Types of Wood Glue
There are various types of wood glue with one main function—to bond the materials together. Some act quickly, while others take time to work. Wood glue is classified according to its composition, which is why choosing the right glue is important. Different types of wood glue have different drying times. Let's explore.
Here are five main types of wood glue:
Epoxy Adhesive
This is mainly used for filling up cracks and gaps in the wood. Carpenters recommend epoxy, a synthetic adhesive, for projects that take longer assembly times because it has a longer working time than other glue. You can use epoxy in Do It Yourself (DIY) projects or woodworking.
PVA
Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) is your standard glue used to bond two pieces of wood together. PVA is highly recommended for its strength, repairing wooden objects and making cabinets. It has a short drying time between 30 minutes to an hour. However, maximum bond strength is achieved in 24 hours or more.
Synthetic Plastic Resin (Polyurethane)
This is commonly used for woodworking and floorings. Polyurethane is strong, water-proof, and chemical resistant. It's versatile and has wide-ranging uses. It may take between 2 to 4 hours for water-based polyurethane to dry and from 6 to 10 hours for oil-based one. For maximum effect, it's best to wait up to 24 hours.
Cyanoacrylate
Cyanoacrylate (CA) is a synthetic adhesive. It's known as 'super glue' owing to its quick-drying properties. Moreover, CA is regarded for high thermal resistance and is used to bond wood like balsa, rosewood, maple, and plywood, etc. CA is also used for filling cracks and voids.
This glue dries very quickly in under a minute, but for maximum bonding, it's advisable to wait for a couple of hours for the glue to be effective.
Hide Glue
This adhesive is made from animal connective tissue. Hide glue is used in musical instruments like guitar and drums, and it's also used to bond glass. Hide glue takes 1 to 2 hours to dry. For maximum bond strength, you have to wait for several hours - sometimes even overnight.
Tips to Make Wood Glue Dry Faster
Sometimes, we don't have enough time for the project and want to do things quickly, like for wood glue to dry faster. Here are some tips to make wood glue dry faster:
New Glue
It's better to use new glue that is not close to expiring as age affects the performance and extends its normal drying time.
Avoid Water
Don't use water for the drying process because it will only saturate the pieces and make everything hard.
Ventilation
Make sure there is enough airflow; drier air can make the drying process faster.
Apply Thin Layer
For faster drying, apply a thin layer of wood glue, as a thick layer of glue will take longer to dry.
Heat
Use a hairdryer, heat gun, or direct sunlight to dry the wood glue faster.
Remove Excess Glue
After a successful DIY project, you will find wood glue nearly everywhere! It might need a bit of hard work to get the mess cleaned up. Woodworkers recommend that excess glue should be cleaned up immediately. But it's ideal to wait up to an hour. Time allows the glue to change into a gel like substance which can be scraped off easily with a chisel. Cleaning becomes easy.
