Titebond manufactures a number of different wood glue products, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Let’s take a look at the differences between them, so you can decide which is right for you. In this Titebond wood glue review, we will give you the most unbiased views.
Quick Overview about Titebond Wood Glue
Titebond has been a household name in the carpentry industry for over 65 years, since the launch of Titebond Original Wood Glue in 1955!
Since then, the company has continued to iterate and refine its offerings, adding an entire range of adhesive products to its product line, including the forerunners of Titebond Wood Glue, Titebond II and Titebond III.
All versions of Titebond Wood Glue share many of the same properties, but with a few key differences. Let’s take a look at what makes Titebond such a trusted brand, and how to choose between the products available.
Pros & Cons of Titebond Wood Glue
Pros
- The glue is stronger than the wood itself
- Very fast link
- Can be sanded and painted
- Waterproof (v2 and 3)
- There are many different sizes for you to choose from
- Can be used indoors and outdoors
- Good value, especially the large bottles
- Easy to clean
- Food Safe Certification from FDA
Cons
- Original version is not waterproof
- Not designed to be attached to materials other than wood
The difference between Titebond wood glues – Which one should you use?
There are three basic versions of Titebond currently on the market, here is a brief explanation of the differences between each to help you decide which is right for you:
#1 Titebond Original Wood Glue (Red bottle)
Titebond original wood glue is a standard PVA wood glue. It adheres very quickly, requires minimal clamping time, and when it dries, it can be sanded or painted with ease.
Titebond Original is not waterproof, so it’s best used for indoor projects and repairs.
#2 Titebond II Premium Wood Glue (Blue bottle)
Titebond II Premium is similar to the Original formula, but with the added benefit of being water-resistant.
This makes it perfect for outdoor projects like outdoor furniture, sheds, mailboxes, fences, and more. And also for indoor projects where moisture may be present such as kitchen or bathroom furniture, cutting boards, knife holders.
It has the same strong bond strength as Titebond Original, the joint is stronger than the wood itself so you can count on keeping it.
#3 Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue (Green Bottle)
Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue is a further improvement on Titebond II, which is completely waterproof and can withstand extreme temperatures.
Titebond III is fully certified “Waterproof” (it is the only and first adhesive to achieve this). This means that the glue will not degrade or degrade, even in the case of continuous water exposure.
Also, the Titebond III has a stronger bond than both the original Titebond and Titebond II, but the trade-off is the slightly longer clamping time.
Titebond III has a lower minimum use temperature, providing more flexibility for craftsmen and do-it-yourselfers working in cold conditions.
Titebond III is perfect for outdoor and indoor projects, has the same food safety certifications as Titebond I and II, and is easy to sand and paint.
Product Features
In addition to the differences mentioned above, each version of Titebond has a set of useful features in common, which help make Titebond one of the most popular wood glues on the market.
#1 Extremely strong
Although Titebond III has the strongest bond of the three versions, each version has a stronger bond than the surrounding wood.
This means that if your project fails, you can almost guarantee that it’s not the glue that’s broken, but the wood. You can rest assured that when using Titebond (or most other PVA Wood Glues) the bond will stay strong and secure.
#2 Short clamping and drying time
Not unique to Titebond, but a great feature nonetheless. Titebond starts linking almost immediately, making it easier and quicker to complete your project.
There is a fairly short clamping time of 30 minutes to an hour until the project is hard enough to continue applying and the glue will be fully cured in 6 hours.
Titebond III has a slightly longer working life, so if you need a little longer to stick your surfaces together after gluing, use this version.
#3 FDA approved food safe
If you are creating a project to use with food, such as repairing or building a cutting board, a bowl or a knife holder, you can rest assured that if any food comes into contact with your project, it will not pose any risk to your health.
How to properly use Titebond Wood Glue?
If you have used any other PVA wood glue such as Gorilla wood glue, you will know how to use Titebond. It’s easy and quick to use and easy to clean up any mess or spill.
#Prepare the surface you intend to paste
Make sure the surface is clean and dry, free of dust or oil. A finer finish creates a stronger bond, so sand or smooth your surface if possible beforehand. Use sandpaper to remove paint or varnish from wood because PVA glue only works on porous materials.
#Apply the glue in an even layer to both surfaces
Apply glue to both surfaces. Both surfaces must have an equal amount of glue, spread evenly and thinly over the entire surface. You can use a glue brush to help you with this.
#Clamp the pieces together
The wood will need to be clamped for about an hour before you can resume work, but it can take up to 24 hours to fully cure depending on the temperature and humidity of your work environment.
The manufacturer recommends clamping a non-loading joint for 45 minutes, while a load-bearing joint should be clamped for 24 hours to ensure a strong bond.
#Remove excess glue with a damp rag
Wood glue is easy to remove while it’s still wet, so use this time to clean up any spills and any glue seeping out of the joint before it has a chance to dry. If you get any Titebond II or III glue on your clothes, be sure to clean it up immediately with warm water because once it dries, the glue won’t come off easily.
With Titebond Original glue alone, there will be no problems, even if it has dried.
What materials does Titebond wood glue work on?
Titebond is a water-based PVA glue, designed to work only on Wood, but it will also work on certain other porous materials, such as paper and natural fabrics such as cotton or hemp.
Titebond is great for gluing two pieces of wood together, but it’s not useful for gluing non-wood materials to wood.
Titebond works on:
- Wood
- Paper
- Cotton
- Carton
- Skin
Titebond does not work on:
- Plastics of any kind
- Metal
- Glass cup
- Ceramics
- Stone
- Any other non-wood material
If your craft project contains these materials, you can refer to some of the glues below.
Titebond 5033 All-Purpose White Glue
TITEBOND 2300 Polyurethane Glue
Frequently asked questions about Titebond Wood Glue
Ingredients of Titebond wood glue?
Titebond Wood Glue is a PVA glue, that is, the main ingredients are Water and PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate). In addition, Titebond II and Titebond III contain small amounts of other chemicals to assist with water resistance and bond strength, however, this is a trade secret and is not publicly available.
Can Titebond wood glue work on wet wood?
According to the manufacturer, where the wood contains more than 10% moisture, drying time may be affected. When the humidity is above 16%, the glue may not dry.
PVA glue works by penetrating the porous membranes of the material, so the less moisture clogs the porous membranes, the stronger the bond will be.
How to remove Titebond glue?
The way to remove Titebond depends on the state of the glue and the version of the glue used.
- Titebond Original:
Titebond Original can be removed with water when it is wet and even after it has cured. It will wash clothes with no problem with just warm soapy water (or in the washing machine).
- Titebond II and Titebond III:
Titebond Premium and Ultimate glue can be washed off without problems while they are still wet, with a damp rag or sponge. If clothes get on clothes, be sure to clean them immediately with warm soapy water, because once the stains have closed there is no way to remove them from the clothes without damaging your clothes.
All versions of Titebond can be sanded, planed or scraped if the wood is completely dry
Titebond Wood Glue clamping time?
The manufacturer recommends a clamping time of 30 minutes to an hour for their Titebond Wood products. This is a time only for the joint to be unstressed, if the joint is tense it should be clamped for 24 hours.
What color is it when it dries?
Each version of Titebond Wood Glue has a slightly different color after it dries.
- Titebond Original:
Dried Titebond Original has a pale opaque yellow color.
- Titebond II Premium:
Titebond II Premium has a translucent yellow color after drying, similar to hidden glue.
- Titebond III Ultimate:
Final Titebond III contains crushed walnut shells to give the finished product a beautiful, natural surface, a light brown color when dry.
Does Titebond Wood Glue work on Cedar and other oily woods?
Titebond works on Cedar, Teak, and any other oily wood, however, you may need to take a few extra steps in the preparation to ensure a good bond.
Be sure to sand the wood surface prior to application to remove any external oils that could weaken the bond. Make sure the wood is as dry and as smooth as possible.
Shelf life of Titebond Wood Glue?
All Titebond Wood Glue has a shelf life of two years.
Is Titebond Wood Glue Food Safe?
Titebond II and Titebond III are FDA-approved for direct contact with food.
In practice, this means they’re safe to use on things like knife holders, cutting boards, wooden bowls, kitchen cabinets, bread boxes, and more.
Titebond Original is not recommended for this type of product as it will degrade when exposed to moisture.
Will Titebond Wood Glue swell?
Titebond glue does not swell after completely drying. While some glues (especially Polyeurathane Glue) expand or “foam” as they dry, this is not the case with Titebond Wood Adhesive products.
The benefit of this is that you don’t have to clamp too tightly, and you don’t have to worry about the adhesive weakening or moving your joint out of place.