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Making Sanding Belts You can make your own sanding belts with sandpaper and glue, but it's not really worth it. August 23, 2006
Gluing Leather to Wood Advice on the right adhesive for gluing up a leather desktop. March 30, 2008
Vacuum application FAQ All aspects of vacuum and how it is used by the woodworker. March 18, 2002
Does it Pay to Own an Edgebander? A good edgebander can really boost your productivity, but how much machine you need depends on how much volume you're doing. October 9, 2006
Laying Up a Laminated Door Arch An extended discussion with pictures goes into depth about various ways to make a laminated wood arch for a doorway. September 5, 2006
Troubleshooting Glue Joint Failure in Maple A discussion about various issues that could cause glue-line failure in joints made with freshly machined quartersawn maple. October 2, 2007
More on Spray-Applying Contact Cement An extended discussion of pressurized tanks, spray equipment, application techniques, and adhesive performance. June 10, 2006
Laminating Stock for Arched Casings Here's a wide-ranging discussion of gluing and clamping processes for laying up arched casings using multiple thin laminations. November 26, 2007
Test your gluing knowledge Answer these true-or-false questions to see what you know about adhesives and gluing. 1997
Vacuum-Pressing with a Curved Mold Vacuum-press inventor and expert Ted Hunter presents this step-by-step illustrated tutorial on making and using a curved mold with a vacuum press. July 16, 2006
Applying Paper-Backed Veneer A question about the best adhesive to use for paper-backed veneer over plywood leads to an extended discussion comparing professional methods to inexpensive and less-durable DIY options. March 18, 2006
Troubleshooting Veneer Shrinkage A waterbased adhesive may be causing freshly applied veneer to swell on application, then shrink within a few days. July 24, 2006
Glue Choices for Applying Veneers Pros dig into the fine points of glue selection for veneering, compare the qualities of different adhesives, and discuss veneer application techniques. October 1, 2005
Troubleshooting and Repair of Glue Failure in an Exterior Door A raised-panel Hickory exterior door behind a glass storm door is coming apart from the effects of solar heat and moisture condensation. What can be learned (or done) in this situation? June 3, 2007
Gluing Ipe Wood for Outdoor Exposures Ipe's oily nature is not conducive to strong glue joints, especially when movement stress occurs. Here are some reports of success and failure at gluing Ipe in outdoor situations. December 26, 2007
Gluing face frames Is glue alone enough to attach face frames to 3/4-inch plywood cabinets? July 29, 2003
Using Water-Based Contact Cements When you switch from solvent-based to water-based contact cement, there are a few new things to learn. Pros share application tips in this thread from the Woodweb Adhesives Forum. July 2, 2005
Glue Bond Failure in "Mahogany" Tropical hardwoods may resist glue absorption, leading to failed bonds. Here are helpful tips on prepping the surfaces. December 2, 2006
Edgebanding Glue Holding Problems Cold melamine stored in the unheated shop overnight may be stopping edgebander glue from adhering properly. March 20, 2006
Glue Injection Techniques When laminate or veneer is lifting, you can make a slit, inject adhesive, and clamp for a clean repair. Here are some detailed tips on getting the glue where it needs to go. February 20, 2008
Glue Choice and Open Time for Veneer Glue-Up Veneering sometimes calls for glue that can give the woodworker a little extra time. Here's a discussion of glue choice and veneer gluing technique. November 24, 2007
PUR Glue for Cabinet Assembly Thoughts about the characteristics of hot-melt PUR glue, gluing equipment, and the requirements of cabinet construction. May 23, 2007
Gluing Ipe Wood sold as "Ipe" may represent a variety of tree species. Some specimens at least are reported to be difficult or impossible to successfully glue. August 12, 2007
Clamping Methods for Laminations Cabinetmakers discuss jigs and techniques for clamping large curved laminated assemblies. July 21, 2005
Making Your Own Vacuum Bag Project too big for your vacuum bagger? Make your own bag with plastic sheeting. July 11, 2005
Adhesive for Exterior Doors Dark-stained wood exterior doors can get very hot in service. Here, woodworkers discuss choices for glues that will perform under those tough conditions. September 6, 2007
Comparing White and Yellow Glues Differences may not correspond with color — the yellow coloring is not an active ingredient. December 2, 2006
Lumber Moisture Content and Glue Failures When you cross-cut and rip lumber at too high a moisture content, then quickly glue up panels (such as stair treads), glue failures may soon occur. February 5, 2007
Aging Performance of Hot Melt Adhesives - or “Pot Life” How long can hot-melt glue hold in the molten state without loss of key qualities? That depends on formulas and manufacturing methods as well as application methods. September 13, 2006
Gluing Reclaimed Heart Pine Heart pine can be loaded with pitch that interferes with glue joints. Here's some detailed advice on preparing the joints and selecting an adhesive. March 4, 2007
Gluing Up a Stack of Melamine Issues of adhesion and drying ability limit the choices of adhesive for laminating melamine. January 14, 2008
Making Tight Finger Joints Glue is holding finger joints open, reports a craftsman. Pros offer suggestions for clamping long boards tightly end to end. November 9, 2005
Glueing Up a Mitered Bar Top Adhesive choice and clamping and fastening methods for a tricky glue-up problem. June 30, 2007
Panel Gluing and Clamping To keep staves in a panel from slipping as they set, use moderate amounts of glue and clamping pressure. May 20, 2006
Gluing Veneer to Glass Advanced tips for using silicone to glue veneer to glass, from a chemist who knows. October 20, 2005
How to Deal with Stair-Tread Glue Joint Failure Shrinking Jatoba wood stair treads are failing at the glue line. Here's a discussion of the causes, with ideas for prevention or repair. December 6, 2007
Informal Testing of Wood Glues Woodworkers report impressive results from their own backyard and kitchen endurance tests for commonly used adhesives. August 23, 2006
Door-Frame Clamp Time with Fast-Tack Glue A cabinetmaker's door-assembly process is so quick, he's worried that he may not be allowing glue enough time to set before removing clamps. September 5, 2006
Wetting Wood Joints Before Gluing Dampening a joint before gluing helps the adhesion of polyurethane glues, but not yellow glues. January 22, 2006
Using Double-Face Tape Pros discuss a wealth of applications for specialty double-sided tapes. July 9, 2005
To glue or not to glue Is glue necessary in frame assembly for raised panel doors? January 31, 2001
Gluing Up Thick Turning Stock Cracks may open up at glue bonds in large glued-up pieces, particularly in outdoor exposures. Here are some ideas for high-performance adhesives that may help. October 20, 2005
Fast Glue for Miter Joints New fast-setting adhesives are a great tool for trim carpentry, and these photos demonstrate how strong they are. May 20, 2006
Glue and Finish for a Wood Trivet Thoughts on how a small item designed to protect tabletops from hot pots and pans can be detailed to withstand the heat itself. November 8, 2007
Troubleshooting Epoxy Joint Failure Epoxy has its own little tricks. Here, woodworkers provide advice concerning a failed epoxy glue-up. August 23, 2006
Gluing End Grain to Side Grain Glued butt joints hold better if you pre-wet and pre-glue the end grain briefly before the final gluing and clamping. December 2, 2006
Troubleshooting Bowed Hollow-Core Doors A set of custom door panels made with plywood glued over honeycomb came out with a half-inch hump. What could have gone wrong? March 1, 2006
Hide glue Proper mix ratio and storage info. September 24, 2002
Veneer Glue Options Pros tell which glue types they like for vacuum-bag veneering work. July 28, 2006
Repairing A Laminate Seam Placed to close to the kitchen sink, a laminate countertop seam is lifting. Here are quick tips on prevention and repair. December 14, 2005
Gluing Teak More suggestions on joint prep and adhesive selection for this oily wood. December 20, 2005
Laminating HPL onto Cylinders It's hard to apply sufficient pressure to a cylinder for good bonding of contact cement, but here are a few tips. August 23, 2006
Laminating Plywood Panels Together When gluing multiple pieces of plywood together for a built-up thickness, make sure to balance thicknesses to balance opposing stresses. December 27, 2006
Finish Problems After Glue Clean-up Washing off excess glue can alter the way wood accepts stain. Pros share some simple tips for preventing problems. June 27, 2005
Epoxy Setting Speeds Epoxy characteristics vary by formula. Some companies offer more than one hardener speed. Thorough mixing is key. December 2, 2006
End Grain to End Grain Gluing In principle, gluing end grain results in a very weak joint. But in a pinch, there are ways to improve the bond. October 2, 2007
Water-Based Glue, Lamination, and Warping Using water-based adhesives for laminating to wood-fiber panels can cause the panels to warp. To prevent, laminate both sides. May 20, 2006
Plastic Glue Odors in a Cedar Chest A furniture maker tries to understand why it's so hard to get the smell of polyurethane glue out of a cedar chest. May 5, 2007
Edgebanding Glue Fumes Cabinetmakers who don't like that smell, or the health worries, have rigged up small exhaust fans to clear out the fumes. June 23, 2006
Adhesion Issues with Teak Edgebanding The oils in Teak wood tend to interfere with glue bonding. Here's how some cabinetmakers handle that when applying shop-made Teak edgebanding. January 8, 2007
Strong Face Gluing Without Clamps Suggestions for quickly and securely attaching small pieces to the face of a wood trim element without fasteners. March 4, 2008
Epoxy for Laying Up Ipe Stair Treads Epoxy should hold a joint for glued-up stair treads in Ipe wood at 20% MC for an exterior exposure. November 28, 2006
All about glue size A basic explanation of this product and how to use it. February 13, 2001
Glue Choice for Wood Countertop Glue creep, open time, and bond strength are issues when choosing an adhesive for gluing up wood butcher-block countertops. December 7, 2007
Using CNC Vacuum as a Glue Press You can use a CNC vacuum table and plastic sheeting for an improvised "vacuum bag" for laminating panel goods together. Who knew? January 9, 2008
Aching Glue Joints Diagnoses and cures for a variety of problems related to the gluing up of panels in solid lumber. 1998.
End Joint Gluing End joint gluing of lumber is an important method for producing long length stock for fabrication into structural products such as trusses, rafters, beams, etc. -1999
Production Gluing of High Density Plastic Laminates This article describes the gluing of high density plastic laminates (i.e. Formica, Debar, Nevamar, Micarta, Pionite and the like) to plywood, lumber core, and particleboard core panels - 1998
Biscuits for face frames A discussion of using biscuits for assembling cabinet face frames. Pros and cons of biscuits on face frames, and equipment used. November 21, 2000
Veneer buckling Preventing veneer from expanding and buckling through proper gluing and application methods. November 7, 2000
Best glue for cold-clamped edging? Adhesive options for gluing and clamping edges on panels, with an eye toward time-efficiency. September 26, 2000
Dowel drilling and use guidelines A quick guide to dowel clearances and practices, including drilling depth, diameter-to-edge ratios, and dowel selection. 1998.
UV-Cured Adhesive A few specialty glues set up and harden quickly when exposed to ultraviolet light. They're good for attaching hinges to glass. December 2, 2006
Raised glue lines after curing A glue line that is raised days after parts are assembled and the glue has cured is a sure sign of wet lumber. 1998.
Gluing white oak panels Because of its density, white oak lumber must be machined carefully for panel glue-up, and assembled within an hour of preparation. 1998.
How Much Glue Left in Drum? Simple ways to know when your supply of edgebander glue is getting low. October 23, 2007