I built my deck out of Ipe' 3 or 4 years ago. I didn't find it all that hard to work with, but the splinters sure are nasty. I had to glue a few returned corners. I used TB III for a couple and Gorilla Glue for several more. All of the ones with TB III have opened up while all the ones with GG are still fine. I live in the NE where the temp. and RH swing all over the place during the year. Gorilla Glue would be my choice. I didn't do any special prep. work other than to use fresh cut surfaces.
One comment about Ipe'. When you buy it it's only partially KD; maybe it's KD19 like construction lumber, but they don't tell you. They tell you to sticker it for at least a week out of the weather before working it. I let it sit 2 or 3 weeks, but it was not nearly long enough and I had a lot more shrinkage than l had hoped for. If I use it again I will let it sit for as long as it takes to get the MC down to 12 - 14%, which is EMC for my area.
If anyone knows of a good finish for Ipe' please let me know. I've used Ipe' Oil and Penofin Hardwood Oil and neither lasts one season. Looks great for a month then goes down hill in a hurry. By the following Spring it looks awful and is a pain to clean/strip to do it all over again. There must be some product that will last at least a year. Help!
John