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What's your glue line?

4K views 22 replies 18 participants last post by  Chris Curl 
#1 ·
I prefer an even wiggle. My neighbor prefers thin bead O.C. And my buddy likes a fat bead and smear it flat for total coverage.

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#13 ·
For me it's usually a good bead and then smeared with a gloves hand. Nothing smears better than a finger IMO. Sometimes, after that good bead and smear, I still run a small bead again but don't smear. I have this crazy notion that if I don't have good squeeze out it won't hold. A lot of clean up but a better peace of mind.
 
#18 ·
If the application is for dry use where water isn't an issue I'm good with any yellow glue except for Elmers. Elmers seems to be thinner and I have had good joints fail with it so I stopped using it many years ago. They may have corrected the problem for all I know. It's one of those things where I will use what is in the stores until I have a reason to quit. My local lumber company sells Dap so that is what I use.
 
#20 ·
You have to learn the difference between not enough, too much and just right. Not enough and you risk failure, too much and you have hydraulic action keeping the pieces from joining, plus the squeeze out. Just right gives total coverage, no slipping, only a few beads of squeeze out, mating surfaces fit and bond correctly.

I use a 1/2" natural bristle chip brush and I cut off the bristles with scissors so they are about 1/2" - 3/4" long. This gives you full, stiff bristles to lay down, pick up and spread the glue. No sticky fingers, no finger prints, no drips of glue on everything, no glue on other surfaces. Squirt on a small bead, then paint it out with control. Acid brushes are too wimpy, cards and squeegees don't allow easy pick up of extra, getting into mortices or other tight spots. Use an open jar of glue to dip the brush in when you have small or other parts where precise glue application is needed. Drop the brush in a jar of water, clean it at the end of the day, it will last a long time. Glue mess will be a thing of the past.
 
#22 ·
Hammer1's statement about learning the right amount was the best. Any technique that gets a thin full coverage amount of glue. For panel glue ups I use a line of glue and a finger spread to both edges but on only one side.
Too much glue is a mess and a waste.
I glue veneer quite a bit so glueing large areas is important. If too much is used it can get trapped in the middle and not squeeze out---not acceptable. The best tool is a toothed scraper of some type. About 1/8 in wide and deep groves work well leaving the correct amount of glue. Again only put on one side. I have used a piece of an old saw but can usually find toothed scrapers in paint stores or in the tiling section.
You ca only glue up what you can spread and clamp in 5 minutes or so. Larger glue ups are done in stages.
 
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