A few days ago I glued together 2 pieces of well dried 4x6 timbers to use as a header over a doorway in a building I'm working on. I used Gorilla wood glue for this and it was well cured. Then last night we had a heavy rain and the excess glue that came out of the joint turned white and softened a lot. This glue is advertised as indoor/outdoor but I would say it's indoor only. Now I'm going to have to cover the header with plastic until I can get a roof on.
Gorilla Wood Glue
Steve Neul
21 - 40 of 44 Posts
Joined
·
34,790 Posts
The topic is about the Gorilla PVA glue. I used it because it was advertised as interior/exterior but wasn't exterior. I think the Gorilla polyurethane glue should be something un-invented.
Joined
·
6,855 Posts
Gorilla brand makes several kinds of glue. They are completely different types of glue with different chemistries. People confuse them because they all start with their brand name "Gorilla" and they called their first product "Gorilla Glue". If the product says only "Gorilla Glue" without an in-between word, it is their original polyurethane glue.
-> The glue that this thread is about is Gorilla Wood Glue, a PVA wood glue similar to Titebond II or Elmer's Carpenter's Glue. I tried Gorilla Wood Glue and did not like it. It was too slippery stayed that way too long before reaching the tack point. I gave my Gorilla Wood Glue to another woodworker. I use Titebond Original (I) and Titebond III as my preferred wood glues.
I use the original polyurethane Gorilla Glue to glue pen tubes in pen blanks. It is NOT recommended and few other penturners use it, but I like it. I buy the cheapest, smallest bottles. Like @Steve Neul, I tried polyurethane glue on other woodworking projects, but did not like it. (Most penturners use epoxy for gluing pen tubes, by the way.)
I use Gorilla Clear Glue for various household repairs. It is a silane-based glue and is unlike other glues I have tried. You must store it in a cool place with light. If you store it in the dark, it will yellow. It is strong and dries clear and adheres to almost anything. It stuck to a reusable silicone glue brush and ruined it.
-> The glue that this thread is about is Gorilla Wood Glue, a PVA wood glue similar to Titebond II or Elmer's Carpenter's Glue. I tried Gorilla Wood Glue and did not like it. It was too slippery stayed that way too long before reaching the tack point. I gave my Gorilla Wood Glue to another woodworker. I use Titebond Original (I) and Titebond III as my preferred wood glues.
I use the original polyurethane Gorilla Glue to glue pen tubes in pen blanks. It is NOT recommended and few other penturners use it, but I like it. I buy the cheapest, smallest bottles. Like @Steve Neul, I tried polyurethane glue on other woodworking projects, but did not like it. (Most penturners use epoxy for gluing pen tubes, by the way.)
I use Gorilla Clear Glue for various household repairs. It is a silane-based glue and is unlike other glues I have tried. You must store it in a cool place with light. If you store it in the dark, it will yellow. It is strong and dries clear and adheres to almost anything. It stuck to a reusable silicone glue brush and ruined it.
Joined
·
34,790 Posts
I've made a few screen doors with the Gorilla wood glue since it said it was for exterior applications but that is all. I just never had an occasion where a raw wood part was subjected to rain so never had reason to doubt it was an exterior glue. Dried exterior glue should be unaffected by water and this one was. I just wanted everyone to know the bottle's label is a lie.
Joined
·
6,855 Posts
There are two separate industry standard tests for wood glues: The Type 1 test is for "Waterproof" and the Type 2 test is for "Water Resistance". Waterproof glues pass the Type 1 test, which includes two boiling water cycles and is more severe than the Type 2 test. Water resistant glues pass the Type 2 test, which involves multiple soaking cycles. (There is also a Type 3 rating, which has no water resistance.)
The Gorilla Wood Glue I tried a few years ago was labeled "water resistant". I assume that it is the same glue that @Steve Neul used. This product is still being sold today:
https://www.gorillatough.com/product/gorilla-wood-glue/
For comparison: Titebond II is a Type 2 water resistant glue.
This morning I learned that Gorilla came out with a new wood glue called "Gorilla Wood Glue Ultimate". I know nothing about it and do not know when it first appeared. The Gorilla website claims that it is "100% Waterproof". Beyond passing the Type I test, I have no idea what that means:
https://www.gorillatough.com/product/gorilla-wood-glue-ultimate/
For comparison: Titebond III is a Type 1 waterproof glue.
Joined
·
34,790 Posts
I don't believe I will be using any more glue from Gorilla, I noticed this afternoon the joint I glued is beginning to pull apart.
Just bought a big bottle of Gorilla wood glue for an exterior project. I made an assembly mistake that I didn’t realize until it was too late. Took the screws out of the joint, and I didn‘t expect to find such a strong bond. The Armstrong Approach started breaking wood. I was so impressed I came here to see what the grumps had to say. Instant buyer’s remorse haha. While I contemplated deep sixing the new bottle of glue I note that this isn’t just Gorilla Wood Glue … It’s Gorilla Wood Glue Ultimate. They claim it’s 100% waterproof … we’ll see I guess.
When my granddaughter was visiting me recently, We took the half-full bottle of Gorilla Wood Glue, emptied it out, and steam-cleaned the inside. (being very careful not to damage the labels).
Into a large mixing bowl, put in two cups of your favorite mayonnaise, a dash of garlic powder, a teaspoon of finely minced fresh horseradish, and a teaspoon of plain yellow mustard. (for color). Mix well.
With a 24" piece of clear plastic tubing, 1/2" diameter minimum, suck up the mayo-mix and then gently blow it into the wood glue bottle. Repeat this until the glue bottle is full. Clean up your mess. Store the new Gorilla Mayo Glue bottle in the fridge until needed.
This is the only use I have for this product.
Into a large mixing bowl, put in two cups of your favorite mayonnaise, a dash of garlic powder, a teaspoon of finely minced fresh horseradish, and a teaspoon of plain yellow mustard. (for color). Mix well.
With a 24" piece of clear plastic tubing, 1/2" diameter minimum, suck up the mayo-mix and then gently blow it into the wood glue bottle. Repeat this until the glue bottle is full. Clean up your mess. Store the new Gorilla Mayo Glue bottle in the fridge until needed.
This is the only use I have for this product.
Joined
·
39,645 Posts
This appears to be an impartial test of the Original VS the Ultimate Gorillas glues:
That test was convincing enough! Guess I’m getting out the mayo.
My kitchen - my rules.
You don't think that wasn't my first thought?? You try the funnel thing and let us know how it works for you.
Joined
·
34,790 Posts
The Gorilla Glue Ultimate might be alright. In my book if an adhesive says it's for exterior use I expect it to be waterproof enough to use for above grade use. The regular Gorilla Wood Glue isn't any more waterproof than interior wood glue. It quickly went soft when rained on. Since they false advertise a product I wouldn't be able to trust anything they claim on any product though. I'm done with Gorilla.
Joined
·
918 Posts
I've looked at it in the stores, as an alternative to Titebond. Given the minimal price difference, I've never actually bought it, and after seeing this, I doubt I will. I have tried their "clear" glue and wasn't impressed. Their polyurethane glue has worked well for me in projects where I needed something with a bit of gap-filling, well enough to be worth the inevitable mess that goes with it.
Joined
·
2,687 Posts
Steve, A good number of years ago Fine Woodworking hired a lab to conduct tests on a number of different glues on different species. There were some results in there that surprised my. Titebond Original PVA glue had the same strength as West System Epoxy with the exception of tight grain woods like Maple. Included in the test was Gorilla Polyurethane Glue. It performed the absolute worse of any glue, and not by just a little bit. The author even commented that polyurethane is better left for finishing.
Joined
·
34,790 Posts
I came to the same conclusion with the polyurethane glue. I did find one application where polyurethane glue beats all other glues, I set up targets for my daughter at the shooting range with paint balls. The paint balls were the targets and polyurethane glue was the only adhesive that would stick the paint balls to a piece of cardboard.
Joined
·
15 Posts
"Gorilla" is an outstanding marketing word, as one associates strength with a Gorilla. Unfortunately, I have never used one of their products that performed properly.
Joined
·
2,547 Posts
Try Titebond III; it is waterproof. I used it to glue cork rings for custom fly rod grips. Have used it for other things and have had exceptional luck with it.
Joined
·
74 Posts
Only use I found for the PU version of Gorilla glue is shoe repair. Does a decent job on adhering leather insoles to cork outer soles on sandals
The gorilla wood glue (pva glue) is really light colored, so it makes a very invisible glue line on things like maple or pine.
21 - 40 of 44 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
