General Glues for Woods


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	ADHESIVES FOR WOODS

	V. Ryan © 2001 - 2022

When you manufacture a product using woods it will soon be necessary to join parts together. This can be done using fixings such as screws, nails and pins OR through the use of glues. Modern glues are very strong and if adverts on TV are to be believed, joints made with glues can be stronger than the wood itself. Traditional Glues - Glues were once made from natural materials such as animal hides and bones. They were boiled to produce a brownish coloured jelly which slowly solidified. This was called ‘scotch glue’ and it could be warmed up later and used as a liquid glue. Modern Glues - P.V.A. (Polyvinyl Acetate) Glues are very popular as they do not need preparation. These glues are supplied in a plastic container and can be used straight away. A good example of this is ‘Evo-stik Woodworkers Resin’.



	SEQUENCE DRAWING - APPLYING PVA ADHESIVE

Produce a sequence drawing which clearly shows the stages involved in using PVA to join two pieces of pine. An animation is shown below (click here for example sequence drawing)

1. Select an appropriate glue for the materials to be joined. PVA is suitable of a wide variety of woods. (Polyvinyl Acetate also known as, PVA and PVAc). It is probably the most common wood glue, used extensively in furniture manufacture and construction. It is a synthetic resin and an very good glue.



2. Squeeze PVA glue onto the surface of both pieces of wood. If glue spills onto surfaces that do not require gluing, remove it immediately with a damp cloth.



3. Use a plastic spreader or a brush to spread the glue across the surfaces of both pieces. The glue should be spread thinly. Clean up any spills with a damp cloth.



4. The surfaces of both pieces to be glued should be ‘coated’ in glue, but not excessively.



5. Push the two pieces together, rubbing the surfaces from side to side. This will ensure that air is not trapped and that the glue has been spread evenly.



6. Use cramps such as G Cramps to lock the two pieces together. Leave for twenty four hours before removing the cramps.
The G-cramps shown below, have been set up to clamp two pieces of wood together. Small pieces of scrap wood are used to protect the surfaces of the wood being glued together.





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1. Describe / explain a traditional adhesive. 2. Draw a glue gun and explain how it works, including safety factors. 3. Demonstrate the use of PVA adhesive to a group of pupils.

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