5 tips for better glue-ups.

In this video, I'll discuss 5 topics that will help you get better glue-ups. Get started woodworking and set up shop for less than $1000. Download my FREE GUIDE ► theweekendwoodworker.com/tww-tools/
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#woodworking #glue #notepoxy

[@ScoonyUTurnSingleton]

As someone named Daniel who lives in Minnesota, this was an odd video for me... But a good one!

[@RideAlongside]

Daniel Determan 😂👍

[@guyh.4553]

😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@tagi3d]

Also a Daniel who loves tight mitres LOL... was like WAIT what?!

[@ddutton0]

Daniel in Texas here! Yep, a bit of surprise

[@jaynaforsgren4755]

😂

[@wolfdreamer9]

When I randomly have questions about something I always get super excited if you have a video on it. Thank you so much for these. They have helped me big time with a lot of my random projects I do.

[@danielmaxwell6676]

I have been woodworking for years. Your videos for newbies are fantastic. I have been recommending your KZbin channel to friends and anyone who is even slightly interested in woodworking. Keep up the good work.

[@justplanebob105]

I really appreciate the run down on glue and temperature. I'm also glad to know it's not ruined if it freezes. Been carrying a gallon jug into the house all winter. I like the "glue-grab" idea too. Thanks!

[@MrNinja50001]

I love that you (a master woodworker) makes so many vids for newer woodworkers and some really useful tricks and tips to more experienced ppl and just wanna say I appreciate what you do and thank you

[@manyirons]

If you use a single grain of salt you're using mono-sodium glue to mate. Thanks for displaying degrees C for those of us that live...everywhere else.

[@proactivex]

manyirons my oh my.

[@paulkolodner2445]

Go stand in the corner and think about what you did.

[@curtzeek8818]

manyirons There are plenty of us out here that see our wives enough. There is no reason to be glued to her. I take it you're single.

[@ricolasvilla]

This is an Avengers level pun.

[@farrierss1724]

Dang, wish I had said that. Clever Hey Steve, lose the piece. That way I could see the rest of the screen shot.

[@JusBidniss]

Depending on the size of the laminated panel and my available clamps, one way I've sometimes avoided glue slippage is to use 2 temporary clamps edge to edge, at right angles to each other, with the jaws covering the edges of both panels. Then put the multiple clamps in place that will clamp the lamination, and remove the temporary edge clamps. But most of the time, I just cut them oversize and later trim the laminated panel.

[@xXPinkPunisherXx]

Just wanted to say I appreciated that temperature conversion!

[@GiacoWhatever]

The end grain trick with watered glue is really helpful... Thank you 🙏🏻

[@ProtoNeoVintage]

I have been banned from woodworking channels because I insist that you can indeed glue end grain. Always good to see my optimism validated.

[@dillon8188]

New aspiring hobbyist woodworker. Love your channel for great beginners projects!

[@coreyghayes]

Practical advice. As a new woodworker, I appreciate the no-nonsense approach.

[@SpencleyDesignCo]

Loving the new videos Steve! You are the person who inspired us to get back into building!

[@iansharp1543]

Just got into woodworking to build a D&D table, and your channel has been a lifesaver. I've been scouring other channels looking for how to fill uneven mitres (because of course I messed that up on my first project), and sure enough, today is the day I need that info since it's the first day without rain since we started the project two weeks ago. Thanks for all you do!

[@joergwiesmann4261]

Thank YOU very much !! from a old amateur in Switzerland !! Kinde regards !!!

[@larryjacobs5713]

Bought your courses and love your no nonsense videos! Thank you Steve!

[@curtisarndt8122]

I'm new to woodworking. I've wanted to do it for a while but haven't had a space until recently. I'm trying to fill my knowledge gaps as quickly as possible by watching several KZbin channels about building with wood, but yours certainly inspires me the most to try new things and keep at the hobby. I'm currently trying to stock my work shop on a shoestring budget. Picking up tools as I find them at a good price, none of them are particularly fancy (Or even 'good'), but it's a start. Today I finished the final two shadow boxes, for some figures I own, that I designed and started building before I began taking woodworking more seriously. (And before I even owned a single clamp) I wish I had known in the beginning even the small amount of know-how I've picked-up from your show so far when I had started. They look significantly better than the other two and have zero nails in them. I was even able to fix a few mistakes I made in the design process with what I've learned and a little leftover board I had. I have a LONG way to go but, paraphrasing you, I've already done more with wood than than almost everyone else I know. I look forward to designing and building more projects going forward and incorporating the things I learn here and elsewhere into those projects. Next is "fixing" a bench that I made some major mistakes on (Another design/build from before I had any idea how things were actually done) and then I'll be using your wood cart plans for the next upgrade to the shop Thanks so much for doing what you do and I'll definitely be watching your show (Already Subscribed) and combing through the archives for things I've missed. All the best to you!

[@SwitchAndLever]

Not going to lie, being named Daniel, I freaked out a little with the "except for maybe you DANIEL" as I was listening more to the video than watching.

[@SwitchAndLever]

Oh, and a good way to prevent slippage is to leave a few small places (smaller than a penny) without glue, add a drop of super glue in those places. When you press the boards together the super glue will grab and prevent slippage while you get the clamps in place. I've used this for years with much greater results than salt or a pile of rocks 😂

[@bobby-c7731]

Always a Good Friday when you post a video. Great reminders here I live in Michigan. Early in the season, later winter or early spring, I use Titebond III

[@OutdoorsWithShawn]

The endgrain trick is something I'll definitely be trying soon. Thanks!

[@StarKnight619]

you could also use some saw dust instead of salt or brads. Its worked for me and because i re-saw A LOT of boards for small projects I tend of have about half of a 5-gallon bucket of it at all times

[@unitwoodworking5403]

Thank you for useful tips and detailed explanation, I can't stop watching your videos.

[@MrGr8golf]

As always, your videos are very informative, to the point and fun to watch. Thank you for sharing.

[@SirNichosis]

Such insanely helpful info! Thank you for making woodworking accessible!!

[@derfinsterling]

The adding sand thing did seem to work quite well, though.

[@SpecificLove7]

LOL

[@DaDunge]

Yeah it does, as does fine grit sand. But the "totally not the sponsor" doesn't want people doing it.

[@negotiableaffections]

clearly not enough glue!

[@MFTomp09]

On the topic of making your own wood putty or filler: if a color match isn’t a big deal, I’ve been mixing coffee grounds with wood glue on some of my projects. I use a lot of old pallets and I like the color contrast it adds when filling in old nail holes. It is a little courser than sanding dust. So just keep that in mind.

[@magnuswootton6181]

coffee grounds seems like a good idea to me, they are pretty strong and water resistant.

[@ralphblundell106]

Clear, simple, and I learnt more that I thought I would. Thanks.

[@curtisharwood6626]

Hey! I just happened to have watched one of your latest videos on the fact that end grain joints are actually stronger. Just wanted to leave a note incase you wanted to leave a note on the video or if any comment readers find is useful.

[@fredsasse9973]

I saw a video on that subject too. I was quite surprised by the results of the tests and the efforts put in to designing the test protocols.

[@eringauthier3612]

As a Canadian I appreciate you adding the Celsius when talking about temperature! Thanks!

[@SubsonicNoise]

Since the shop i work at has a lot of clamps, we usually just clamp straight pieces of soft woods covered in tape to the sides for alignment!

[@andrewtongue7084]

Simplest is best, Willow !! :D

[@jaayjones5937]

"but really I'd like to see somebody do a side-by-side test" Project Farm or Matthias Wandel? , nice video and to the point, always enjoy your enthusiasm

[@jhh243]

Dude, I spit my drink out when you added the "fine sand"!

[@rkfarmranch8214]

I was glued to this video. It was a bit salty though. Excellent video once again thank you.

[@Hoppysjunkyardrally]

I use glue on the end of the boards I want to paint. The glue makes a good seal so the paint doesn't get soaked into the wood. Great video I love the glue dust paste!!!!

[@skillcollector9800]

That's a good idea, I might have to try that with plywood edges

[@Hoppysjunkyardrally]

@@skillcollector9800 thanks a few thin coats and sand after some dry time is how I do it. I mostly do it on MDF. So let me know how it turns out!

[@ArtisanPirate]

Great Video Packed With Tons Of Useful Information !

[@45bossdog]

Just wanted to say keep up the good work Learned a lot from you

[@Debtfreehomesteaders]

Excellent video! Thanks for keeping me out of a sticky situation. -Will

[@guyh.4553]

Hey Steve, how about using a little bit of the sawdust from the sanding to add as a grit for the glue ups? I pretty much do it the way you do for laminating. Besides, if you use brads, you'd have to be careful if you saw the pieces down, wouldn't you?

[@crucialjosh5951]

Thanks for all the content lately :)

[@robertparkhill8106]

Love your videos. Compared to other beginner videos, you explain in a way that always makes total sense. You need a masters class haha

[@jgriff19861947]

All ways good videos and great humor some of your ideals have helps me many times.

[@JoeOsChannel]

I agree with you on Titebond as the glue of choice. It is the only one I've been using for the last ten years now in my shop and I've used it to build thousands of canoe and kayak paddles over the years. I buy it 2 or 3 gallons at a time when i buy it. And up here in northwestern Ontario(north of Minnesota), I keep my shop well heated throughout the winter. Might as well be comfortable when working from my home based shop.

[@fishrrelaxing9361]

Exactly how I do glue ups! Sliding the surfaces around a bit works great.

[@Funkyfly2000]

Hey Steve, have you ever done a video on how to select which plywood type to use for a project? I had a little cabinet fix I was trying to make and thought I could just go to the store and "get a sheet of plywood"--I spent an hour trying to figure out which kind was the best! I'd love to hear how you select your plywood grade for projects.

[@HowYouCanMakeIt]

Great Video thanks for creating. Love your channel, has been inspiration and help to me with my experience and growth as a woodworker and YT...Cheers!

[@maleahlock]

"A jewelry box you can jump on" is basically how I make, well, everything.

[@proz71ful19]

M L right.. is this a bad thing? I don’t see it as a bad thing 😂

[@HydraSR]

You can jump on any box. Some will break but you can jump on them.

[@nickmorgan19457]

If it's worth engineering, it's worth over engineering.

[@omicrondec]

@@nickmorgan19457 that's how they do it in Soviet Russia.

[@JamesBrown-hs6vg]

So true 😄

[@jothain]

Thank you. Simple things, but I personally appreciate these kinds of things.

[@GvinciArt]

Exactly what I needed. Thanks!

[@watchman1969]

excellent video! salutations from a brazilian fan

[@83beebee]

Always fun to watch!

[@kykk3365]

Everytime I hear "clamps" I think of Futurama. "It's gonna be clamp this, clamp that. Bada-climp, bada-clamp!"

[@justinwoods240]

Speaking of this in school we are doing end grain wood I have a bunch of gaps this will help thanks

[@SpecificLove7]

Great tips, thanks

[@cpuquaeler]

Thanks for the tips, and especially for including captions in SI unit!

[@makerspun4839]

Steve - thank you, thank you~! I've been watching your videos to help my projects. This is good one....because I still struggle with gluing..... ;)

[@The_San_Juan]

And here I am, in Minnesota, it was 36 degrees when I woke up. Waiting for the day to warm my cold unheated garage so I can go make my first cutting board. Now thinking I should do the glue-up inside...thanks Steve!

[@JonnyDIY]

7:09 "How to Basic" 🤣💕👍

[@keithwheeler747]

I really like your advise on how to clamp two boards face to face. I tend to get in a rush thinking that I have to hurry up and clamp. I will try your idea of moving the boards around until it gets alittle sticky . Thank you

[@mmcfreds]

Watched the whole video and upvoted just for the YT algorithm. Thanks for making these Steve, we know you’re not crazy about doing them.

[@Assorted12]

Oversizing the lamination then cutting them down is something I do everytime. Thanks for the video!

[@DaDunge]

It's a great trick if you have things for cutting them down easy but not all of us have jointers or table saws.

[@Assorted12]

@@DaDunge for large panels a track saw is ideal, but a circular saw with a straight edge can do just as well. I oversize them because I cant cut the two panels well enough to get them to line up perfectly when laminated.

[@felixgarcia4001]

I burst out laughing at immediately after fine sand and seeing the exaggeration of thrown dirt. Laughed so loud and long it annoyed my wife. Love that humor!

[@macdietz]

Your gluing method is exactly what i do 👍

[@jobaecker9752]

Yes, I'm from Minnesota, and yes, just this week I needed some wood putty to fill some holes in stained wood. I have a basement workshop, and in this neck of the woods, it's not the cold - it's the low humidity inside homes -- which can get below 13%! I finally found some wood putty, but it was an old jar that looked more like dried up crusty boogers...

[@felixreali7101]

excellent tips and advice, as always. Thanks, Steve

[@woodensquid560]

I love your F13 machete frame back there!

[@samwilson3605]

I feel the part about a cold shop in my soul. Living in South Dakota makes for a frigid shop. I have a double sunflower heater for now. I try to do most glue ups inside.

[@bettynuovo2495]

Northern Vermont here. Glue ups inside are best in the winter!

[@lanecobb4150]

Betty Nuovo Same!

[@dafirnz]

Being north of North Dakota, December to late March I avoid doing anything in the garage that I don't absolutely have to do.

[@jacobkomnath7961]

When i was new to woodowrking i let my gallon jug of titebond3 out in the garage during the middle of winter, it was absolutely solid as a rock and when it thawed out it stayed in a lumpy kind of state but you can still absolutely spread it. It defiantly doesn't seem to be gluing weaker which is good. typically i use it for dumb little random things or huge surfaces just because i dont trust it completely, despite it showing strong glue joints, to perfectly hold things in normal situations.

[@Robocoppat]

Great informative video Steve. I was in need of something like this.

[@cindyharrison4191]

Thanks for the coming sens it's going to save me money

[@TeamProsperity]

Well done Steve 👍👍

[@CodeFoxAus]

Fantastic tips as always, thanks Steve.

[@davidchristianbuilds]

Thanks! Great video Steve!

[@canartdamien4689]

Excellent as usual !

[@theeuglyduckling9476]

for the sliding boards thing I use some corner bracket things I made out of scrap to align the pieces. It also helps to spread the glue thinner.

[@orgue3461]

Always helpful. Thanks!

[@pipingcalifornia3476]

You're awesome. Thanks for doing what you do.

[@MrMarkpeggy]

Thanks for the great tips Steve!

[@cobberpete1]

Good info. Thanks Steve

[@6980869]

I like the dirt/pebbles/rocks method best!

[@MaydaysCustomWoodworks]

Hey Steve. I know this isn't a normal topic of conversation, but the viscosity of glue heavily affects it's bonding depending on each task. On clean straight lumber to clean straight lumber, it's not a big deal... But on tasks like glueing end grain or attaching a face frame to a particle board case, the viscosity matters significantly. A more thick wood glue like Elmer's Wood Glue Max is perfectly sufficient for gluing end grain. It's also great for rough plywood edges like melamine or MDF to face frames. Oh! Titebond's Quick and Thick works great for those tasks as well.

[@MultiTom1956]

Thank you Steve 😊

[@cdjhyoung]

I'm the guy that can vouch for the minimum temperature Titebond II and III work at. My wood project required clamping and for an unimportant reason I used both of the before mentioned glues on different joints in the project. Temperature when I start in my shop was just under 50 degree, but it was evening and falling fast. The overnight temp got to just 40 degrees. When I went out the next day to unclamp and continue. only one of the joints was bonded and the rest, though dry, had not adhered at all. Those minimum temps on the bottle of glue, believe them!

[@mikecurtin9831]

The old, old-timers used to slip-fit joints together to get a joint that didn't need to be clamped. Roy Underhill showed this technique on one of his Woodwright Shop shows. What happens (as best I can figure) is that when you're sliding the wood around, you're letting all the air pockets out of the joint, so there's nothing left but glue. This technique also ensures that the glue is thinly and evenly spread. This can be a problem when you're grinding optics, like a telescope mirror. The closer to finished you are (i.e., the smoother and closer matched the surfaces) the worse the problem gets. You can actually weld two pieces of glass together using just water. Good information and some great gags. Thumbs up to crush a troll.

[@curtzeek8818]

Mike Curtin I didn't know that old timers could get older. Thanks, but now I'm not sure I ever want to be an old timer knowing that the process never stops.

[@zrxnuts]

Hello from Minnesota.👍

[@lpconserv6074]

Loved your final "trick"... It really doesn't require a PhD Chemist to come up with every single trick. It is wholly possible and I suggest most likely, the best "tricks" from someone that has made a few hundred or even a few thousand glue ups. Which it seems you have successfully done. Thanks. I will be using your idea hence forth!! Keep it up. Love the channel.

[@corncobjohnsonreal]

A great tip I saw for making wood filler is to mix it with a darker or lighter color. Say if you are working with a dark wood and it's got cute little dark stripes throughout, add a little darker sawdust to your putty to make it blend in better

[@MFTomp09]

I mix my glue with coffee grounds.

[@P010010010100101]

Throwing a little sand on it really made my day! I haven't laughed that hard at a woodworking video in a long time! lol

[@ryanpage9893]

It’s amazing how you look younger as time goes on.

[@ZOEng99]

sold his soul to the KZbin gods

[@sparkyenergia]

Your last comment is exactly what I do. Purposefully don't align boards. Make sure the are both parallel to each other abut just off by a couple of mm. That way when you put it against your table saw fence you are pressing one of the boards against the fence without the other one touching. That will give you a straight cut.

[@DevilPurpleLightning]

I add some holes to both boards with a center punch then I apply the glue and slide the boards a little bit then I go for the clamps. Works just fine and every time!

[@dylanfinch2951]

7:15 Thanks for the tip, I will try it this way, you seemed to have trouble moving the board

[@zach2117]

I didn't know it was ok for your wood glue to freeze that's awesome

[@rwind656]

Common sense; major reason I like your approach! I am currently gluing up a huge number of pieces. Using Titebond 2, per normal, but last week there was a sale at Harbor Freight on little items and I came home with an 8oz container of Gorilla Wood Glue. Comparison side by side, on pre-primed pieces (except for the cuts at end grain), the Gorilla glue is wetter, less tack than Titebond, just sort of like the pre-priming was coated with Rain-X repellent a bit. Until I spread it out. I'm sure it'll glue up and hold fine, but the Titebond tack makes it easier to position and hold pieces while attaching. So I'm using the Gorilla glue for sizing the end grain of moulding pieces. Figure that extra wetness will come in handy there. I'm also thinking of using leftover white glue, Elmer's, for some of this, because I just decluttered a whole bunch of it in the office.

[@danielterk4313]

My miter joints are never perfect. Must be a different Daniel... Great video as always. Loved the sand.

[@robertoj.guerrerom.8117]

Thanks Steve

[@davidrochon6277]

I've lost several bottles of glue because of freezing. Each year I try to remember to bring in all my glue, stain, paint etc before the freeze but miss a few. Where I live we go through long freezing and many freeze//thaw cycles. Just best to keep the stuff inside and have a heated indoor area to do gluing during the winter months.

[@RFC3514]

"Does adding salt to glue really do anything?" "Yes. Makes it saltier."

[@ericromano8078]

Unfortunately, if you have high blood pressure, you should only eat unsalted wood glue.

[@nedcramdon1306]

I find it enhances the flavor of the glue.

[@youtubeisbroken241]

🧂

[@curtzeek8818]

It also helps the glue retain water.

[@trreb1]

That paste they used in grade school back in the 70's, it could have used a bit of salt. LOL

[@lloydpittonet]

In reference to the cold, as many of us Canadians will attest if you've left a bottle of wood glue in your garage in the winter (maybe not many of us, but I hope otherwise) it becomes almost a custard like consistency. It won't freeze per se, but it is not coming out of the bottle. Simply run it under hot water and it will melt back to normal consistency and unaffected by the temperature shift.

[@TurboBlu4]

I love your last tip. It makes sense. Thank you

[@maplobats]

I appreciate that you included metric conversion for the temperature. I can do pounds, inches, feet, and miles no problem....but fahrenheit has always remained utter nonsense to me.

[@RFC3514]

What about "let's start the scale at the lowest temperature I can get with this mix of an arbitrary salt, ice and water, and then define 96 as a rough estimate of my own body's temperature" do you find unscientific?

[@maplobats]

Ounces are also utter nonsense, fwiw

[@stevemyers6285]

Thanks for the great video. I have been a “hobbyist” woodworker for 20 years and never knew about sizing the glue for end grain. Thanks for teaching me something new! I have tried, btw, using sawdust and glue as a filler/putty but the stain never matches. Any tips on that?

[@PC-vx6ko]

Wow. A constructive comment without sarcasm. I'm impressed

[@briangustin3745]

If you will be finishing the project with any hardening type of finish (polyurethane for example) .. pack some clean dust from the wood you're working with (collected sanding dust works great) and then drizzle in a little bit of the stain, mixed with finish to soak the dust and bond it to the gap, then let it cure (not just dry) , and it sands nicely, matches (pretty much) the original wood, and your finish will match too... same trick can also work using sanding dust and then a few drops of thin or medium CA glue (super glue) which will also wick into the wood grain.. and doesn't take as long to dry, but does want to block staining.. (though now I think of it, adding stain to the dust first then the glue might work as well)

[@josiahz21]

Use sawdust and shellac. It’s called slurry and hides much better.