Wood Glue Comparison – PVA, Polyurethane, and Epoxy Options

Been through every type of wood glue. Here’s what I actually reach for now.

PVA – The Workhorse

Titebond III lives in my shop. Dries clear enough. Water resistant. Cleans up with a wet rag before it sets. What’s not to like.

Titebond II works fine for indoor stuff. Cheaper. I don’t buy it anymore because III does everything II does plus outdoor furniture.

Open time is maybe 10-15 minutes depending on humidity. Plenty for most glue-ups. Full cure in 24 hours.

Polyurethane – Gorilla Glue

Expands as it cures. Fills gaps. Sounds great until you realize the foam has zero strength.

I use it for weird joints where surfaces don’t mate perfectly. Outdoor chair repairs. That kind of thing.

Needs moisture to cure. I spritz one surface with water. Don’t skip this or it takes forever.

The expansion makes a mess. Tape off the joint if you care about squeeze-out.

Epoxy – When Nothing Else Works

Two-part mixing is annoying. Worth it for structural repairs, filling voids, stabilizing punky wood.

5-minute epoxy is garbage for woodworking. Too brittle. Get the 30-minute or longer stuff.

West System for serious work. Overpriced but it’s what boats are made with. That says something.

What I Actually Use

PVA for 90% of projects. Polyurethane for outdoor repairs. Epoxy for salvage work.

Don’t overthink it. PVA joints are stronger than the wood around them. That’s really all you need to know.