Overheard a foreman say something about glue that rewired my brain

I was on a job site in Portland last week, and this old foreman I barely know walked past me while I was gluing up some miter joints. He just muttered "you're putting too much, it'll squish right out and the joint won't grab right." Honestly I always figured more glue meant a stronger bond, but I tested his theory on a piece of scrap oak with half the amount I normally use. Let it sit overnight, clamped it same way, and the next day I tried to break it apart with a pry bar and it held way better than my usual goopy mess. Turns out he was right, the thin layer actually creates a stronger bond because the glue doesn't have air pockets. It's such a small thing but I feel dumb I never thought about it before. Has anyone else realized they were using way too much wood glue their whole career?

2 comments

2 Comments

sandrap401mo ago

Same thing with pancakes, too much syrup just makes everything fall apart.

nora541mo ago

Started using way less glue after a buddy in cabinet shop gave me the same tip a few years back. He showed me that you only need a thin, even coat on one surface, not both sides like I was doing. Clamped it up and waited, then tested it on a piece of scrap by smacking it with a hammer. That thin bond was way stronger than my old thick layers that would just snap apart at the glue line. Now I spread it thin with a little brush or a scrap piece of wood, makes sure there's no gaps, and press it together. Saves on glue money too, which adds up quick when you're doing a bunch of joints.