Using Wood Glue With Metal and Wood

Glue oozing from a tube onto a wood surface.

Wood glue is an important material that allows metal and wood to bond together without leaving annoying holes and gaps. This is important because gaps will let in moisture, which will greatly weaken the holding potential of the wood glue with metal and wood. Wood glue is very simple to use, but there are a few key things you need to remember.

Brushing and Sanding

It is extremely important you brush down and sand the surface of the wood that will have metal glued to it. This is vital because the wood glue needs to set against a perfectly clean and smooth surface. The surface of the wood has to match the smoothness of the metal, otherwise the wood glue will cause the components to slide around and it will become impossible to form a strong bond between the two.

Caulking Guns

A caulking gun can be filled with a strong adhesive wood glue. The reason caulking guns are important when using wood glue with metal and wood surfaces is because they allow for the application of huge quantities of wood glue with precision. This means you can run a huge bead of wood glue along the surface of either metal or wood. This will not have any gaps or holes in, which may appear if you were using a brush to apply wood glue to one of the surfaces.

Rolling

A common technique when using wood glue with metal and wood is rolling. Rolling is when you apply extra pressure over the top of a piece of metal or wood in order to create a stronger bond. This can be done by rolling a normal paint roller over either surface a number of times. It will push the wood and metal surfaces together creating a stronger bond. This means when the wood glue dries it will create a stronger hold between the two materials. Alternatively you can place buckets of water or other objects on top of the metal until the glue dries.

Clamping

Using holding clamps is a great way to stop metal and wood from sliding apart. There are two times when holding clamps will be used with wood glue, metal, and wood. First, clamps will be used while the wood glue is drying between the two components. The clamps will also be used to keep a section of metal and wood stationary. This will allow you to sand down and areas of excess glue and apply any layers to the metal or wood such as polish or paint.

Drying

Leaving wood glue in metal and wood to dry in the correct place is as important as any other factor. You have to work in or leave the metal and wood in a dry and cool room. This will minimize the chance of any moisture in the air weakening the glue bond between the metal and the wood. If this is difficult for you to do, a simple solution is to buy one or two high-powered fans and turn them on while the wood glue is drying.

Knowing how to use wood glue with both metal and wood will help make your DIY projects a breeze. With this guide, you are ready to tackle it and avoid a sticky situation.