Gorilla glue is a very strong polyurethane glue that bonds to wood, stone, metal, ceramic, foam, fiberglass and more. Woodworkers use gorilla glue for many varieties of woodworking applications but it really stands out when it comes to bonding exotic woods that often interfere with water-based glued. Gorilla glue is ideal for boat building and exterior woodworking projects. Gorilla glue is a polyurethane glue and is unlike any traditional woodworking glue you might have used in the past. Read the directions and tips below to learn more about how to work with this glue.
Directions And Tips
1. Prepare your Surface
- Take the time to complete this important step.
- Clean all surfaces and remove any dust, oil or other impurities. Use a solvent if necessary.
Allow solvent to evaporate completely before applying glue.
- Make sure the pieces are tight fitting.
- Sand smooth surfaces or where there is a high oil/moisture content (e.g. in some woods, metals and plastics). The Glue needs something to adhere to.
2. Dampen one surface with Water
- Spray or use a damp cloth to moisten one surface. Do not saturate.
- Let the moisture distribute before applying the glue.
- Moisture does not speed up the curing process but it allows for a chemical reaction to take place.
3. Apply the Glue
- Spread a thin layer of the Glue onto the other surface.
- Spread the Glue using a disposable brush or with gloves.
- Remember, about half an ounce of the glue will cover a square foot. Do not over apply.
- Gorilla Glue will stain hands and ruin clothing. So wear gloves and protective clothing.
4. Clamp the pieces together
- You must clamp the pieces together. If you donΓt have a clamp, apply heavy pressure.
- Gorilla Glue will foam about 3 to 4 times. So clamping is needed to keep the pieces together.
- Clamping pressure must be distributed evenly over the glue line area.
- Clamping time is always best at 68βF.
- Clamp for 3 to 4 hours and do not disturb the gluing items during this time.
- Leave the glued surfaces for about 24 hours for best results.
- Generally, clamping time has expired when the foam pressed out from the glue line
feels dry and somewhat crisp.
- Foam in a glue line has no structural strength whatsoever, and must not be considered as a gap filler.
5. Curing
- The glue joint should be 90% cured within 4 hours, but for best results, leave for
24 hours.
- The maximum water resistance of the glue line occurs after 5 to 7 days at 68βF.