Best wood glue for Woodworking and Wood carving

It took me some time to admit that wood glue is an essential part of any craftsman toolkit. Right next to my chip carving knife and chisel, a pack of wood glue waits patiently to help me out. 

But, what is the best glue for woodworking, and how is it different than the best wood glue for a wood carving project? What makes the best waterproof wood glue, and why do I need one?

These are some of the questions that I’ll help you get answered in this article.

If you need an extra tip on the type of wood to use, check out my experience with different wood types in What is the best wood for carving. 

In case you are working on a complex project that you need power carving tools, perhaps my list of the Best power wood carving tools can be helpful. 

For sure, almost any whittling project requires good quality chisels and gouges. I’ve reviewed the best of them in my article – Best wood carving chisels and gouges set.

To complete your toolset for the next whittling, find out What is the best whittling knife in 2020 for me. I must say I am still using the same BeaverCraft model, but I’m looking forward to hearing your impressions.

Why do I need wood glue?

First of all, you might want to indulge in more complex projects. Some ideas you wish to realize simply cannot be made out of a single woodblock, so you might have to put some pieces together.

Not all wood carving projects you will be working on are simple to pull off with just carving and roughing. Sometimes you will also be making mistakes that could be handled with glue. It can be a parachute when your project goes downhill and needs a little push.

Now, you can get things done even with cheap wood glue. The best glue for wood, in that sense, has little to do with the price of the brand.

To answer the question of what’s the best wood glue, we should review types of glue for wood and the features a glue offers – that you need for your project.

Types of Wood Glue

Wood glue can be diversified into five main categories, based on the substance it is made of. When choosing which one to buy, there are big differences between natural wood glues for a small project and the best construction adhesive that needs to be reliable and hold weight.

You need your wood glue to dry fast, be water-resistant if possible, and to respond well to sanding. Some glue will not accept wood stains very well, so that is another aspect you should take into consideration.

In general, fast-drying wood glue is a good choice. This won’t take up too much of your time while waiting for it to dry, so you can move onto the next stage of your project quickly.

Furthermore, pay attention if the glue is water-resistant. This means a lot if you are using it for something you will be washing – like a bowl, or a spoon. The best epoxy for wood is recommended if you need the glue you can trust for projects such as boats, that you need secured from water.

For caricature carving projects, the important factor is whether the glue can resist sanding. If a glue dries to be brown/yellow, with a little sanding you can mask the joints and make them appear natural.

If you wish to combine wood with other materials, polyurethane-based glue will help you glue metal to wood. This is also the best glue type for porcelain as well. Some other glue types known for their general use are cyanoacrylate adhesives or so-called superglue that you can also use to glue wood to metal, but the bond won’t be as durable.

PVA adhesive – Permanent formula for gluing wood to wood

There are two types of PVA formulas – the white types designed for indoor use, and the yellow kind also called carpenters glue, created for outdoor use. This is a strong adhesive contained of synthetic polymer which is great for strong bonds, especially when you are gluing wood to wood. The bonds are flexible and permanent, while the glue is nontoxic and safe to use.

The downside of this adhesive is the residue that you will have to sand over, and the fact that it does not accept wood stains very well. This glue is permanent, though, and if you press the wood blocks tight together for it to dry they will stay glued forever.

Polyurethane adhesive – Creates flexible, durable joints

This synthetic plastic resin is the key ingredient in many wood glue, but also wood stains and carpentry finishes. The substance works best in moist conditions and when applied in moist spaces it will create a stronger bond when drying, unlike most other wood glues.

Polyurethane is better than the PVA adhesive if you intend to stain over it, but the excess is heavy to remove when finishing the project. The joints themselves are firm and very durable.

Adhesive based on organic resins – Natural wood glue for delicate projects

Unlike synthetic glues, natural rubber adhesives are based on natural polymers usually derived from the Hevea brasiliensis tree. Natural glue is a good “green” choice, although it is not a heavy duty glue and in comparison to the synthetic ones.

Organic glue has an advantage that the formula can be reversed, and if you need this feature this glue is the one to go for. This is also the best adhesive for delicate projects such as gluing a musical instrument.

Epoxy – Reliable waterproof formula for covering the defects on wood

Unlike other wood glues, epoxy has a thick texture and is primarily designed to fill in the gaps of your project. Epoxy glue for wood is very durable, and it’s double formula – resin plus hardener make it a reliable choice for gluing wood.

Before applying even the best wood epoxy, you should prepare the surfaces to make them clean and sanded for it to work at it’s fullest. The coolest thing about this glue type is the fact that it is waterproof, and it is dependable for designing water vessels.

Cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesive – Quick-dry superglue formula for every household

This is essentially what we know about as “superglue”, the type of glue that creates rigid bonds that are not very lasting and are easier to break than the most. However, this adhesive dries in split seconds in room temperature and this makes it perfect for quick fixing around the house. It is useful when you need a quick wood repair.

It can be used as furniture glue, to put the joints back together if they break, which is why it is very common in households. Residue is easily removed with acetone, and you should be careful not to bring it in contact with your skin, and remove it immediately if you do.

Titebond 1415 III Ultimate Wood Glue – Non-toxic waterproof glue

Titebond III or Ultimate is named this way because of its powerful bond strength. It is also more waterproof in comparison to others, and on top of that, it can be applied at lower temperatures.

According to all available features, this is top wood glue. It comes in handy for wood carving projects in particular, because it doesn’t discolor the wood when applied.

Unlike Titebond I and II, the Ultimate glue is suited for outdoor use. This is important to know if you are planning to practice this craft outside or in a chilly workshop.

This is quick-drying wood glue, that doesn’t have that bad chemical smell when you apply it. It is non-toxic wood glue, and it is safe for indirect food contact (if you glue a bowl or a spoon).

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Gorilla Original Waterproof Polyurethane Glue – Best permanent glue for wood

Gorilla has different glues on the market and not all are designed for wood. However, if you ask me if Gorilla glue is good for wood, my answer is: absolutely.

Gorilla wood glue works all right, but it dries kinda lumpy. Gorilla wood glue reviews also suggest other guys found it not as effective as Gorilla glue.

This glue is designed to apply on other surfaces (such as metal), but it works great for wood as well. It is completely dry in less than a day, and the color it dries in is beige, so a little sanding can make it completely fit in.

It is also waterproof and approved to be used for kitchen dishes. It is strong and permanent, and it can be a plus that it works on different materials if you plan on combining wood with metal, plastic, or even leather.

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Titebond 5063 Original Wood Glue – The best value for beginner carvers

This Titebond glue is basic, yet super strong wood glue. In practice, it is very easy to use and it worked like a charm.

In this Titebond wood glue review, I can only say it is just enough for your project. Of course, it is not as strong and as resistant as the Titebond Premium and Ultimate, but for a woodcarver, it will get the job done.

It is waterproof to an extent, but it can be more sensitive to sanding in comparison with the stronger Titebond glues that are well resistant. 

This is not the best wood glue for outdoor use, in fact, it is not outdoor wood glue at all. It is designed strictly for indoor use, and it is super sensitive to low and high temperatures.

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Elmer’s E7310 Carpenter’s Wood Glue Max – Best glue for woodworking

The sole name of this glue suggests it could be the best glue for wood furniture. This is a woodworking glue, and it is used for all types of carpentry.

Because of this, it is designed to easily apply to any wood surface and works for softwood and hardwood equally. What makes it the strongest glue for wood is that it holds wood fibers tight together and the bond is really firm.

I tried using this glue for my woodcarving projects, and it is as effective as they say. On top of its strength, it is waterproof, resistant to high temperatures, and dries quickly.

It is noticeable on small projects, so that’s something I solved with painting my caricatures.

It’s non-toxic, so technically it can be used on kitchen tools, but aesthetically speaking I rather go with Titebond III on this, as it can be sanded and unnoticeable.

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Gorilla 6206005 Wood Glue – Great choice for a hardwood

This is a high-strength wood glue, known for its cross-linking bond formula. According to the Gorilla wood glue review, this could easily be the best glue for wood joints.

In my experience, Gorilla glue is a good choice for woodworking, but also for woodcarving. It dries rather quickly, and in less than a day you can continue your project. Unfortunately, you cannot sand the tiniest detail of the glued project without a worry in the world, as it doesn’t sustain sanding very well.

It is shown to be water-resistant and it is safe to be used in bowl carving, spoon carving projects, and other kitchen items (according to FDA).

What I like about this glue is that it is proven to work great with hardwood as well as softwood. This means that it is my go-to tube when I work with heavier projects.

The only downside to this glue is that it is visible on the wood after it is dried. This can be a problem if the project you are working on is small, so it is more noticeable.

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Titebond II Premium Wood Glue – Professional wood glue

As mentioned before, Titebond is a brand with a high reputation, and each glue is trustworthy. Titebond Premium is super strong and very effective, top-rated wood glue.

This is a professional glue, used by a lot of woodworkers, and it gets the job done. I wouldn’t recommend you use it outdoors or at lower temperatures, as the result won’t be what you hoped for.

This glue has a creamy, wood-like color, and can be sanded to fit in with the rest of the wood. When you apply it at high temperatures, it drips all over the place, so try to avoid that.

It dries quickly and is completely dry in less than a day. It is FDA-approved for culinary tools.

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To conclude, in my experience, the question of the best wood glue and best waterproof wood glue is one and the same since most glues manufactured for woodworking are now water-resistant. 

The best glue for woodworking is, without a doubt, Elmer’s E7310 Carpenter’s Wood Glue Max. However, this is not my choice for wood carving since the glue is super rough and very visible on the outside of the joints.

If I’m making a decision which one I will use in my project, Titebond vs Gorilla wood glue, I would usually go for Titebond. Gorilla glues are designed to bond woodblocks, but Titebond is way more useful for delicate work.

When I work on carving projects, it is very important for me to sand out the joints and make them invisible. My personal choice for the best wood glue is Titebond II – Premium. It is strong, resistant, and not as expensive as the Ultimate glue.

Titebond Premium is designed for indoor use, so I use it inside my workshop, and it performs with flying scores. So, if you also practice wood carving indoors, this is my honest recommendation.

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