I’m always on the lookout for a new product or material, and I suspect that some of my readers might be interested in hearing how these products fared out. I recently picked up a bottle of Titebond’s Molding & Trim Glue, which is a product that I’ve not used before. A shelving project seemed like the perfect opportunity to try out the new glue, so I gave it a go.
My usual glue is Titebond III. I prefer it because it has a slightly higher viscosity than most wood glues, and a longer open working time. Since I do most of my work by myself, it’s nice to have those extra few seconds available. On a large bookcase, it might take some time to get all of the clamps adjusted and all of the parts fitting right. If the glue sets up before you’ve made your adjustment, the bond will break. It’s kind of like not using glue anymore. Titebond III solves that problem.
Titebond Molding & Trim Glue goes a step further. The glue is almost gel like in its viscosity. It’s designed to stay put, especially when used on vertical applications like you’d find in trim jobs — gluing the mitred corners on a door casing, say. The glue won’t drip. The shelving project I was working on involved many dadoed parts that had to be clamped together, several at a time. I was able to apply the glue to the dadoes and stand those parts without worrying about the glue running out and getting where I didn’t want it. The bonds held well and I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the dried glue cleaned up very easily wherever it did squeeze out. With a sharp chisel the dried glue popped right off and hardly left any areas needing sanding. The glue even has a little bit of a gap filling ability, which turned out to be helpful on some drawer faces I recently put together. It dries to an almost clear or sightly milky color and hides pretty well in seams and corners.
For comparison’s sake I glued about half of the dadoes on the shelving project with my standby glue, Titebond III. I always spread the glue out in the dadoes as I apply it with a thin stick or a chip brush for consistent coverage, and with an ordinary glue it’s a little important to make sure you get everything right, since the glue will run out the bottom of any dadoes that stand vertically while you’re building your case. With the Molding & Trim glue I was able to use the applicator tip to apply and spread the glue at the same time, saving a few seconds here and there.
Here's the cabinet, almost completed.
The price works out a little better with the Molding & Trim glue compared to Titebond III, so I’ll be likely to use it on other upcoming projects. The glue is not a replacement, though. I declined to use it on a molding job I recently undertook in a master bathroom, due to the temperature and humidity fluctuations the trim would encounter. Molding & Trim glue is not intended for outdoor work and doesn’t offer any protection against moisture or humidity. The Titebond III is definitely a stronger glue, rating about an extra 1000 lbs. psi. There were enough dadoes and mechanical fasteners involved with the case I was building where I wasn’t as concerned about the strength of the glue, but I can definitely see cases where Titebond III would still be the glue I’d choose.
Another great thing I’ll say about Titebond is that they’ve always been very helpful with technical questions over the telephone. Their number is 1-800-347-4583, or you can look them up at www.titebond.com. I try to get as much information as possible whenever I’m using any new products, and if the manufacturer has a knowledgeable rep I can speak with, I’ll feel much more confident choosing their product.
