How to Glue Parallel Wood Pieces

Gluing wood pieces together isn't a specialized skill, but many people realize a high degree of failure nonetheless. Frustrations tend to amass when wood bonds fail due to the lack of preparation or poor application of the glue. With a variety of adhesives and epoxies on the market, it pays to take the time to read and understand the application of the glue you will use. You can quickly learn the correct way to make a secure bond between two or more pieces of wood.

2 pieces of wood
60-grit sandpaper
Lint-free cloths
Wood glue
Putty knife
C-clamps

Instructions

- 1
  Set up with a well-ventilated, clean, dry and dust-free area.
- 2
  Place the wood boards together, making sure the edges lie flat against each other. Apply 60-grit sandpaper to plane down the edges evenly, if necessary. Wipe any dust away from the edges to be adjoined with a lint-free cloth.
- 3
  Check the grain pattern of each piece of wood. Turn both pieces so the grain patterns are lying in the same direction. This will allow for better absorption of the glue.
- 4
  Apply a moderate amount of wood glue to each edge. Spread the glue to less than 1/8-inch on either board with a putty knife.
- 5
  Align the pieces pushing them firmly together by hand. Place the adjoined boards into a C-clamp.
- 6
  Tighten the clamp enough to see a few beads of glue squeeze from the joint. Let the boards set for 45 minutes, then lightly scrape away the excess glue from the joint.
- 7
  Allow the wood boards 24 hours to dry and cure.

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