Carving wood is a beautiful way to decorate the home. The art has been there for centuries, and many people are quickly turning it into a fun hobby they can engage in with their families and friends.
You can use a variety of tools to carve your wooden pieces, such as a good-sized utility knife, chisels, rifflers, carving gouges, and more. You can also use any type of drill with a bit that perfectly fits your needs, thus giving you the detail you want. However, today we will look into a different aspect of wood curving and answer the commonly asked question!
So can you glue wood together for wood carving?
I know that it sounds like a pretty simple question. But, there’s more than one answer. It will all depend on the wood you want to glue, the size and shape of your project, and how big of a piece you want to carve.
Now, let’s get into these questions in depth so we can all have an answer!
What type of glue to use
If you’re going to glue two pieces together, whether they’re thin or thick, it is always a good move to avoid the regular yellow wood glue. The glue doesn’t work very well with hardwoods like ash, oak, mahogany, or walnut. The reason is that the glue just soaks in.
Instead, you will want to use epoxy adhesive glue that bonds well with your wood. With these types of adhesives, you won’t have moisture issues or a weak bond like with regular yellow wood glue. Here are some good examples:
You’ll want to read the directions for each product and make sure it’s the right one for your wood.
This type of glue is also great because it also bonds to metals. However, please don’t use this type of glue on items that would normally be painted over or that could get damaged by water.
How to coat the wood before you glue it?
Some people will tell you to grease the sides before you glue them together. This is not true! If you do, your glue will repel the sides, and it won’t bond. All you need to do is clean and dry both sides of the wood. If the wood is very dirty or has residue from a previous finish, you can lightly sand it with fine-grit sandpaper.
So, now we have an answer to our question: Can I glue wood together for wood carving? Of course, you can. Remember that it all depends on the type of project you want to create and what kind of wood you’re going to use.
How to glue two pieces of wood togethe
Where you want to glue the wood together, prepare the area with some fine-grit sandpaper, clean and dry both sides of the wood, then apply a small amount of adhesive onto both sides with a brush. Now, follow these simple steps:
Combine the glue in a bottle or cup. In this example with yellow stain, you will want to use a 1:1 ratio of stain to glue. So, one tablespoon of yellow stain will equal one teaspoon (5 ml) of epoxy adhesive. Apply a small amount of glue on each side using your applicator. I like to use a little cup with a toothpick, but you can also use a toothbrush.
When you apply the glue on each side, you’ll need to make sure you brush it onto the grain of the wood. Afterward, you will need to brush on both sides and make sure that there are no bubbles or clumps in the glue. Let the pieces sit for about 30 minutes to an hour before putting them together. This allows the glue to be set up a little bit and not be sticky or wet. You don’t want any excess to dry out on your wood because it will leave a residue and not look as good later.
You can turn the pieces on their side and put them together. Make sure they are lined up together perfectly.
When putting the wood together, make sure that it’s only sitting on wood, not on the glue. This way, you will avoid damaging the glued side of the wood you intend to use. Also, if you’re painting over your project, make sure the paint doesn’t touch the wet glue, or it won’t bond well afterward.
Now go use some clamps or a vise to hold them together! It’s a good idea if both pieces are longer than the other piece because that helps ensure that there will be more surface area touching each side when you clamp them together. I like to use a clamp and a vise on the bottom.
Your wood piece will be ready for paint after pressing them together. Do not tighten any clamps too much because you will ruin your wood piece.
If you don’t want to buy any glue but still want to create a sticky bond, I suggest getting some hot melt glue sticks or super glue sticks. If you are trying to glue two pieces of wood together, just lightly tease one side with the tip of the glue stick. Then, rub it across the back of the other piece until it’s good enough for use. Allow it to sit for 5 – 10 minutes before applying more.
Just do your best to let the glue dry before you move it!
Conclusion
As seen from the article above, it’s quite easy to make a glued wood plank with the small hacks and tips provided in this article. This method will work equally well on hardwoods or softwoods, too, though if using softwoods, you should be more careful when tapping the sides together during assembly to avoid damaging them. It is worth bearing in mind that there are different types of glue designed for particular purposes that give better adhesion than others, so do look around and find some that you fancy.