Stickey Subject.......glue

[Fast Jack]

Has any one used Gorilla Glue for boat construction? I tried it on a small repair and it seemed to work well, also I used it on some scarf joints on a piece of ash, for a canoe rail with good results.

[RTM]

I used it when I built a mahogany console for a Boston Whaler. Like all good glues it`s stronger than the wood itself. As you know you must dampen the joint first, and use very sparingly,and either clamp the joint, or put the screws in right away, as it really expands. I would`nt be afraid to use it on a race boat. A lot easier, and less wasteful than two part glues.

[Bill Huson]

many moons ago . . .

one of our racers, who shall remain unnamed, decided that WEST resin was pricey (true) and built a runabout using ringed underlayment nails and construction glue. "It holds house floors together!" Also true. I used construction glue to put my subfloor down and it's still rock solid after 30 years. Unfortunately, the construction glue didn't hold up under the damp conditions of a race boat, even when supposedly sealed under varnish. And the rusty stains from the ring nails were a harbinger to popped nails as the glue let go.

Anyhoo, I'd like to see an update in a year or so of Gorilla glue in a race boat. Might work. Glad to see someone experimenting.

[Merc55H]

Gorilla Glue

If you are not going to use epoxy, I'd recommend you use the old resorsinol glues rather that Gorilla Glue. My experience with Gorilla has not been good. used it on butt blocking on a dock and found that it came loose after a couple seasons.

check out

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...resorcinol.jsp

[Steve Wilde]

Polyurethane adhesives

I used an identical glue from Elmers on a ASH and A ASR with fine results, I have no qualms about it's durability over the long run. This type of glue has some big plusses: no time wasted mixing epoxies and no wasted glue, and no pot life worries. There are less desirable attributes : the glue foams out of the joint so be prepared to wipe the joint or mask off joints where appearance is important. The glue loves to cure quickly on your skin, so wear gloves.

[jsilvestri]

Interesting subject. I've built four boats now and have only used West. I've thought about using different types of glue because of the ease of application, no mixing, etc... but have never tried anything different. I'm curious as to what the more experienced boat builders have to say. Hopefully, they will weigh in.

[Abbott Racing]

I tried an experiment when the handle broke off my favorite workshop coffee mug, so I tried the Gorilla glue on it. The glue was amazing, then I got bold with the experiment put the old coffee mug in the dishwasher, it was good for 6 washings, and on the seventh wash when I took it out the handle and mug parted company. I know it's ceramic and not wood, but not sure if after a while getting wet etc.... if it would come apart on wood.

Would hate to be in lane 1 and have the dashboard come off in my hands..... Perhaps the manufacturer could answer this question.....

[Steve Warnock]

Sticky Stuff

On the 8th Day Duck Tape was created, on the 8th Day West Systems was created.

Can't beat WEST!!! For just about anything.

Warbs

[Ron Hill]

Which Elmers??

We've been using an epoxy, $26 a quart, that is supposed to be a private label West Systems....

But, seems my dad and I built a ton of boats with Elmers, but everyone, except Steve Wilde, seems to think Elmers sucks...We only had one bottom come off, but that was after I ran over the top of Benny Miller at Sparks, Nevada. Then, I sold the boat to Reg Meacham and the whole bottom came off ribs and stringers...But me and the old man fixed if for FREE...and he raced her for about three more years...and that was glued together with ELMER's white glue... Frank Zorkan still uses the brown weldwood glue...with no problems that's I've seen.

I built a fence and table using Elmer's yellow exterior glue, and the fence has been outside for almost four years....

Is the yellow glue what Steve Wilde was talking about???

[Fatty]

Never tried with wood, but I used gorilla glue to try and fix my boots. I followed directions perfectly. Was very rigid, first time I put them on the seam popped. Seems it can't handle any sort of flexing. GREAT glue for non moving objects. Not so good for flexing.

[bill boyes]

I have Gorilla Glue in the shop and use it often. But not for marine use. When I worked for Desilva Bros they used Weldwood Plastic Glue. Mixed with sawdust made a graet filler. However, along comes the EPA and they made Weldwood take out the Formadehyde (bad stuff) so it really degraded it
as a bonding agent. I think they have overcome the problems and it is not a bad glue for marine use. I do know that some current boat builders are using it. Frankly, I do not. I use System 3 expoxy with wood flour as a filler for bonding. 2 to 1 mix. West System is top notch but is 4 to 1 and I'am set up for 2 to 1. The problem with Epoxy is the cost. A first time builder will see a lot of waste as I did when I first started using it. So here is where the experience comes in and the cost savings.
And Ron Your dad used Weldwood.

[Bill Huson]

WEST rocks !!!

I buy WEST in the big set, like a 5 gallon jug or resin and gallon jugs of hardener. Only way to go when you build a lotta boats. Since the resin was handy I used quite a bit of it when I restored my 18' aluminum Starcraft. All the replacement floorboards and trim panels were marine fir plywood saturated in WEST resin.

My latest projects are house related. The main beam of my cathedral ceiling rec room is plain old ugly 2x12s - four of them. So using 1/4" fir marine plywood and 1x2 pine planed down to 7/16" thick, I built a U shaped 17' faux beam cover with trusty ol' WEST resin. I figure the 17' long, 8 1/2" wide, 10" deep faux beam goes less than 40 pounds. A plus when I hoist that bugger bear 15' off the floor to attach it in place. To build that thing with a zillion clamps and standard wood glue would be a nightmare. WEST resin and *pap-pap-pap* air stapler and it was E-Z-Breezy.

DIY hint: need to fix a big hole in drywall fast? Use automotive body putty as in Bondo. 10 minutes, hit a lick with sandpaper - paint = done.

[Tim Weber]

Bill is correct about Desilva's.

Ralph uses Weldwood for glue quite often. Its' especially useful when you need just a small amount of glue and it has a good potlife. For bottoms, decks and most repairs he uses West system.

Also, Weldwood was awful as Bill said after the first re-formulation but the current stuff is good.

Tim