Vent: I tried a new glue for a tricky outdoor bench repair and it totally failed

I was fixing a cedar bench in a client's yard here in Portland, and the main joint was wobbling bad. Instead of my usual exterior wood glue, I grabbed this new 'all weather' adhesive I saw at the store, thinking it would set faster in the damp. I followed the directions, clamped it for the full 24 hours they said, and it looked solid. Two days later, after some light rain, the joint just popped right open like nothing was ever there. I learned the hard way that 'all weather' doesn't beat a proper mechanical fix for real load bearing spots. Now I'm back to drilling for a dowel and using my old trusty bottle. Has anyone else had a glue promise way more than it could actually deliver on an outdoor piece?

3 comments

3 Comments

mila_brown101mo ago

Ever trust a glue bottle more than your own common sense?

carter.laura1mo ago

Always check the cap first (learned that the hard way).

the_wren1mo ago

Gotta check if the glue is actually rated for gap filling, some just bond tight surfaces. @mila_brown10 is right about common sense, but the real test is if it handles wood movement from humidity changes. My worst fail was a glue that stayed tacky forever in cool weather, never fully cured.