You’re a passionate DIYer who spends the best part of the weekend tinkering around the house. You’re in the middle of a project and need to attach two pieces of wood.
But then, it clicks. You’re out of wood glue. You start going through your mental Rolodex of household items that could do the trick, and then it hits you – hot glue!
You’ve seen it deliver excellent results in attaching things around the house, so surely it will work on wood too, right? Well, read on for more on using hot glue for wood.
Will Hot Glue Stick To Wood?
Yes, hot glue sticks to wood, but there’s more to that. The bond created by hot glue on wood isn’t as you’d get with the adhesive designed for lumber. But if the joint you intend to make isn’t subject to shear stress, the hot glue will hold it together just fine.
As a passionate DIYer, you absolutely agree with me that not many items come closer to the level of versatility that hot glue offers.
Whether you want to attach two pieces of paper, fix a stripped screw hole, or make a model of the Eiffel Tower, to mention but a few, hot glue will probably be your go-to adhesive.
As such, it’s only natural to think that it can suffice in attaching two pieces of wood together. But does hot glue actually work on wood?
The answer is yes. Hot glue sticks to wood. In fact, it’s one of the materials that hot glue adheres to best.
However, it would be misleading to stop at that. The bond created by hot glue on wood is not as strong as the one you get when using wood glue.
But then again, it all comes down to the purpose of the joint. If the two pieces of wood you’re attaching together are not going to be under stress, hot glue will do just fine.
On the other hand, if the joint will be under some stress, it’s best to go for wood glue. In this case, wood glue will create a stronger bond and is resistant to stress.
So, in a nutshell, wood glue will stick to wood. However, whether or not you should use it for attaching two pieces of wood depends on the strength of the bond you want for your project.
Does Gorilla Glue Work On Wood?
Yes, the general Gorilla glue works on wood. But unless you want an all-purpose glue that you can use on various surfaces, we recommend buying Gorilla glue specifically designed for wood.
There’s much you can do with the general Gorilla glue. In fact, for the most part, it’s an all-purpose glue that you can use for any well-prepared surface. It provides better results on a variety of materials than most adhesives.
So, you surely can use it on wood and expect to get good results. Nevertheless, we suggest Gorilla glue specifically designed for wood if you want to get the strongest joints.
You see, the general-purpose formula also doesn’t come with special features ideal for wood. Hence, we recommend that you get the Gorilla glue designed for wood if you want to avoid any issues and get the best results.
And as usual, before you apply Gorilla wood glue, remember to begin by preparing the surface. Also, clamp it tightly and long enough (at least an hour) to allow adequate time for the glue to cure.
Will Hot Glue Stick To Stained Wood?
Hot glue sticks to stained wood well, albeit the bond isn’t as strong as you’d get when using it on bare wood. So, if you need a stronger bond, look for glues that work ideally with stained surfaces.
Staining surfaces is necessary to ramp up the aesthetic appeal, preserve the wood grain, and give it a natural look. However, staining wooden surfaces has downsides.
Precisely, staining blocks the wood pores. And as we all know, for hot glue to form a strong bond with wood, it has to penetrate through the pores in the wood’s fiber structure.
So, by blocking the pores, the permeability of the wood is highly affected, becoming harder for the glue to work as effectively as it otherwise could.
Not impossible, mind you. But the bond won’t be as strong as you’d get when working with unstained wood.
So, if you have stained wood surfaces, there are two ways to go about it; either use glue that works best with stained surfaces or sand the stain off to create an ideal surface for hot glue.
Of course, the first option is by far the easiest. We have several types of glue that come with features that allow them to bond well with stained surfaces.
They have a more aggressive tack that enables them to grab onto the surfaces more readily. Also, they have a superior formula that helps them create a stronger bond, even on stained surfaces.
A case in point of such adhesives is Titebond Polyurethane glue. Most wood professionals will tell you that it’s the most effective glue when working with stained wood.
Will Hot Glue Stick To Damaged Wood?
Of course, yes; hot glue will stick to damaged wood, but only if the porosity of the wood is still intact. So, if the wood is damaged from the inside, using hot glue for the repair might not be the best idea.
Porosity refers to the tiny holes or pores on the surface of the wood. These pores are necessary for hot glue to create a strong bond. It allows the adhesive to penetrate the wood and form a mechanical bond with the fibers.
However, if the wood has damage from the inside, or the pores are plugged, hot glue might not be able to create a strong bond. That’s because it won’t be able to form a mechanical bond with the fibers.
How Strong Is Hot Glue On Wood?
The bond created by hot glue on wood is quite strong. However, it’s not as strong as the one you’d get from using some glue types. You can break the bond that hot glue creates on wood if you apply a good amount of force.
As we’ve already said, hot glue works on wood. But then again, it isn’t the kind of adhesive you’ll want to use on joints often that you put under a lot of stress. You see, the bond created by hot glue isn’t as strong as the one you’d get from some adhesives.
However, if it’s the only option, add a screw or two. The resulting bond will be strong enough to withstand even shear stress.
So, unless you can use stronger glue, always add some screws to reinforce the bond created by hot glue.
Does Hot Glue Work On Painted Wood?
Hot glue works on painted wood as well. Even so, hot glue on painted wood won’t create a stronger bond than you’d get on unpainted lumber. So, only use hot glue for painted wood on small woodworking projects.
Hot glue penetrates paint. The liquid-like gel formulation of hot glue works its way into the paint layer and creates a bond with the wood. As such, you can still use it for joining two painted pieces of wood.
Even so, you shouldn’t expect much from the bond it creates. In most cases, the joint won’t be as strong as you’d get when working with unpainted wood.
Again, the strength of the bond will depend on the type of paint. Oil-based paints affect the wood porosity more than water-based varieties. And as we all know, glue works better where there’s more porosity.
So, the bond will be stronger when using hot glue on surfaces painted with water-based paint. But in the case of oil-based paint, the bond won’t be as strong.
And when we say that the bond is stronger on wood with water-based paint, remember that “stronger” is a relative term. The bond is still weaker than the one you’d get on unpainted wood.
Does Hot Glue Work On Metal To Wood?
You can use hot glue to join metal to wood, especially if the metal is light. Hot glue doesn’t form a more sustainable bond between metal and wood, so using heavy metal objects isn’t recommended.
The main advantage of using hot glue is that it’s easy to remove. So, if you’re working on a project that requires frequent disassembly and reassembly, then hot glue is the way to go.
And while it works on wood to light metal objects, keep in mind that the bond won’t be as strong as you’d get from some other adhesives, or even when joining two pieces of wood using the same glue.
It all comes down to porosity. Wood is porous, while metal isn’t. So, the hot glue can’t form a mechanical bond with the metal surface. It can only create a physical bond.
In other words, the bond between the hot glue and the metal will be weaker than that between the hot glue and the wood. So, if you’re using heavy objects, it’s best to use some other type of adhesive.
What Can You Use Instead Of Hot Glue On Wood?
Spray adhesive, liquid glue, epoxy resin, PVA glue, and fabric glue are good alternatives to hot glue. They all create long-lasting bonds, so feel free to use them on your woodworking projects.
PVA glue is the best alternative to hot glue. It’s water-based. As such, it won’t damage the wood like hot glue. PVA glue is also non-toxic, making it safe to use around children and pets.
But still, that doesn’t rule out the fact that all of the adhesives mentioned above work incredibly well for wood. Of course, each of these adhesives has its advantages and disadvantages.
Final Verdict
Hot glue is a multi-purpose glue that works on various materials, including wood. However, I only recommend it for your woodworking projects if the joint you are trying to create isn’t subject to a lot of stress.
The bond between hot glue and wood is strong enough to withstand light loads. But if the joint has to bear a lot of weight, the bond will eventually fail. So, if you have to use it for such, add fasteners for reinforcement.