Hey everyone! I run a small business building office desks in Australia, and I've been struggling with what seems like glue creep on all my glued panels. After a few days, I notice a raised line of glue between the planks, which is frustrating. I'm currently using Titebond 3 glue and have tried minimizing the amount I use along with applying a lot of clamping pressure, but the issue persists. I finish my panels with Vestings UV cured hard wax oil, and it happens regardless of whether the panel has a finish or not, typically about two days post-glue up. Each panel stays clamped for around 12 hours. I'm at a loss for solutions and am considering switching to a non-creeping glue like epoxy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! 🙂
2 Answers
How long do you wait before you sand or plane the panels? I find that waiting too long can sometimes exacerbate issues like this.
If you're doing production work, I'd really recommend considering a Domino jointer. It can help eliminate misalignment and creep in your panels. Biscuits or dowels could work too and are cheaper, but the Domino saves you a ton of time. Also, keep in mind that Titebond 3 is known to be the most creep-prone of the Titebond varieties. Unless you really need that extra water resistance, you might want to switch to Titebond I or II instead.
Thanks for the tip! I don't think alignment is the problem since I'm using five Dominos per panel, and they all come out perfectly flat and smooth after sanding. But I'll definitely try the other Titebond options!
I typically clamp them for about 12 hours before sanding right after that.