All woodworkers know how essential wood glue is to do any woodworking project. Wood glue creates a long-lasting bond by holding the wood pieces together. But does wood glue work on painted wood- this is a common question every beginner-level woodworker would ask.
It is a relief that wood glue works after the painting is done, but the glued area on the top of the painted wood surface might not make the durable joint you are looking for. Use effective methods to bond cured painted wood surfaces to wood glue from this content.
How Does Wood Glue Work on Painted Wood?
Wood glue is a fantastic material that joins the wood pieces together and keeps the bond strong, but they all are less effective. All woodworkers and woodworking shops use wood glue. There are many types and brands of wood glues found in the market. You may need to use wood glue for jointing wood in different stages of construction or use it on painted wood.
Unfortunately, no wood glue can create a very durable bond as you require. You will need to apply some techniques based on the suitability of your interior or exterior, the drying time, the finishing strength, etc. You must consider these limitations before working on painted wood with your wood glue.
When repairing the furniture, you may need to use wood glue on painted wood. There are different types of wood glue you can use on painted wood. Wood glues work on painted wood, but they reduce the strength of the glue’s bond because paint blocks the pores of the wood piece, mainly when the adhesive is applied to oil-based painted wood.
On the contrary, the glue can easily seep into the unpainted wood fibers and create a strong bond between the surfaces. Therefore, it is essential to know more about the working process of wood glue on water- and oil-based paints and how to prepare the painted surface well to get a durable bond.
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Wood Glue on Oil-painted Wooden Surfaces
Wood glues work on painted wood, but it doesn’t give as strong a bond as you want. You must think differently while gluing oil-based paint because wood glue can’t penetrate through the wood fibers of the oil-painted wooden surface. Therefore, the bond can’t come out so durable.
All you need to do is sand, scrape off, or cut off the paint before applying glue on the oil-based painted surface to achieve a strong bond and using two-part epoxy or polyurethane glue to attach two oil-based painted wood surfaces without sanding. These glues are highly effective in building a strong bond with other glue types.
Unfortunately, epoxy or polyurethane glue may fall as the days pass, and the wood pieces will come apart with the glue. So, the solution you can count on is, stripping the oil-based paint by sanding and joining the wood surfaces.
Wood Glue on Water-based Paint
Acrylic paint and latex paint are water-based paints. Fortunately, wood glues can be applied to water-based paints to make good bonds. A popular water-based glue is PVA glue which creates a durable joint with the painted surface. This glue is effective on painted walls.
Some Most Effective Glue Types for Painted Surfaces
There are different types of wood glues that work on painted wood, as given below:
PVA Wood Glues
PVA glues are highly effective for any woodworking project. Woodworkers use them to get various benefits when it is about woodworking. For example, PVA glues are popularly used for faster drying time and suitability for making stronger bonds. We all know that paint blocks the wood’s pores, which reduces the bond. PVA glues ensure stronger bonds, especially on water-based paints.
Cyanoacrylate Wood Glues
Cyanoacrylate adhesives, or CA adhesives, are popularly used by DIY enthusiasts, hobbyists, and woodworkers. They use these glues for their fast-setting time on wood. The thicker the CA glue is, the better it is for filling up the gap in the wood and creating a good bond. So, CA glue is highly recommended if your wood surface is porous.
They can be applied on the painted surface, but the strength of the bond will depend on whether the paint is defect-free. The bond’s strength also depends on the paint’s adherence to the underlying wood. CA glues also work well on water-based paints like PVA glues.
Aliphatic Resin Wood Glues
These glues are a form of modified PVA glues. They are also known as carpenter’s glue or yellow glue. Since they are PVA-based, they also rely on the porosity of the wood to maximize the strength of the bond. You can use these glues on painted surfaces, but it will reduce the bond’s strength. Like the previous wood glues, aliphatic resin wood glues are more suitable for water-based paints.
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Epoxies
Woodworkers commonly use epoxies to bond various materials, but the most popular type consists of a resin mix and a hardener. We use epoxies not only for wood but also for outdoor applications as they are chemical and water-resistant. In addition, they are effective for both porous and non-porous wood surfaces. So, you have nothing to worry about applying them on oil or water paints.
Hide Glues
Hide glues are typically non-toxic and chemical-based and are made from cattle’s bones or hides. They are also sometimes chemical and water-resistant. The bonds these glues create are stronger on water-based paints than the oil-based paints.
Hot Glues
Hot glues are the adhesives that are pushed through the nozzle of a glue gun. These glues don’t offer super strong bonds as they are poorly heat-resistant. When they come in contact with heat, they turn to liquid form again. Therefore, hot glue is more effective for hobbyists or DIY enthusiasts to handle crafting projects than woodworking projects.
Procedures to Apply Wood Glue on Painted Wood
Without sanding, you can apply wood glue to bond two surfaces together. Epoxy glue is a good option with resin and hardener, two vital components. However, the glue only sticks to the paint and doesn’t reach the wood. So, when the color starts to peel after some years, it will come off with the glue, and the joints will be apart.
Everyone faces this common problem while working on painted wood with wood glue for their home projects. Therefore, you must follow the solutions to make the bond comparatively more durable. First, try to let the glue reach the wood.
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Step 1: Sand the Wood Surface
Sand the glue line area with 120-grit sandpaper. Make sure you sand only the area that you need to glue.
Step 2: Apply the Wood Glue
After sanding, apply the wood glue on the prepared area to bond the two surfaces.
Step 3: Use Clamps on the Surfaces Together
Only the glue application is enough with clamping. First, you should press the glued wood surface together with the help of clamps to set the glue well. The more time you spend on clamping, the better bond you can expect.
Step 4: Let the Wood Dry
After applying the glue and pressing the surfaces tightly, you must wait for the wood to dry. The required drying time depends on the type and brand of the wood glue. In addition, different bond requires different drying times for the adhesive to set correctly. Therefore, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions given on the labeling before using the glue.
Step 5: Remove the Excess Glue
Once the glue is dried and becomes hard, you are ready to remove the excess adhesive. Use a sharp putty knife to remove the hardened excess glue. Ensure you are doing the process without damaging the surface.
Step 6: Sand the Joint
Your project is almost ready. Lastly, you need to sand the bonded joint very gently. This step will give your wood a perfect finish.
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FAQs
Can I use a heat gun to loosen the paint?
Using a heat gun is an effective tool to loosen stubborn paint. This tool is also convenient if you use it with a scraper. However, you must keep your hands safe from potential fire risks. Ensure you are not damaging the wood surface by applying extreme heat.
Can I use hot glue on painted wood?
You can use hot glue on painted wood, but it doesn’t give a very strong bond. However, it works well when the porosity is high because the high porosity level gives the glue something to grip. Since using hot glue might not provide your desired result, you are recommended to use PVA or polyurethane glue, which are comparatively much better than hot glue.
Why gluing the painted wood is a challenging task?
Paint reduces the wooden surface’s porosity. For that, the glue can’t penetrate the wood fibers, especially when it is oil-based paint PVA glues are good options to create a strong bond despite the barrier of the wood’s porosity created by paint.
Closing Thoughts
Wood gluing is a simple task, but making it durable requires a few techniques and proper application methods. First, the glue should be penetrated with wood fibers to strengthen the bond between the adhesive and the painted wood surface.
This article is a great way to help you investigate how wood glue works on painted wood. However, you need to apply the methods properly to make the project successful and research more in-depth to know other related things.
