Thread: Glue - in cold temperatures

I'm in Newcastle so it doesn't get very cold here but mornings can get under 10C. I am pretty sure they would mean all three or at least glue and stock but then if ambient room temp is low your glue and stock will soon drop back to room temp before the glue has gone off and cured.

G'day Claw,
That's what i was thinking....all three.....until the glue is cured.
Or a diary note........to finish all projects before cool time......(HaHa...That'd be right)

In the real cold weather I glue up in the middle of the day and leave the clamps on at least 24 hours. If it gets below 10 degrees I usually keep the woodheater company.

Did a bit of a play around with a heater/timer/thermometer, and a 10 minute burst of a ceramic fan heater once an hour is keeping the enclosed caravan at 18ºC or above.
I think I'll move in there!!

Bob, I reckon you'd also be a smidgeon cooler at Timboon as well, but I can see some draft exclusion jobbies coming up for me

I used to live in Bendigo and it was lots colder there, thats where I developed the habit of 24 hour clamping etc.

Watson dont forget moisture content of condensation especially softer timbers

but great thread to consider

wouldn't you hate to be in the land of midnight sun trying to do woodwork

Good Point wheeling,
Not only hard to do woodwork there...but bloody hard to find trees as well.

Had a good temperature controlled day at it, and tomorrow I'll do the same thing with pearl hide glue. Not much set up time....but at least it works....and lasts.

This has me wondering too, fired off a email to Franklin International(Titebond) about this... waiting on a reply!

"Hi from Austraila,

Im a member of www.woodworkforums.com an Austrailan site, we currently have a discussion about using woodworking glues in colder temperatures.
As your woodworking glues state its best to do glue ups above 10°c(50°f), what happens to the bond if done below this temperature, does it weaken the joint or just take longer to set fully?
The thread on this question can be seen here... https://www.woodworkforums.com/f198/glue-cold-temperatures-74657

Hoping to here from you, Harry72"

Good email Harry

Great thread Watson

I find I hold off gluing until the wood, timber and glue are all warmed up and yes, tend to leave clamped for longer.

In winter I try to sit/stand/work near the northern facing roller door - much warmer than elsewhere in the shed till I warm up enough to not be a danger to myself

cheers
Wendy

Good Stuff Harry72,
Today, I tried Titebond II, Titebond Poly, Salignas Yellow & White, Selley's PVA and Wellbond PVA from Canada..
At least I'm sitting warm where I am trying it out today.
Did them all below 10ºC yesterday........and at 18º-20ºC today.
Tomorrow Pearl hide Glue..........and then a destruction test on all of them.
Fun!!

Watson,

I'm in Bowral and it gets to 16 if you are lucky these days. i don't trust PVA's, Tiebond etc on important stuff because they have let me down. I now swear by the 2 part epoxy (althought it's messy) but it holds. It generates its own heat in the chemical reaction.

Graham

Thanks Graham,
There's one (the 2 Part Epoxy) that I haven't tried....More inclusions.

Epoxy! Of course! and then I remember that West System say use over 16 degrees celcius. I remember this as I was going to use it in winter, but had to wait until spring as I used it to coat the surface of the CL servery bench and even then it took all week to cure.

What sort of epoxy do you use Carry?


Bring on the destructive testing Watson

Gluing up In Canberra through the cold months (April through to November) can be difficult, but I do it in a small window in the middle of the day.

Most of the cross linking type glues seem to recommend the minimum working temp no less than 10deg C like you say - and that is for the wood, ambient temp etc. I know selleys durabond used to say 7 degrees but have run out of that stuff and it has now changed to 10deg C. Just have to check carefully before you buy.

Check the product data sheets if you can find them on the net.

Regards