Thread: Merbau - Titebond2 staining - suggestions?

Polyurethane doesn't stain, but it is messy if you're not careful with how much you use.

Evan, your Merbau is very red. I recently knocked together two bedside tables for a spare room, the Mid Century Modern design being chosen by my wife. For speed, I used the Merbau 18mm thick panels from Bunnings. These were mitre/biscuited together. Here you can see the colour ...



The glue used was Titebond II. No staining - I wipe down with a wet rag immediately after to remove squeeze out.

No only was there no staining from the glue, but the panels were stained to match Jarrah drawer fronts, and the staining proceeded without any blotching (okay, I use a grain filler first). The legs are Hard Maple. These stained well. In the photo below, one cabinet is half-stained and the other not at all ...



Painting by a friend ...



The Merbau took stain well. No signs of blotching from the TB II glue ...





Titebond II. Use it.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Ha! So happens that these bits are all from Bunnings 26mm panels too

It was so much cheaper to buy one of these and chop it up.

The staining that came off it when it was wet from a recent downpour was crazy! It ran like a murder scene. The timber is super tanin rich.

I'll ensure I use TB2 and wipe it down. I was surprised to see the glue oxidize as it did and the drips turn black.

Never had that before.

BTW Derek, your work constantly impresses me. I was using my V. Jack with A2 blade for the last two days and it's a dream. I bought this second hand after seeing you do so many reviews and using it on your site.

BBTW I'm impressed at how you get the staining matched. Colour correcting with stain is a true artistic skill. Like music - one must inherently have the eye/ear

Try Sika PVA (also avail. @ BGS) it has a pH which is not as reactive with tannin rich wood. I have very good success with Kwilia / Merbau and Tas Blackwood with NSA Northern Silver Ash lamminations.

Also recommend AV Syntec AV515 (cartridge) PU glue, no where near as messy as TB3, Sellys PU etc.

The white PVA crap works just as well, call me a sceptic but I reckon Titebond run a very clever marketing exercise.

Originally Posted by woodPixel

Hi all,

I'm doing a glueup on my minibench. It is merbau... very red!

My bother is that the glue leaves a black residue. Not great, but it planes off easily enough.

Does anyone have experience (or know) which glue will not leave such stains on this timber?



I've TB1, 2, 3, PU and some white PVA crap from Bunnings. Happy to buy whatever from wherever (more bench building on the way!)



This is how red this stuff is.
IMG_20210519_163435.jpg

Not tempted to go old school and use hide glue? [emoji16]

Originally Posted by taz01

Not tempted to go old school and use hide glue? [emoji16]

Its just a mini-bench for bashing projects out on Its design is to sit on a bench.... the next project out the door is a roman style bench for bashing out bigger jobs.

There is a VERY poor thread here: YAWBT - My new workbench

THOUGH... that thread has lasted longer than some members have been on the forum! Its all talk and little work... but Im getting there