Q:
I know that Unibond 800 (urea formaldehyde) glue is good for bent laminations and veneering, but I’ve also heard that it’s pretty toxic stuff and requires the use of a respirator. Are there any lesstoxic alternatives that work as well?
Bruce Colton, Flagstaff, AZ
A:
I use Pro-Glue Veneer Bond Dry Resin which is a low-formaldehyde version of urea formaldehyde glue. It comes as a powder that gets mixed with water. I use it both for curved veneering and bent laminations. I’ve found that Pro-Glue (woodcraft.com) creates a rigid glueline with minimal creep. Plus, it costs less than Unibond 800 and has a much longer shelf life. But because there’s still formaldehyde in it, you should consider using a respirator. If the respirator is a deal-breaker, then I’d use liquid hide glue, such as Patrick Edwards’s Old Brown Glue (oldbrownglue.com), or Titebond. Because of its rigid glueline, I find that the hide glue is better suited for bent laminations and curved veneering. For flat veneering, I prefer Titebond, because it’s inexpensive, easy to use, and readily available. It also can be quicker to use because parts glued with Titebond can be taken out of the vacuum press in an hour or so, whereas Pro-Glue needs upwards of eight to 10 hours.
Comments
Titebond Extend has a very rigid glue line, longer open time and is excellent for bent laminations. Its a PVA glue like the Titebond 2 so doesn't have formaldehyde
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