I am an artist working on a project in which I need to glue thin slices of end grain and sometimes canvas to MDF or plywood. When I try to use traditional wood glue it causes the thin slices of end grain to warp. What adhesive or process would the more experienced members recommend? I don’t have a vacuum press unfortunately.
Should I use a polyurethane glue or will it travel up the end grain to modify the look of the surface? Is Urea Formaldehyde or resorcinol glue the only option? I’d prefer to be able work on this in the house and I’d rather not use something toxic indoors. Or will an epoxy work without warping the end grain slices? What about hide glue, or will that also cause the end grain slices to warp?
I have a similar project gluing canvas to wood so I need an adhesive for that as well. In the past I used PVA glue or Acrylic Gel Medium but the water content in them it caused the wood to warp under the canvas.
Thank so much really appreciate the input.
Daniel Wolfe
Replies
In general thin slices like you describe will react to water as you have seen. How they react to other fluids would really require testing. UF glue is a pertty thin fluid, an open pore wood might react and closed pore might not. Sealing the wood prior to gluing might help too. Thick stuff like a gel CA might work, hot melt should also.
"Waste" some material to run some tests, you will probably leran other useful info about your materials along the way.
The first thing that comes to mind is contact cement. This, of course, would be a disadvantage if you have to do any adjusting after applying your pieces. You can get contact in a spray can which will apply the glue thinly so the chances of warping the piece would be less. Plus, it is solvent based rather than water based. You can also get contact cement in a water base with low odor. I don't know if this would cause the warping you mention or not, but even if it does, you should be able to flatten it out as you apply it and once in contact, it will stay put. It will also help compensate for your lack of a vacuum press. This would also work with the canvas.
Double sided tape may also work; particularly the kind used to stick down carpeting. Another alternative might be something like these glue sheets: https://www.amazon.com/Double-sided-Adhesive-Sheets-x10-25/dp/B014YKP1PU/ref=sr_1_26?dchild=1&keywords=iron+on+Adhesive+Sheets&qid=1633468565&s=arts-crafts&sr=1-26. Both of these may work best if you first seal the wood base material.
My wife is an artist and I have often glued canvas to plywood.the first problem that all wood products want to have both sides finished in a similar fashion or they will warp.Small sizes are safe but large are not.In any case use baltic birch plywood or MDF.If the size is large coat the back with two coats of paint and use either spray or roll on contact for the canvas and pray
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