Replies

1. 
   BenM | Dec 16, 2002 09:30pm | #1

   Gorilla glue expansion is air bubbles and has zero strength.  You might try gluing a shim (like a plane shaving) to the tenon and see if that gives a better fit.

1. 
   Marcello | Dec 16, 2002 09:45pm | #2

   Why is it advertised as the "Strongest glue on the planet"? With so many air bubbles... maybe is the lack of air bubbles in tight fitting joints that the glue excels in.

   I will add the shims to minimize the amount of glue though, thanks.  But then, maybe a PVA glue will work just as well.

1. 
   ChasStanford | Dec 17, 2002 12:14am | #3

   Gorilla Glue and other polyurethane glues do not fill gaps with strength.  If you need that attribute, you need to use epoxy.

1. 
   Marcello | Dec 17, 2002 01:40am | #5

   Hadn't thought about epoxy.  Maybe instead of wedges and shims I can fill the gap with epoxy. 

   Thanks.

1. 
   bill_1010 | Dec 18, 2002 06:59pm | #6

   yea, and you could experiment with aniline powder dyes to darken your epoxy to the wood color.  For big gaps, they sell micro ballons, basically glass or pyrex beads that are itty itty bitty.  However they arent needed in dovetail gap fillings... but can save some epoxy if you have to work on some large cracks

   Liquid dyes  offset the epoxy ratio, even though i doubt youd see structural failure in light duty applications, it might change the properties enough to lenghten the open time.

   System Three or West Brands are excellent epoxies.  Id shy away from the home center epoxies since they contain solvents and shrink somewhat.

2. 
   Marcello | Dec 18, 2002 07:16pm | #7

   Bill,

   In this particular case, the sliding dove tails will not be seen, so I could fill the gap with straight epoxy so as not to compromise its integrity.  I have used epoxy to fill small gaps or knots in wood and have used the fine saw dust from the wood itself, I can combine it with other wood colors to change its appearance somewhat and it works great. I will buy one of the epoxies you suggest for this case though.  Thanks.

2. 
   Elcoholic | Dec 17, 2002 12:19am | #4

   Poly glues (Gorrilla, Excel, PL ...) are very strong as a film, as is yellow glue.  Neither are very good at gap filling.  Poly only foams where it's not restrained, like in gaps.  For gap-filling nothing beats epoxy.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   Life is tough.  It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne