Know-How

Chair Repair Glue Comparison

By Nick Engler
Copyright © 2020 Bookworks, Inc.

W hat follows is a photo comparison of eleven common adhesives that we evaluated for
repairing wooden chairs. Because chair joints fail from racking stress, the mortise-and-
tenon joints become loose – the tenons no longer fit the mortises. Consequently there are
voids and gaps in the joints. The adhesive you use must not only stick the wooden parts back
together, it must also fill the gaps with a material that is at least as strong as the wood itself.
The glue must be cohesive as well as adhesive.

Our test compared glues primarily for cohesion, but also for adhesion in a joint in which the
glue cured without clamping pressure. For each glue test, we cut two hard maple boards 3/4”
x 2” x 12”. We drew a line 2” from one end of each board and spread adhesive in a 2” x 2”
area of one board. We scraped a 3/8”-16 bolt across it to level the uncured adhesive and
insure that each joint had the same amount of adhesive. Finally, we lapped the second board
over the first, creating a 4-square-inch glue joint between them. We did not clamp the joint, or
apply any pressure other than the weight of the top board. Each glue joint was allowed to
cure for 24 hours.

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 Chair Repair Glue Comparison
Afterwards, we attached an eyebolt 1” from
the end of the top board and clamped the
bottom board to our workbench. Using an
engine hoist, we lifted the eye bolt,
measuring the strain on the joint with a
digital scale. We captured each test on
video so we knew the precise strain (in
pounds) at the moment the glue joint failed
– these are listed below. We also
inspected the failed joints to see whether it
was the maple or the cured adhesive that
let go. If there was evidence that the wood
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split all across the joint, we concluded that
the adhesive had at least as much
cohesion as the wood itself, as well as
sufficient adhesion to hold the joint
together until the wood failed. If you would
like to watch the tests we performed, see
The Best Adhesives for Chair Repair video
on our YouTube Channel.
Glues are listed in the order of maximum
strain measured before joint failure:
Brand Name: PC Clear Epoxy
Chemical Family: Epoxy
Gap Filling: Yes
Maximum Strain: 101.0 lbs
Brand Name: Resorcinol (from Dap)
Chemical Family: Dihydroxybenzene
Gap Filling: No
Maximum Strain: 75.0 lbs
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Brand Name: Titebond Quick & Thick

Chemical Family: Aliphatic Resin
Gap Filling: Yes
Maximum Strain: 63.8 lbs

Brand Name: Glue-Stix

Chemical Family: Polyvinyl Acetate
Gap Filling: Yes
Maximum Strain: 62.5 lbs

Brand Name: BSI Insta-Cure+

Chemical Family: Cyanoacrylate
Gap Filling: Yes
Maximum Strain: 59.6 lbs

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Chair Repair Glue Comparison Page 4

Brand Name: Titebond II

Chemical Family: Aliphatic Resin
Gap Filling: No
Maximum Strain: 54.8

Brand Name: Titebond III

Chemical Family: Aliphatic Resin
Gap Filling: No)
Maximum Strain: 53.5 lbs

Brand Name: Elmers Glue-All

Chemical Family: Polyvinyl
Gap Filling: No
Maximum Strain: 47.6 lbs

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Brand Name: Behlen Hide Glue

Chemical Family: Organic
Gap Filling: No
Maximum Strain: 20.1 lbs

Note: This is a “liquid” hide glue with

chemical additives (usually sodium
chloride) to keep it in liquid form at room
temperature. It cures when applied and
exposed to air. It is not traditional hide
glue, which must be mixed with water and
applied hot.

Brand Name: Gorilla Glue

Chemical Family: Polyurethane
Gap Filling: Sort of (foams)
Maximum Strain: 19.9 lbs

Brand Name: Elmers ProBond

Chemical Family: Polyurethane
Gap Filling: Yes
Maximum Strain: 17.7 lbs

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Disclaimer: This was an informal test; we
make no claim these are the results of a
rigorous scientific investigation. We did
what we could to control the variables such
as wood species, glue thickness, joint
surface area, and leverage. However, we
did not repeat the tests or test multiple
samples. If you trust these informal results
and want our advice, we recommend a
two-part epoxy or Titebond Quick & Thick
for chair repair – as of this writing (2020).

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