I am probably making too much out of this, but it is my first time and all that.
I am gluing up a turning block; sandwiching spalted maple between wenge. What glue to use? Is PVA adequate, or polyurethane, or epoxy?
Yesterday I turned a plate that was simply taped onto the faceplate; so I expect PVA will do fine, but I would rather benefit from other's experience than my own.
You're right, you're making too much of it. PVA is stronger than the wood itself, especially when you have such a large glued surface.
DonkeyHody "We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it - and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove-lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove-lid again---and that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore." - Mark Twain
Sorry, when I first answered I failed to recognize that the wenge is the source of your worry. I think that given the large glue area, you'll be fine if you plane or sand immediately before gluing.
DonkeyHody "The cheapest things in life are free."
PVA is fine- but one thing you need to keep in mind is that it's going to need to fully cure. The first time I did this, I let it sit for about an hour, and it delaminated on the lathe. Better to let it sit with the clamps on for more like 24 hours.
"Do not stress joints for 24 hours." [instructions on the back of the Titebond II bottle]
[...]
As others said PVA is fine ... but... between the very stable wenge and the less stable maple you may get some creeping, and if you end up with a fine reflective finish you may have a slight glue line. Epoxy or cascamite would be better for that reason, but they may blunt your turning tools a bit more.
Tim w
I did a search and found cascamite is an English name for Urea-Formaldehyde glue; but I don't find that for sale. Is it not used in the US?
Weldwood Plastic Resin Glue.
You'll almost certainly get a very fine glue line- but given the huge color difference between maple and wenge, it won't be worth noting- at least IMO.
Yeah, but I was in a rush to play with my new toy, and I didn't have any firewood or suitable branches around. Furniture is usually all right to continue with after the glue has tacked, so I was foolishly using that rule-of-thumb. Hence, the warning/reminder.
Urea-Formaldehyde
Er, sorry, that is correct. I don't know if it is used in the US. It's a white powder, mixed with water and sets rock hard. Has been used afaik for
50yrs for boat building, airframes, joinery, but probably old-fashioned now.tim W
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