Wood Glue Vs Construction Adhesive (Comparison)

We use glues or adhesives now and then. So, it’s pretty common to get confused between different types. After all, the primary purpose of all the adhesives is to join things. Wood glue and construction adhesives are two types that are often considered the same although they aren’t.

But how to compare wood glue vs construction adhesive?

Construction adhesives are used for rigid joints. Wood glues also go hand in hand for joining wooden materials. But both of them have certain differences although they belong to the same genre. However, both of them are A-grade players in their respective fields.

The above information isn’t sufficient to make a choice. So, if you are looking for a detailed comparison of both adhesives, then keep reading this article. 

Wood Glue Vs Construction Adhesive: Quick Comparison

wood glue vs construction adhesive

Before we move on to the detailed comparison, let’s have a quick overview of the comparison factors between wood glue vs. construction adhesive.

Comparison FactorWood GlueConstruction Adhesive
ApplicationPorous surfacesNon-porous surfaces
Drying TimeQuickSlow
ResistivityComparatively highComparatively low
CleaningEasyHard
SafetyNon-toxicToxic

We hope this quick overview will help you to understand the differences between the two types of adhesives better. Now let’s move on to the in-depth comparison.

Wood Glue Vs Construction Adhesive: Detailed Comparison

As you’ve got a brief idea of what we are going to cover while comparing the two, it’s time to move on to a thorough discussion. We will do the whole comparison based on 5 segments. Let’s get started!

1. Applications

Wood glues are mostly used for joining wooden materials together. But the wood types will differentiate the type of adhesive being used. Wood glues are also used for joining wood with other porous surfaces. Wood glue is also great for decorations and craft projects.

On the other hand, construction adhesives are used for non-porous surfaces. They are also compatible with plastic, ceramic, metal, etc. Aside from that, construction adhesives are good for filling the small gaps in joints.

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2. Time of Drying

Wood glue is a clear winner here. Depending on the type and application, wood glue can dry up within an hour. However, it’s best to let it dry for 24 hours. But some glues dry up completely within two hours.

Unfortunately, construction adhesives are not like that. Their drying time is comparatively higher. It takes around 24 hours for construction adhesives to dry.

So, depending on your time constraint, you should choose one for yourself.

3. Resistivity

Construction adhesives have more resistive abilities compared to wood glues. For this reason, they are used for clamping things. Construction adhesives can also work in moisturizing surfaces due to their high resistivity.

It’s not that wood glues are inferior in terms of resistive ability, but they are more convenient for wooden bindings. When it comes to joining wooden materials, wood glues are second to none.

Whether it is purple heart wood, mahogany wood or pine wood, wood glue can join them all when needed.

4. Cleaning up

When you’re working with adhesives, your skin could get exposed to that. So, you will need to clean it. But it gets annoying if the cleaning process is lengthy and hard.

In this regard, wood glue is easy to clean up. If you need to clean wood glue, then soap and water will be enough for you.

On the contrary, construction adhesive is hard to remove. Apart from washing with water, oil or petroleum jellies are needed to remove construction adhesives. But make sure to mix oil in the proper ratio.

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5. Safety Factor

When it comes to safety, wood glue is safer compared to construction adhesives. Wood glue is good to go even in places where there’s no proper ventilation.

On the other hand, construction adhesives can be toxic at times. Also, they can catch fire if not properly dried. So, it’s better to use construction adhesives in a properly ventilated space.

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These were the 5 comparison factors between wood glue and construction adhesives. Now, we think you’re pretty clear about them.

Final Verdict: Which One is Better?

The better one between wood glue and construction adhesive depends on the purpose of use. If you’re working with wood only, then wood glue is better to use.

But on the other hand, if you’re working with other materials or processed wooden materials, then construction adhesives might be better.

However, it’s useful to have both of them around you and use them accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which one is the strongest wood glue?

Polyurethane-based glues are strongest for woods. Gorilla wood glue is one of the best polyurethane-based glues in this regard.

Is construction adhesive applicable to painted wood?

Yes, construction adhesive can be used in painted wood. In fact, at times they stick better than wood glue in painted wood.

Wood or wood glue: which one is stronger?

Wood glue is stronger than wood. As a whole wood glue can withstand 3000 PSI force compared to 1000 PSI force absorbed by the wood.

Conclusion

Wood glue or construction adhesives, both of them have their pros and cons. We tried to cover some of them and present wood glue vs construction adhesive comparison.

Hope you were able to understand the differences between them. So, don’t mix up between them. That’s all from us. Be careful while using adhesives and take expert help where needed.

Kevin Smith

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