- Q. What’s the best glue to use for a wood joint when it is impossible to clamp the joint?
A.If it’s a structural joint, the best glue is epoxy, because it has the best gap-filling ability, without compromising overall joint strength. You still have to bring the two surfaces as close together as you can, so I’d use 5-minute epoxy and hold the parts together.
For nonstructural gluing (like gluing a rosette), my first choice is always cyanoacrylate glue, used with an activator. Use a thick-viscosity cyanoacrylate and apply it to one surface and the activator to the other. The big downside of the cyanoacrylates is that you need to get the fit right immediately, as the bond is instant and fussing with the fit will compromise the strength.
— J.J.
