- Q. If a joint assembled with yellow carpenter’s glue freezes before it cures, will the joint lose its strength?
A.Absolutely. The minimum application temperature for PVA glues, including yellow glue, is 50°F. While the glue itself can endure several freeze-thaw cycles, a joint with frozen glue will not develop a bond that’s as strong as that in warmer temperatures. The glue will "chalk" at temperatures between 30°F and 40°F.
Try it for yourself — glue some wood together and stick it in a freezer. The next day, you should be able to pull the joint apart by hand.
— J.J.
