Replies

1. 
   PhillGiles | Apr 27, 2003 06:00pm | #1

   Here's one opinion:

   - the biscuit gets saturated/sealed with the glue and should become stabile and stable once the glue has cured.

   - the biscuits seem to have a limit as to how much they swell (and it's not nearly as much as you'd expect).

   - just make sure they have a good coating of glue when they go in.

   - and yes, there are nylon biscuits available

   .

   Phill Giles

   The Unionville Woodwright

   Unionville, Ontario

2. 
   MarkH128 | Apr 28, 2003 04:12am | #2

   My thought is to use a waterproof glue with biscuits outside. Polyurethane (gorilla) or epoxy. I like gorilla glue, but it has its problems, so epoxy is sometimes a better choice.

1. 
   IMERC | Apr 28, 2003 07:15am | #3

   Would you mind sharing?

   What promblems? (Gorilla Glue)

   Thanks...

1. 
   MarkH128 | Apr 28, 2003 07:26am | #4

   Gorilla glue -

   Bad: The glue expands so it sometimes (usually) gets on the surface. It turns bare skin a very dark color and is hard to get off. It takes a long time to cure. It's slippery when wet - no initial tack. Fairly expensive. Always gets on your clothes. And if you get any on your hair, its scissor time.

   Good: It's strong and waterproof. It fills gaps which seals the joint, but there is little strength in the bond when there is a gap. It also sticks to most anything. I glued the plastic handle back on my swiss army knife with it and it held even though various other glues failed after a while.

1. 
   IMERC | Apr 28, 2003 08:38am | #5

   Thanks... A few things I do to offset The down side of Gorilla Glue.

   I keep denatured alcohol handy for clean up. Gorilla Glue is denatured alcohol soluble.

   Use less than I think I'll need.

   Expense offset by how far a little goes and what is accomplished. 

   Try hard to have tight / snug fitting joints before glue up and use clamps or pins. 

   Scraper and sanding works well on excess glue / glue squeeze out.

   Predampen (w/ water) both pieces to be joined w/ a spray bottle. Speeds up cure time.

   Any that gets on my work clothes will just blend in w/ every thing else that's already there.

   Never got any in my hair. Knock on wood.

   Sand paper off any dried glue on my skin or let it wear / peel off on its' own.

1. 
   MarkH128 | Apr 28, 2003 02:08pm | #6

   That's pretty much my routine too. Love the way it sticks to what you want it to, hate the way it sticks to what you dont want it to. I'll try alcohol for cleanup next time. I use acetone which is another thing I don't like to use a lot, since its explosive, stinks, evaporates too fast, and dries out my skin and burns if I get it on me, plus it's cold when it dries.

2. 
   IMERC | Apr 28, 2003 05:26pm | #10

   Wait untill you find your project soildly glued down to work bench.

   Started doing glue ups on top of wax paper after that.

2. 
   YesMaam27577 | Apr 29, 2003 12:23am | #13

   In addition to all of the positives and negatives already listed, you should be aware that Gorilla glue (and other polyurethanes) have a shelf life. This is true even though the bottle might not be dated.

   Try to buy the glue from a dealer that sells a lot of it. (Mail/web order from Woodcraft is my choice. see http://www.woodcraft.com )

   Also, be aware that the bottle, once opened, should be completely used or discarded within a few months. Once there is air in the bottle, the shelf-life is very short.

   And finally, note that Gorilla glue is water resistant, but it is not waterproof. If a joint is soaked for long enough, it will fail.Vast projects should not be founded on half vast ideas.

1. 
   IMERC | Apr 29, 2003 12:59am | #15

   Yes Ma'am... Thankyou

   Rarely have I ever had a bottle ever die of old age. Use it fairly quickly. I also store and use the bottle inverted. Keeps the air at bottom which is now the top.

   Didn't know it wasn't water proof. Had always thought the material I was gluing up broke down and not the glue. For under water or super wet locations I usually use 2 part marine adhesives. 

2. 
   mikeys | Apr 28, 2003 04:32pm | #8

   I think I'll use Gorilla glue. All the negatives you list are true but I'm used to it. Seems to me epoxy would be even more trouble.

   One minor concern I have is if the biscuits would swell as they should since there's no water in Gorilla glue but I think I'll get good bond anyway.

   Thanks everyone

1. 
   IMERC | Apr 28, 2003 05:22pm | #9

   The biscuts will swell. No promblem there.

2. 
   NickNukeEm | Apr 28, 2003 06:54pm | #11

   The only problem I encountered with biscuits swelling was on a cherry table top when I set the biscuits too close to the surface.  The swelling caused the top to bulge in the places where the biscuits were.  Sanding alleviated most of it, and no one really notices, but if I shine a line at the right angle...

   I've used both biscuits and gorilla glue (apart and together) on external projects and haven't had any problems.  Be judicious, though, the stuff can foam like crazy and make a wicked mess if you use too much.  Part of the learning, curve, in my case.

   I never met a tool I didn't like!

1. 
   IMERC | Apr 29, 2003 12:48am | #14

   Did pretty much the same. Happens too when the biscut is to big for the material. 

   When we hit the peak in the learning curve the product will be reformulated or dicontinued.

1. 
   NickNukeEm | Apr 29, 2003 01:34am | #16

   About the time we hit the peak, we'll find we stepped out over a cliff.

   I never met a tool I didn't like!

   Edited 4/28/2003 6:37:58 PM ET by NickNuke'em

3. 
   TomT226 | Apr 28, 2003 02:14pm | #7

   Titebond II.

1. 
   DougU | Apr 28, 2003 10:23pm | #12

   Tom

   Titebond II is water resistant, not water prof, that may not matter in this case, not sure cause I dont know what the person that is using it is doing, just thought you may not have known that.

   Doug