I am a stair builder who just moved from Washington state to Arizona. I have used Titebond glue for bending rails since I started working with stairs, but I am worried about the glue moving around in the hot dry climate. I need to know what works best for this climate so I don’t have to replace a rail because it won’t stay together. Any Suggestions?
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I am 40 miles outside of Houston and we use Titebond or equal. Glued up rail is almost always prior to climitizing the home with HVAC and the glue holds up under heat and humidity.
don't worry....be happy
The humidity in Houston is the same as Washington state. Arizona has a very hot, dry climate with very little humidity in the air. Titebond is a thermal plastic glue, meaning that it reacts differently with the heat. Example... When sanding titebond the friction from sand paper causes the glue to become pliable once again, causing it to ball up, and be sticky ruining your sand paper. If this happens I am wondering if a constant hot, and dry atmosphere will allow it to move over time, even though there appears to be no problem upon completion of the job.
Kevin,Yes, Titebond (all 3 types) is thermoplastic, and will creep under load. Bending rail inside a house does not have a lot of constant loading, however.Plastic resin glue will not creep, so you might try that, but Titebond should be fine. Polyurethane, epoxy, and resorcinol also don't creep under load, FWIW.Bill
You may be right. I have no experience in dry heat. Maybe you could check with other stairbuilders in the area.
Thank You for your advice. I'm sure it will work out. One ex stairbulider told me to use Titebond III, I did some research, and it seems to me that the only difference in the types of titebond glues is the waterproof III, water resistant II, and the original formula is for indoor use. I think I'll stick with what has worked for me for years, after all with the lags, and connectors working with the glue, if everything is done right there should be no problems. I will also be avoiding the messy aspects of epoxy.