Titebond
Description
Titebond A trademark for a family of wood glues. The three most commonly encountered formulas of Titebond wood glue are Titebond Original, Titebond II Premium, and Titebond III Ultimate.[1]
Titebond Original Wood Glue, the first aliphatic resin glue in the US, was introduced in 1955.[2] It is a water-soluble tacky resin that dries to a hard, tough, durable translucent film. Titebond II Premium Wood Glue is a cross-linking PVAc wood glue with similar properties to the original Titebond but is more suitable for exterior purposes. Titebond III is a proprietary formula which behaves similarly to the previous two formulas but is rated stronger and more waterproof.
Examples characteristics and compositions for some of the Titebond adhesives are:
| Product Grade | Base polymer | Dried film Color | Working Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titebond III Ultimate | Proprietary | Light brown | 20-25 minutes |
| Titebond II Premium | Cross-linking PVAc | Yellow | 10-15 minutes |
| Titebond Original | Aliphatic emulsion | Yellow | 10-15 minutes |
| Titebond II Premium Dark | Cross-linking PVAc | Brown | 10-15 minutes |
| Titebond Polyurethane | Polyurethane | Tan | 25 minutes |
| Titebond Quick & Thick | Thixotropic PVAc | Light brown | 8-10 minutes |
| Titebond Liquid Hide | Natural protein | Transparent amber | 25-30 minutes |
More information may be obtained from the [woodworking] brochure.
Applications
Titebond wood glues are useful for joining both hardwoods and softwoods. Titebond Original Wood Glue is suggested for interior woodworking and repairs. It is useful in cabinetry, trim and molding, window casings, furniture, frames, stairs, and veneers. Titebond II Premium Wood Glue is weatherproof and Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue is waterproof. Both Titebond II and III are suitable for exterior use.
Personal Risks
All three of the common Titebond Wood Glue formulas (I, II, & III) are non-toxic and safe to use, conform to ASTM D4236. Titebond II and III are approved for indirect food contact.
They are eye and skin irritants. Titebond II contains aluminum chloride.
More information may be obtained from the SDS reports for Titebond Original, Titebond II Premium, and Titebond III Ultimate.
Environmental Risks
Collection Risks
Due to low pH (3.0) Titebond II may cause corrosion on metal surfaces.
Oddy Tests performed by AMNH (03/25/2019) indicated Titebond II Premium wood glue as unsuitable for use with collections, yielding heavy corrosion of copper, tarnish of silver, and complete corrosion of lead.
Titebond Original calculated VOC: 10.7 g/L, II = 3.0 g/L, III = 9.0g/L
Working Properties
All three of the common Titebond Wood Glue formulas (original, II, & III) are water-soluble while wet. They provide strong initial tack and 30-minute clamp time. When dry, they are water-insoluble. They offer excellent heat-resistance and are sandable. The adhesive bond created by a Titebond glue is usually stronger than the wood itself. They are freeze/thaw stable.
Titebond glues may be tinted when wet with aniline dyes. They may be thinned with water up to 5% weight by volume. Titebond polyurethane and Hide Glues may be thinned by placing the closed bottles in warm water.
Their suggested shelf lives are up to 2 years.
Titebond Original is recommended for interior use. It has a 4-6 minute open time. It should be applied at an ambient temperature of at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It dries to form a translucent film. Its resultant bond strength is rated up to 3,600 psi.[3]
Titebond II (Premium) is suitable for exterior use and is rated “Weatherproof” by ANSI/HPVA specifications. It has an open time of 3-5 minutes, which is shorter than that of the original Titebond formula. It should be applied at an ambient temperature of at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. It dries to a translucent yellow film. Its resultant bond strength is rated stronger than the original Titebond, up to 3,750 psi.[4]
Titebond III (Ultimate) is also suitable for exterior use and is rated “Waterproof” by ANSI/HPVA specifications. It has an open time of 8-10 minutes, which is the longest of the three formulas. It should be applied at an ambient temperature of at least 47 degrees Fahrenheit. It dries to form a light brown film. Its resultant bond strength is rated the highest of the three formulas, at 4,000 psi.[5]
Forms and Sizes
All formulas are available in the following sizes: 1.25 Oz bottle, 4 Oz bottle, 8 Oz bottle, quart bottle, gallon jug, 2.15 Gallon PROjug, 5 gallon pail, 55 gallon drum.
Resources and Citations
- Titebond: Website
- Jennifer Mikes, contributed information, MWG group, 2020.