Does Super Glue Work on Wood? (Tips & Tricks 2024)

If you’re a woodworker looking to bond two pieces of wood together, you might be tempted to use super glue.

But does super glue work on wood? Let’s find out!

Can You Use Super Glue on Wood?

Yes, super glue does in fact work on wood. While it’s not recommended for all wood projects if can be used for some DIY projects or other small projects.

Tips for Helping Super Glue Work on Wood

Super glue bonds to wood pretty easily. However, there are many factors that can impact the strength of the bond.

When using super glue on wood, there are a few tips to help ensure your glue sticks to various wood types.

Here are a few suggestions for helping super glue work on wood in a project:

• Ensure you don’t leave gaps between pieces glued together, as most super glue is not thick enough to fill gaps. The wood must be pressed together for the glue to work. If you do have a gap, use a wood filler or wood glue to fill it.
• Hold the pieces in position for at least five minutes. This time is necessary if you want a strong bond created when you glue wood to similar materials.
• Pick the best super glue money can buy. The nicer the glue, the more likely the materials will stick together.

When Should You Use Super Glue on Wood?

There are many different ways to attach pieces of wood. You could use screws, nails, and sometimes glue.

Here are a few times where super glue is the best option for fastening pieces of wood together.

1. Assembling Items

The first use, and the most common for super glue, is to assemble pieces.

Both super glue and wood glues work very well when putting two pieces of wood together.

In smaller projects, every component doesn’t have to be wood. Super glue bonds instantly to multiple materials – which can be important depending on the fix you’re completing.

Here’s the process for assembly between two wood pieces with super glue:

• Find two relatively flat wooden items that have a spot for super glue to sit
• Apply super glue to the places that will attach in a generous amount
• Press them together and rub a little bit for a few moments to ensure the adhesive with a little heat
• Hold the pieces together for at least five minutes to guarantee attachment of the two pieces of wood

2. Mending Wooden Objects

Super glue works well attaching pieces, but it’s also great to mend broken wooden objects.

If you have a wooden item with a broken part, here’s how you can mend it with super glue:

• Add super glue to the disassembled part
• Place it back in its spot on the broken piece
• Hold it in place for at least five minutes until dry

If you have a wooden toy or table that loses a piece, super glue is a lifesaver when reattaching parts that have come loose.

3. Filling Gaps

Super glue works well when you need to fill very small gaps on a wood surface.

Some wood surfaces have holes and grooves that need to be filled before being put to use.

Follow a few simple steps with polyurethane glues to fix these imperfections. This process requires speed, as super glue dries fast.

To fill gaps with super glue on wood projects, you need to do the following:

• Obtain super glue, such as Gorilla Super Glue, and sawdust
• Mix the adhesive and dust until put together well
• Fill the holes with a combination of materials

Then, let the super glue dry in the grooves.

Super glue often comes in a liquid form that tends to be runny and can be tricky to work with for filling.

By itself, it doesn’t work as a filler. Mixed with sawdust, the glue forms a thicker paste that works well. 

After everything dries, you can paint over the newly-filled gaps and sand them down to your liking.

Alternatively, you can use many wood glues for gap filling as you won’t need to mix anything together, so it makes things a tad easier.

4. Forming Waterproof Pieces

Did you know that super glue can help make pieces waterproof?

Although not all super glues are created equal when in water resistance, many are waterproof.

In some cases, if you add glue on pieces that sit outside, you can extend their lifespan tremendously.

Here are a few of the best waterproof super glues on the market today:

• Original Super Glue
• Loctite Super Glue
• Glue Masters Super Glue

Whenever you put wood pieces outside, it’s critical to give them the best chance against the weather that you can. Waterproof super glue will go a long way for those concerned about their outdoor woodworking projects.

5. Finishing

Finally, you can utilize super glue to finish your next wood project when it’s completed.

It’s critical to note that the finishing process only works well for very small wood projects – coating a massive piece in super glue would cost a lot of money and wouldn’t get you the appearance you’re looking for (you should use polyurethane for this).

Here’s how you can finish with super glue:

• Find a super glue to use
• Place the glue on top of the wood
• Spread it out with a brush
• Allow the super glue to dry

After this process, your work will have a nice, durable glaze on top – similar to a polyurethane coating.

Finishing with super glue might be a little trickier than with a finish you can find at the store. However, super glue provides an extra layer of defense that few other materials can provide.

How To Use Super Glue on Wood

1. Prep the Area

First, prep the area around you.

Super glue dries fast, so you need to have everything you need in one location to help the process go smoothly.

You can prep the area by doing the following:

• Ensuring the pieces fit together before adding glue
• Placing all your tools within an arm’s reach for necessary moments
• Grab clamps and anything you might need to hold items together as it cures
• Ensure you have all wood components and extra super glue on hand just in case

2. Sand and Ready the Wood

Now that you have all your tools and ready space, it’s time to sand and prep the wood for the addition of super glue.

It’s more difficult for super glue to adhere to wood if there isn’t a flat surface. You need to get it down if you want the best shot at getting wood to stick to each other.

Here’s how you can prepare the wood for the addition of super glue:

• Purchase sandpaper
• Clean the two surfaces that are being joined
• Allow the surfaces to dry
• Rub the items with the sandpaper until flat

If you want to speed up the process, an electric sander can come in handy here.

Take care not to add too much force to avoid splintering the wood pieces as you flatten the surface. This step is necessary – it makes a massive difference in the process.

3. Add the Glue

Now that you have the area ready and the surface flattened, you’re ready to add the glue. The adhesive will often come in a gel or liquid.

In woodworking projects, you should aim to use gel super glue. It’s thicker and makes for strong joints, particularly in larger projects.

To add the glue, here’s what you should do:

• Add a drop of super glue to one piece and attach to the other
• Press together firmly
• Hold for a minute

By using clamps, you can help the wood adhere to each other while it dries. If you don’t have clamps, any heavy object will do in a pinch.

Once the glue dries to a point where you can release and it doesn’t fall apart, you need to let it sit between 12-24 hours for the curing process to finish.

It might be tempting to move the piece or see if it’s holding, but curing is necessary for the strongest bond so you should avoid moving it.

4. Clean the Area

Now that the glue cures, it’s time to clean up the wood project.

You can use a knife and sandpaper to slice and sand down excess glue.

What is the Super Glue Drying Time on Wood?

How long can you expect to wait for the super glue to dry? What is the average length of time you should anticipate before the super glue dries? There is a little patience required when using super glue on a project.

It’s no secret that super glue dries fast.

You have to work quickly with it, or you may end up with a less than ideal bond. Still, dried super glue doesn’t mean that it has cured. The adhesive must settle before the bond is ready.

It only takes a few moments for the super glue to dry, but it often takes about twenty-four hours for the adhesive to cure.

Many companies claim a few hours less for their cure, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Try to give the bond twenty-four hours to cure for the best results on a project.

What’s Better – Wood Glue or Super Glue?

Wood glue is another common type of adhesive that woodworkers utilize to attach the wood.

Before you start a project, you might wonder – which is the better option for wood – wood glue, or super glue?

Wood glue takes longer to dry, but it works best for objects that might move around a lot. Wood glue can also work better with multiple materials.

Super glue is more powerful, but the brittle nature of super glue makes it best for smaller projects.

If you’re joining two pieces of wood together – it’s common to use wood glue, however you can use super glue if you don’t have any wood glue on hand.

It’s best to have both options on hand, just in case the glue you wanted doesn’t work as well as you thought.

Does Krazy Glue Work on Wood?

Yes, Krazy Glue will work on wood. It’s is a brand name for cyanoacrylate adhesive. This type of glue is known for being strong, durable, and weather-resistant.

Krazy Glue comes in a small tube and is easy to apply. The glue will have an almost instantaneous bond, so you need to be careful when using it.

Final Thoughts

Super glue is a powerful tool, and it works well to adhere materials together including wood.

By following a few steps, you can utilize super glue to attach most wooden pieces in just a few minutes.

Super glue also works well to waterproof, fix, fill, and even finish wood projects once done.

Whether you’re looking to combine wood joints on your project or you want to create a wood finish – super glue is a versatile tool that any woodworker should have on hand.