Adhesive Guide: Wood Glue vs Epoxy vs Super Glue
Every UK maker has stood at the adhesive shelf in B&Q or Toolstation and wondered which tube to grab. Wood glue, epoxy, super glue, polyurethane, construction adhesive, contact cement. They all stick things together, but they do it in completely different ways, and picking the wrong one can mean a joint that fails in a week or a bond that is impossible to adjust.
The quick answer: wood glue (PVA) is the right choice for timber-to-timber joints where you have clamps and time. Epoxy wins for structural bonds on mixed materials, filling gaps, and anything that needs serious strength. Super glue is for fast, small fixes where you cannot wait. And polyurethane glue is the all-weather, bonds-everything option that expands into gaps but makes a mess if you are not careful.
Here is how they compare on strength, drying time, flexibility, and the jobs each one actually handles best.
- Gorilla Wood Glue is the best all-round PVA for UK woodworking - water-resistant, fast set, and strong enough that the joint outlasts the wood (around ยฃ12 for 1L)
- Araldite Standard 2-Part Epoxy handles mixed materials (metal, ceramic, glass) and gap-filling where wood glue cannot bond
- Loctite Super Glue Power Gel is the fastest fix for small breaks but is too brittle for structural joints
- Wood glue creates a bond stronger than the timber itself when clamped properly - nothing else beats it for wood-to-wood
- For outdoor projects or mixed materials, polyurethane glue is the most versatile option - 100% waterproof and bonds almost anything
Suggested reading: Best Epoxy Resin Kits UK ยท Best Glue Guns UK 2026 ยท Starting Resin Crafting
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Wood Glue (PVA) | Epoxy | Super Glue (CA) | Polyurethane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond strength (wood) | Exceeds wood strength | Very strong but rigid | Brittle, weak under shear | Strong, slight flex |
| Set time | 15-30 min clamp, 24h cure | 5 min set, 24h full cure | 5-30 seconds | 30-60 min clamp, 24h cure |
| Gap filling | Poor - needs tight joints | Excellent - thick formulas | Poor - thin films only | Good - expands 3-4x |
| Water resistance | Water-resistant (D3/D4), not waterproof | Waterproof | Not waterproof | 100% waterproof |
| Sandable/paintable | Yes - sands and paints cleanly | Yes - hard when cured | Difficult - white residue | Hard to sand, foamy |
| Best materials | Porous wood, MDF, plywood | Metal, ceramic, glass, wood, plastic | Small parts, mixed materials | Wood, metal, stone, foam |
| Price (typical UK) | ยฃ5-15 per litre | ยฃ8-20 per 30ml | ยฃ3-8 per tube | ยฃ6-12 per 250ml |
Wood Glue (PVA) - The Workshop Staple
PVA wood glue is what every UK maker reaches for first, and for good reason. It is cheap, non-toxic, cleans up with water, and creates a bond that is genuinely stronger than the timber it joins. When you clamp two pieces of oak together with a proper PVA glue line and leave it for 24 hours, the wood will break before the glue does.
The catch is that PVA needs tight-fitting joints and clamping pressure. It does not fill gaps. If your mortise and tenon has a 2mm gap, wood glue will not bridge it - you need epoxy or polyurethane for that. It also needs to be applied to porous surfaces, which means it bonds wood, MDF, plywood, and particleboard but will not stick to metal, glass, or smooth plastic.
There are two main grades on UK shelves: D3 (splash-resistant, indoor use) and D4 (water-resistant, suitable for exterior joints that are not submerged). Most project builds need D3. Outdoor furniture, decking, and garden projects need D4.
Best Wood Glue - Gorilla Wood Glue 1L
Gorilla Wood Glue 1L
~ยฃ12 | D4 water-resistant | PVA formula | 1L bottle | anti-clog nozzle | 20-30 min clamp time
Gorilla Wood Glue is the UK's best-selling wood adhesive for a reason. The D4 water-resistance rating means it handles outdoor furniture and garden projects without failing in the first winter. The anti-clog nozzle is a small thing that matters - every woodworker has thrown away half a bottle of glue because the tip dried solid.
The bond strength matches or beats Titebond II on most tests, and at around ยฃ12 for a litre, it costs less per millilitre than the premium brands. One thing to watch: it has a slightly shorter open time (20-30 minutes) than Titebond III, so work quickly on complex glue-ups.
Best Premium Wood Glue - Titebond III
Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue
~ยฃ25/quart | ANSI/HPVA Type I waterproof | longer open time | non-toxic | FDA approved for food contact
Titebond III is the wood glue professionals reach for when the joint has to be right. It passes the ANSI/HPVA Type I water-resistance test (one step above D4), which means it handles sustained moisture, not just splashes. The longer open assembly time gives you more breathing room on complex glue-ups, and the bond strength consistently edges out competitors in independent tests.
The main reason to pay more is the extended open time and the Type I rating. If you are building a workbench, kitchen shelving, or anything that will see water, Titebond III is the safe bet. The gallon size (B0002YQ3M8) works out cheaper per ml if you go through a lot of glue.
Epoxy - The Structural Powerhouse
Epoxy is a two-part adhesive: you squeeze resin and hardener from a syringe (or mix them from separate containers), combine them, and get a chemical reaction that produces a rock-hard bond. Unlike wood glue, epoxy does not need clamping pressure - it cures by chemical reaction, not evaporation. And unlike super glue, it handles gap-filling, structural loads, and mixed materials.
The key limitation is that epoxy is rigid when cured. It does not flex, which means it can crack under impact on thin, flexible materials. For a broken chair leg, it is perfect. For a phone case repair, it is wrong. Epoxy also takes longer to fully cure than people expect - 5 minutes to set, but 24 hours to reach full strength.
UK makers use epoxy for: reinforcing loose tenons, filling cracks in reclaimed timber, bonding metal hardware to wood, repairing broken tools, potting electronics, and laminating blanks for pen turning. If wood glue cannot do the job, epoxy is usually the answer.
Best Epoxy - Araldite Standard 2-Part
Araldite Standard 2-Part Epoxy
~ยฃ8/15ml | 2-part syringe | 5 min set | 24h full cure | bonds metal, wood, ceramic, glass, most plastics
Araldite has been the go-to epoxy in UK workshops since the 1960s, and the formula has barely needed changing. The 15ml syringe gives you precise mixing ratios without weighing, and the 5-minute set time is fast enough to hold parts in position while you make final adjustments.
The bond strength is genuinely impressive - manufacturer-rated shear strength of around 22 MPa on steel, which translates to a joint that does not let go. For wood, it bonds well but PVA wood glue is actually stronger in a properly clamped timber joint. Where epoxy wins is mixed materials: a broken ceramic mug handle, a loose metal bracket on a shelf, a cracked phone stand.
Super Glue (CA) - The Speed Fix
Cyanoacrylate - super glue - bonds in seconds by reacting with moisture on the surface. It is the fastest adhesive you can buy, and for small, non-structural fixes, nothing else comes close. A broken model kit arm, a loose hinge pin, a quick tack on a veneer edge - super glue handles it while the epoxy is still mixing.
The weakness is brittleness. Super glue cures into a hard, glass-like film that cracks under the kind of shear forces a furniture joint experiences. It also has virtually no gap-filling ability - it needs the two surfaces in near-contact to bond. And it does not sand or paint well; cured super glue turns white and creates a visible residue.
The gel formulations (like Loctite Power Gel) are better than the thin liquids for most maker tasks because they stay where you put them instead of wicking into the wrong places. For model making, electronics, and small craft repairs, super glue is indispensable. For anything structural, reach for wood glue or epoxy instead.
Best Super Glue - Loctite Power Gel Control
Loctite Super Glue Power Gel Control
~ยฃ5/4g | Gel formula | bonds in seconds | flexible formula | precise nozzle | shock resistant
The Power Gel formulation is thicker than standard super glue, which means it stays on vertical surfaces and does not run into places you did not intend. The "flex" version adds a rubber-toughening agent that makes the cured bond slightly less brittle than standard CA - still not structural, but it survives a bump better.
At around ยฃ5 for 4g, it is cheap enough to keep in the toolbox permanently. The precision nozzle gives you control over exactly where the glue goes, and the bond on small parts is genuinely instant - useful when you are holding a model together and need it to stay put.
Polyurethane Glue - The All-Weather Option
Polyurethane glue is the outsider that a lot of UK makers overlook. It is 100% waterproof (not just water-resistant), bonds almost any material including damp wood, and expands 3-4 times its original volume to fill gaps. For outdoor projects where wood glue is not tough enough and epoxy is too rigid, polyurethane fills a genuine gap in the toolkit.
The downside is the expansion. PU glue foams up as it cures, squeezing out of joints as an ugly yellow-brown foam that has to be trimmed or sanded away. It also requires moisture to activate - you need to dampen one surface before applying the glue. And the cured foam is harder to sand and paint than PVA or epoxy.
The most common UK brand is Gorilla Glue Original (not the wood glue - they are different products). For structural outdoor joints, a workbench that sits in a damp garage, or bonding dissimilar materials where waterproofing matters, PU glue is worth the mess.
Best Polyurethane Glue - Gorilla Glue Original
Gorilla Glue Original 250ml
~ยฃ8/250ml | 100% waterproof | polyurethane | expands 3-4x | bonds wood, metal, stone, ceramic, foam
Gorilla Glue Original is the polyurethane that introduced most UK makers to the category. It bonds anything to anything (dampen one surface, apply to the other, clamp and wait), and the 100% waterproof rating means it genuinely survives outdoor conditions without degrading.
The expansion is both its strength and its weakness. It fills gaps that PVA cannot, but it also creates squeeze-out that is difficult to clean up. The trick is to use less than you think you need - a thin bead goes a long way once it expands. For structural outdoor joints, nothing else in the adhesive range gives you the same combination of waterproof strength and gap-filling ability.
Which Glue for Which Job?
The best adhesive depends on three things: what materials you are joining, whether the joint needs to be structural, and whether it will be exposed to weather. Here is the decision breakdown by common UK maker jobs.
Furniture and shelving (wood to wood, indoor)
Use wood glue. A PVA-bonded mortise and tenon or dowel joint is stronger than the wood itself. Clamp for 30 minutes, leave 24 hours, and the joint will outlast you. No other adhesive is necessary for indoor timber furniture.
Outdoor furniture, decking, garden projects
Use polyurethane glue (Gorilla Original) or D4-rated wood glue (Gorilla Wood Glue or Titebond III). PU glue is the better choice for joints with gaps or mixed materials. D4 wood glue is cleaner and easier to work with for tight-fitting timber joints.
Repairing broken tools, ceramics, or metal hardware
Use epoxy. It bonds metal to wood, ceramic to ceramic, and fills cracks that other adhesives cannot bridge. The Araldite syringe gives you the precision needed for tool repairs.
Model making, small craft projects, quick fixes
Use super glue. When you need a bond in five seconds, not five minutes, CA glue is the only option. Keep a tube in the toolbox for the jobs where clamping is impractical.
Filling cracks and voids in timber
Use epoxy. Thick-viscosity epoxy fills cracks, knots, and voids while providing structural strength. It can be tinted with dyes for decorative effects, which is why resin crafters and furniture makers use it for river tables and decorative inlays.
Bonding metal brackets to wood
Use epoxy or polyurethane glue. Wood glue does not bond to metal. Epoxy is the stronger choice for load-bearing brackets; polyurethane works for non-structural applications where you want some flex.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Verdict
Every UK maker's toolbox needs at least two adhesives: a wood glue and an epoxy. The Gorilla Wood Glue handles 80 per cent of workshop tasks - furniture, shelving, box joints, and anything where two pieces of timber meet. The Araldite Epoxy covers the rest: metal hardware, broken tools, gap-filling, and mixed-material repairs.
Add a super glue to the toolbox for quick fixes, and if you build outdoor projects, a bottle of polyurethane glue for waterproof joints. That covers every adhesive scenario a UK maker will hit.
We compared these products using Amazon purchaser reviews, manufacturer specifications and independent feedback - we have not run our own lab tests. We looked at bond strength, drying time, water resistance, versatility, and price to give you the straight answer on which adhesive earns its place on your shelf.
For more on adhesives, read our best epoxy resin kits UK roundup and best glue guns UK 2026. And if you are starting a resin project from scratch, our beginner's guide to resin crafting covers the basics.
James writes about power tools, hand tools and workshop setup for MakerUK, helping makers buy the right thing the first time.
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Last reviewed: August 16, 2026 ยท Evidence-based content ยท Contains affiliate links