DIY Wood Repairs With Epoxy Glue

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Loctite 5-min Epoxy:
Devcon 5-min Epoxy (larger amount):
Irwin Quick Clamps:

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Epoxy glue is one of the strongest adhesives on the market, and it's perfect for wood repairs. But, most homeowners I meet have never heard of it! This video from The Honest Carpenter will show you how to repair fractured or broken wood using epoxy glue and just a few simple tools!

Epoxy Glue is often called "Two-part Epoxy" because it comes as two separate chemicals packaged together--epoxy resin, and a hardener. It is also often called "Five Minute Epoxy" because most brands set up in five minutes.

Work Time: 5 minutes
Dry Time: 1 hour
Cure Time: 24 hours

(NOTE: epoxy glue is caustic and can be harmful to sensitive skin. You should wear gloves when using epoxy glue to bond your wood repairs!)

I have used JB Weld's epoxy glue here because it has one of the highest yields on the market: 4400 psi! There are numerous other types of epoxy glue, including epoxies for marine use, and specific plastics and metals. Be sure to take note of exactly which epoxy you are purchasing when planning your wood repairs.

Tools:
Irwin quick clamps (optional)
Wood or Cardboard mixing board
Old Paint Brush (optional)

Materials:
Epoxy Glue
Painter's Tape (optional)
Paper Towel

How-To:
1) If possible, dry fit pieces of broken wood back together. (Wood tends to fracture cleanly, which makes repairs like this much easier.)
2) Open your package of epoxy glue and separate cap, mixing paddle and nozzle (if present)
3) Squeeze out a nickel-sized blob of epoxy glue onto wood mixing board
4) Mix epoxy glue with a screw or stick. If your product comes with a mixing nozzle, simply attach the nozzle and press the plunger. Epoxy will come out pre-mixed.
5) Use a small brush to wipe the glue over both surfaces to be bonded. Some manufacturers recommend sanding lightly first to create more grip to the surfaces.
6) Squeeze pieces of wood repair together and create pressure with fingertips. Use a paper towel to wipe off epoxy "squeeze out".
7) Use a clamp, if you have one, to hold the two pieces of the wood repair together. Make sure the clamp doesn't have any glue on it's clamping faces! Also be sure not to use a metal clamp that will mar the wood, unless you also use a soft pad of some sort.
8) Let sit for at least 5 minutes. (I prefer to keep clamp on for an hour or more.)
9) Remove clamp from wood repair.
10) Allow 24 hours for curing before applying any pressure to wood repair!

Visible cracks in wood repair can sometimes be colored in with a stain pen, or simply some paint.

Thanks for watching the video! If you enjoyed it or found it informative, please hit LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE.

Be sure to visit us at The Honest Carpenter website for more tips, tricks, articles, projects, and product links!

[blakehendrix]

Nice fix! Just a side tip, depending on the angle of the break / split, often times the 2 pieces will slip or slide around when you try to clamp them together. Sprinkle some sand (even rock salt or pretty much anything gritty) on the adhesive before you clamp it and the mating surfaces will be much easier to align and keep in place!

[djthinks]

Thank you, this was a simple, concise tutorial for first-time users which, I am. I however do have one suggestion instead of using a stain pen to cover up any fracture lines I would just use a piece of cheesecloth and gently wipe down the fracture lines. It produces a professional-quality (upholstery hidden tricks), concealment that no one will be able to detect and it sometimes makes me wonder where the damage occurred in the first place. lol!

[edover]

Nice work of it.JB’s is everywhere and this was a concise and well executed video thank you. Recommend using the touch up pen along the raw wood edges before you glue up. It may still need a little blending afterwards but generally find this approach more effective in hiding repairs.

[teeare]

Thank you! Your video is PERFECT! I've been searching for clear instructions on how to use this product for over an hour!
I often wonder why the manufacturers of most products infrequently provide "helpful" directions! 😜

[missrita]

Perfect solution for what I needed. Thank you.

[brod]

You deliver as always another helpful diy video.

[billfelto]

HOW DO YOU CLEAN THE PLASTIC MIXING TUBE IF YOU WANT TO USE IT AGAIN🤔

[caseyjohnson]

Use rubbing alcohol on paper towel for squeeze out to clean up

[ronaldcach]

Great tip, now I can fix my headboard. Thanks Friend

[MM-iyxu]

Can epoxy glue be screwed into to hold 2 lbs of glass window?

[gizmonomono]

I need some epoxy to glue a decorative layer on the grip of my bow. Are there any types of epoxy I should avoid? Something that is too agressive on wood?

[VazgShah]

Thank You very much for interesting video. It is very interesting after 24 hour of full curing take place, will the bonded area be as much harder not to be splintered from the same place? Is it possible to make such kind of test-video?

[Arginne]

How strong do you think this is? A piece of my wood table broke and the glass top is heavy. Its hard to explain on here without a photo. Is epoxy the best thing to fix it?

[hellobooom]

Remember not to clamp too tight, you don't want to remove too much of the epoxy from the joint, it's actually where all the strength is....

[jeepsblackpowderandlights]

I bought this epoxy clear weld for a old ww2 shotgun stock. German made in 1942.. stock was cracked in half through the middle but still in tact in the rear.. I drilled 5 dowel holes in it and spread the cracks open, put thee epoxy on the cracks, and in the dowel holes and then i rammed the wooden dowels in.. the stock seems extremely strong now.. but the 1 hour cure time is BS, 6 hours later and it was still soft with a finger nail and i could pull it.. But it got much harder as time went on. I hope this stuff holds when i shoot though

[kashmirha]

Gloves are a must. Not sure why you are not using one. It is sticky, unwashable, and fells very much like a chemical thing on you, and it always gets onto your skin.

[Gwynbuck]

I do furniture repair - chairs mainly. Let's say I've taken apart a joint which was previously glued with PVA. Instead of getting rid of the old glue off both the mortice and tenon before applying some fresh PVA, couldn't I just use epoxy instead? Although it would be more expensive, it would save a lot of faffing about, and the joint should be just as strong.

[ranger]

This is the only useful video I was looking for - how to use different accessories that came with the glue. I bought Lepage it did not have clear instructions how to use the product.

[GNU_Linux_for_good]

00:17 Oh *my* God! How in the world did *that* happen? This beautiful backrest..

[Indy]

Isn't that seringe designed so you don't have to mix it?😮