Alright, I have a feeling this one might get some backs up. When it comes to PVA glues, I don’t think one brand is better than the other.

There. I said it.

I have been woodworking for almost 25 years (not a flex, just a fact), and I have used nearly every PVA wood glue that is available to me. I have used the major brands and the lesser-known brands that are relatively new to North America. I’ve also used the various “home” formulations available at some hardware stores. For example, in Canada, we have a national hardware store chain called Home Hardware that used to sell their own private label PVA, and I used it!

Over the years, I’ve built various projects, using different brands, and I’m happy to report that nothing has fallen apart or delaminated because of the glue I’ve used. To my mind, there is no difference in the efficacy of different types of PVAs. So, how does one choose a brand if this is the case?

The good news is that, from my experience, the price you pay for glue doesn’t influence how well it works. During my first few years of woodworking, I used the cheapest glue I could find because that was what I could afford. I assembled a few boxes and furniture pieces with the cheap stuff, and all is well. There are even some veneered panels that are doing just fine despite using inexpensive glue. I do recall there being some bleed-though to deal with on some veneered pieces, but no issues with adherence.

That’s not to say there is no difference among brands. I’m not a chemist and will not regurgitate various blurbs of marketing copy at you (no one does marketing copy with more zeal than finish and adhesive companies). Over time, I have narrowed it down to one glue I like to use. I don’t like having multiple formulations of glue hanging around the shop because it’s just more clutter; honestly, they don’t act much differently. The only exception is what I use for veneering—I have settled on a cold press PVA to help prevent bleed-through.

How did I narrow down to one brand of glue? Here are some of the factors I considered:

•  The glue I use is great for indoor and outdoor use, which is not a significant factor, but I won’t need a special bottle of glue hanging around for the once-a-year (maybe) that I do an outdoor project.
• The glue I like is also thick enough to stay where I put it (especially on vertical surfaces) without being a “thick” variation that I find dries chalky.
• The open time is average, which gives me plenty of time to assemble without becoming a whirling dervish.
• The price is the middle of the road and again, nothing has failed due to its use.
• Most importantly, the glue is white and dries translucent. The last thing I want to do is to try to match my adhesive color to that of my wood. Dark wood glue? Seriously? My goal is to avoid seeing my gluelines and not to turn them into a feature!

So, what glue am I talking about? Well, I’m not a brand ambassador for glue companies or getting paid to say anything here, but I often give shout-outs on my socials about the products I like and use. So, if you want to know my go-to brand, check out my IG page, and you will see the glue I use in one of my recent posts.

Before you jump on your keyboard to tell me how wrong I am, I ask that you remember, “To each their own.” I like the glue I use, but you are not obligated to use what I like. If you like your glue, then please keep using it. I believe strongly in not letting “the man” tell me what adhesives to use. That said, I don’t think one brand is better; they’re just different, which is OK.