Replies

1. 
   SawdustSteve | May 20, 2010 03:50pm | #1

   Glue problem

   Welcome to Knots.  I hope others will join in with other answers, but here's something to try...

   I will assume that the glue you've used is fresh and has not been sitting around in an unheated garage freezing and thawing over the past few winters.  

   It sounds like the natural oils in the wood are keeping the glue from properly bonding.  Wipe the edges to be glued with acetone.  It is a VERY strong de-greaser, and many of us use this proceedure when working with rosewood, teak and other oily woods.    Use Titebond 3 glue.  It may be better for this job than white or yellow glue.  Apply a thin coat of glue to BOTH surfaces, and then put it into the clamps.   Make the clamps SNUG, not gorilla tight.  You can squeeze out too much glue and that could be a problem too.  .  Epoxy is another choise, but it is not as easy to control or clean up if you use too much.   If possible, try these proceedures on pieces of scrap from the project, that way you will know if it you're getting near a solution to your problem.

      SawdustSteve   Long Island, NY (E of NYC)

2. 
   fussy | May 20, 2010 11:46pm | #2

   EBONY & PINK IVORY

   None of the Ebony species are oily and all glue well.  Pink Ivory also glues well, so I don't think the problem lies with the wood.  What kind of glue did you use and how did you apply it?  AS Steve said in the previous post, if it's old, toss it.  Any wood glue will work for this combination; Elmer's, Tite Bond, etc.  If the edges to be joined are clean and straight, and if they are properly glued and clamped, they will hold.  More information needed about your technique and your glue.

   Welcome to Knots.  There  are zillions of people who will help.  Lots of knowledge here and lots of willingness to share.

   Steve (another one)

3. 
   flairwoodworks | May 21, 2010 01:04am | #3

   Enough glue and clamps should work fine.

   I'm with Fussy on this one.  Make sure your glue is okay - if in doubt, use a new bottle.  You can test the glue you have by applying it between the edges of two pieces of scrap whatever and putting a clamp on it and, once dry, trying to break it apart.  I like to apply a thin film of glue to both gluing surfaces - enough to cover the edge being glued, but not enough that you can't see through it.  Then clamp it good and well if you are using a PVA wood glue, as most common glues are.  It is important that the surfaces to be glued are clean with no old glue or anything else on them.

   By the way, the edge and face grain provide the strongest joints.  Any time end grain is involved, the joint is nowhere near as strong.

   Hope this helps.