Since I can remember, I have stood on my soapbox and urged woodworkers to use a toothbrush when applying glue to join two pieces of lumber. The toothbrush can be used to cover the entire board. Once the glue has been spread, it forms an even layer that is perfect for the job. If you want more information about glues, check out All About Glue: Part Two by Marc Adams in our October 2009 issue. Part One was published in August 2009 issue #177. Click here to order a copy of the magazine
I gave up finger painting in the third grade and I shy away from acid brushes , except when I add glue inside a mortise , because the brushes are narrow and I feel as though I am reproducing a Monet with all the strokes needed. When I saw Chuck Bender using glue and a few acid brushes in my Acanthus Workshops teaching gig, I was eager to see his new technique.
Chuck doesn’t like to take any challenge lightly so he offered a race. Although I assumed I had it in my bag, I was surprised to see that Chuck’s setup, which consisted of glue mixed into a cup and a loaded acid toothbrush, was unusual. The handle of the brush was larger than those I had worked with.
He grabbed up a dollop of glue and proceeded to wipe along the edge of his board. One swipe covered the edge completely; he didnt even waste time squeezing the glue from the bottle.
He must have seen my amazement because he laughed at me. He then showed me a box with brushes and pointed out how many of his brushes were.
Once again, I learned something new. Actually, I actually learned two things. First, dont challenge Chuck about his woodworking techniques , hes had many years to perfect them. And second, its OK to use acid brushes for spreading glue, just make sure the brushes are large. Click here to see a Harbor Freight deal.
