Titebond Comparrison

Quite some time ago, I looked at this chart that the Titebond manufacturer made:

I don't see any difference that matters for LPR. All are more than strong enough, the assembly times are reasonably close, that the weather/waterproof qualities don't matter since it's only briefly exposed to moisture (like landing in dewy grass) that shouldn't get past the paint.

Original is cheaper, so I've been using that. Everybody seems to talk about picking between TBII and TBIII, and they ignore Original. So what am I missing?

I have no idea, I use mainly Titebond original and Elmers Glue All ( and CA, occasionally epoxy, JBweld, etc....). No rockets have fallen apart due to failed glue joints yet.

They're also known as I, II and III

I use all 3 in woodworking so I have all 3 but I default almost always to II for rockets. The only real difference for us is the open time. II grabs fast compared to III. when using it to glue in a coupler, you have to move fast or you could get it stuck half way in and it no move no more.

My understanding has always been that TB1 is "plain wood glue". Nothing wrong with that.

I too like the quick grab of the TBII (usually!), and a bit of additional weather resistance seems like a plus. That said, my original decision to go with TBII was pretty arbitrary.

heada said:

I use all 3 in woodworking so I have all 3 but I default almost always to II for rockets.

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Is either II or III any thicker than I? TB1 seems pretty runny to me, but it may be that my last bottle of wood glue was so ancient that it had just thickened up from old age.

TBIII is "waterproof", and all three have different strengths (psi ratings). TB2 is the strongest iirc, but all three are far stronger than the materials they are bonding.

mbeels said:

Is either II or III any thicker than I? TB1 seems pretty runny to me, but it may be that my last bottle of wood glue was so ancient that it had just thickened up from old age.

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I is the thinnest/runniest of them. II and III are almost the same but II seems just a wee bit thicker. Age and temp matter. Newer and warmer makes it runnier. Older and colder makes it thicker.

II vs III for me is about color. III cures dark brown and so I don't use it on light colored woods like maple. I only use III on things like walnut, mahogany, etc.

rharshberger said:

TBIII is "waterproof", and all three have different strengths (psi ratings). TB2 is the strongest iirc, but all three are far stronger than the materials they are bonding.

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II and III are both rated for outdoor use. Both are water resistant but neither are waterproof regardless of what the label says.

According to the chart, II is rated "Water Resistant" and III "Waterproof". (And yes, heada, I can believe it's really not.) And III is the strongest, but only 11% stronger than I, the weakest, so who cares?

I dislike the fast grab of II, but I isn't much better, which is why I prefer JBW for couplers and motor mounts (when I remember to get it out; if there's a bottle of TB in my hand I usually use it then cuss myself when it begins to threaten to bind.) JBW is total overkill for strength, but not grabbing is a big plus.

jqavins said:

According to the chart, II is rated "Water Resistant" and III "Waterproof". (And yes, heada, I can believe it's really not.) And III is the strongest, but only 11% stronger than I, the weakest, so who cares?

I dislike the fast grab of II, but I isn't much better, which is why I prefer JBW for couplers and motor mounts (when I remember to get it out; if there's a bottle of TB in my hand I usually use it then cuss myself when it begins to threaten to bind.) JBW is total overkill for strength, but not grabbing is a big plus.

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Couldn't remember if it was waterproof or water resistant, I rarely use TB3 much except for woodworking where TB2 is my preferred wood glue. For cardboard and wood rockets ANY wood glue is stroner than the cardboard.

For low power, couplers are paper to paper, so why use wood glue at all? Elmer’s white works well for me and gives me plenty of time for adjustments.

Titebond 3 has well documented problems with creep. As a formula, not isolated incidence. I stopped using it about 5 years ago when I learned this, started using the Original, and no looking back. I will use T3 for non-critical general carpentry. I kept having problems with glue lines rising in the finish, with certainty that it was not from moisture in the wood.


If I need waterproof, epoxy works, along with some other options.

The II has the shortest assembly time. I think I and II are probably fine. I go with the II, because I like the blue label.

III takes a lot longer to set, and I'm sure it works great. But the dry time is not for the impatient.