Using E6000 on Wood – How Well Does it Work?

E6000 is a versatile adhesive that has many applications in the crafting world. It also has excellent DIYing and industrial capabilities to bond a wide variety of surfaces.

Since there’s a growing use of E6000 on woodworking projects, let’s talk about whether it works on wood or not. And if it does work, how well does it hold?

To give you a quick snapshot – the E6000 has such strong adhesion to wood and other materials that it creates an unbreakable chemical-resistant bond that’s nearly waterproof. All you will need is to apply E6000 sparingly to the surface of your chosen woodwork piece(s) for 2 minutes and bond them tightly.

The bonding E6000 created with wood, particleboard, laminates, floorboards, etc. is perfect for indoor and outdoor use because it’s resistant to most environmental elements such as UV light, snow, moisture, etc.

But as I said, that’s a quick overview. Before you use E6000 on wood surfaces, you should know more about its applications, how to apply it correctly, what are the advantages of using it over other glues, whether it can be removed once applied, on what other surfaces you can use it, etc.

So, let’s get into those details right here…

What is E6000?

Eclectic E6000 is a top-of-the-line self-leveling formula with perchloroethylene-based adhesive to provide industrial strength and bonding between surfaces.

The adhesive is strong enough to create unbreakable bonding between wood panels and joints by reacting quickly with wood fibers and drying within 10 minutes. However, to harden completely, it usually takes 24 hours.

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the product that should be kept in mind before using:

The Pros:	The Cons:
Highly versatile	Hard to get off
Not water soluble	Can emit odor on application
High tensile strength	Not recommended on polystyrene, polyethylene, or polypropylene
Non-flammable once cured	Should not be used on Styrofoam™ and paper products
Paintable, dries clearly and quickly
Temperature, fire, abrasion, chemical, and impact resistant
The bond created is water-resistant and chemical resistant

Uses of E6000 on Wood

E6000 is mostly a go-to adhesive that expert woodworkers recommend because it is two times stronger and sixty times more flexible than polyurethane.

The good thing is it works very well with just any type of wood to provide high dimensional stability and increased lifetime. It’s even easy to use for someone just starting with wood repairs.

This makes E6000 perfect for both commercial and residential applications, including:

• Building decks
• Fencing
• Siding
• Gazebos
• Pergolas
• Outdoor furniture

With its superior performance and flexibility provided by high-grade proprietary ingredients, the Eclectic E6000 adhesive is perfect for DIY projects around the house or professional use in manufacturing environments where vibration may occur.

Plus, the bonding you get with Eclectic E6000 adhesive is insanely strong and resistant to both indoor and outdoor elements. It’s highly beneficial when you want to mend or assemble any wood parts without clamping. This means you can use it to repair and restore the old furniture lying around in your garage without worrying about the glue getting cracked or shrinking.

Furthermore, due to E6000’s non-water-soluble qualities and the fact that it can withstand extremely high and low-temperature levels, the product is ideal for surfaces that will come into contact with water and heat – such as bathrooms, shelves, and kitchen furniture.

The product is also ideal for gluing wood to surfaces like concrete, glass, ceramic, and metals. And because the glue is also fire resistant, you can use it near electrical devices.

How Strong Is E6000 On Wood?

Well, I have already mentioned that the bond you get with this product is extremely strong.

But how strong exactly?

E6000 adhesive has a tensile strength of about 3500 psi which means it can hold wood together quite easily – even when it is damp. This is due to the fact that E6000 is not water-soluble, and it doesn’t break down when it’s exposed to moisture, impacts, or abrasion forces.

Furthermore, the E6000 adhesive cures to have a shore hardness of 80 which makes it tougher than construction workers’ hard hats to avoid head injuries. That’s really incredible, isn’t it?

E6000 can also endure temperatures ranging from -40 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit after it has been cured. As a result, it is incredibly versatile and may be utilized in any harsh season without getting weakened.

How to Apply E6000 Glue on Wood Correctly?

While the E6000 glue is user-friendly and easy to put on, here are the basic steps you need to follow to get the bonding right:

1- Prepare the area and wood

First of all, start by preparing the work area where you will be applying the glue which means making sure the area you are working in is well-ventilated, clean, dust-free, and dry.

Because E6000 will release fumes with a foul smell, it can cause breathing issues. So, it’s better to work outside while wearing a mask.

The same goes for the wood that you will be working on. Make sure to clean the surface with a cloth, removing any dirt, dust, residue, or grease so that no spots are missed. If the wood surface isn’t prepared well, the glue won’t adhere (or achieve maximum) as well as it should.

2- Sand the wood and remove sawdust

Sanding is just one part of the process of creating a wood surface with good adhesion. If the surface isn’t leveled, wood glue won’t spread evenly, and there’s a higher chance of a weak spot forming.

So, after you clean the wood, sand down the surface that will be glued with 220-grit sandpaper. Going over it multiple times ensures you don’t miss any spots.

Remember not to use higher grit sandpaper before the glue application, as it might scratch or ruin the overall appearance of your woodwork. Also wipe away any sawdust or residue with a clean cloth so that the next step, applying glue, can be completed smoothly.

3- Apply E6000 glue to the wood and clean the excess

To use E6000 glue on the wood surface, take the cap on the tube off and puncture the foil inside. Sparingly squeeze it on wood surfaces that need to be bonded and hold the two parts together tightly for 2-3 minutes until they adhere.

Another thing you can do is buy an inexpensive plastic tip that can be screwed on for easy usage. You can cut the tip to the preferred sizing so that you control the bead size you want to put on.

Remember that a small quantity of E6000 should be used and spread evenly on the surface – and that will suffice the need. If the glue layer is too thick, it wouldn’t bond well and will take much time to dry.

Also, ensure that you remove any excess amount of E6000 on the surface (using a rag dipped in acetone) very quickly before it gets hardened.

Once applied nicely, E6000 will reach its peak strength after 24 hours (when it’s cured). Therefore, leave the undisturbed product overnight to allow for full curing before use. Do not move the surfaces during this period until they create a stable bond.

How Good Will E6000 Work to Hold Metal to Wood?

E6000 works well to bond metal to wood surfaces. Like if you plan to affix some steel parts to your wood furniture, E6000 can be the best glue for you. Or, if you need to hold steel nails to wood, E6000 will also work just fine.

The great thing about high viscosity E6000 is that it creates a very strong, long-lasting, unbreakable, and highly stable bond between two surfaces with ease for smaller metal pieces.

But be aware – Bigger and heavier projects (especially those where forces such as gravity will be at play) can put a lot of strain on the glued surfaces, which can eventually lead to the glue breaking down over time if it’s not strong enough. So, it’s always better to use screws or nails in addition to E6000 in such cases.

Also, remember that the standard wood glue won’t work well in bonding wood to metal because the two materials are so diverse in density and porosity.

But polyurethane-based glues like Gorilla Glue can alternatively be used to take the challenge up in a pinch for smaller projects. If Gorilla Wood Glue isn’t available for any reason, you can also use two-part epoxy or acrylate glue to accurately position and glue metal to wood.

Loctite Super Glue, Liquid Nails, and double-faced gum tapes are the other options you can explore for attaching the metal bracket to the wood without using any screws or nails.

Related FAQs

Can I use E6000 on painted wood?

You can use E6000 on painted wood, but it won’t give you the solid connection you desire.

Glue must be driven through the wood fibers in order to create a strong connection between two surfaces of wood. Because there are layers of paint covering the fiber region, gluing painted wood together will not result in a stronger joint between them.

To achieve that robust bonding, I would recommend you sand the painted region of wood so that the glue can be driven deep into wood fibers.

Can E6000 glue be used to mount air plants?

Air plants are small, delicate plants that don’t need soil to grow. They get the majority of their nutrients from the air and water.

To make them work and grow effectively, you can use E6000 glue to mount air plants on different surfaces like wood, glass, metal, cork, bark, etc. This will act as a medium for the air plant to grab onto the surface and grow.

Just remember to use a small amount of glue and place it in the center of the air plant. Let it dry completely before adding water or placing it in a humid environment.

The bottom line

Various crafts, carpenters, and construction glues such as hot glue, super glue, Gorilla glue, Krazy glue, Shoe Goo, and many more are there on the market for gluing surfaces.

While all of them serve the same purpose of bonding two surfaces together, E6000 is a much stronger option when it comes to bonding wood and conforming to different surfaces with odd shapes and sizes without causing any breaking issues.

And because it can withstand vibrations along with extreme hot and cold temperatures without cracking or shrinking, if your project will be subject to a lot of movement or stress, Eclectic E6000 is a good option to consider.