How long should I clamp wood glue?

Person clamping glued wood pieces with large bar clamps in a workshop.

Wood glue clamp times

Product

Open working time

Clamp time

5-10 minutes

20-30 minutes

Up to 15 minutes

20-30 minutes

For complex, heavy or ornate projects, clamping up to 24 hours could be necessary for the strongest, tightest bond. For example, an end grain cutting board, or thin pieces of wood cutting board that should be perfectly flat, clamp for the full cure time (24 hours).

Note: clamping time can be dependent on temperature, humidity, and the porosity of the wood.

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