Wood glue types, from the maker sheets
Original, II and III, as Titebond prints the water ratings. I have not glued a joint with any of them.
Researched in October 2026. Reviewed . Next review: April 2027. 5 sources
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Research guide: I have not tested these products. Affiliate disclosure As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
How I built this guide
Sources I read. Titebond’s “big three” note, the Original limitations, the III product page, and their woodworking glues guide.
What I cross-checked. Type II against Type I, and the open times printed on the guide: 4–6, 3–5, and 8–10 minutes.
What I could not verify. Whether a hardware-store bottle in your city is the same formula. No prices.
Most sources suggest this if the joint stays indoors and dry; skip it if the piece gets wet, or you need a reversible glue.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Titebond Original
Budget. Maker or shop pages, not an independent test.
The maker sheet: interior only, not for where moisture is likely. Open time on their guide is 4–6 minutes.
Maker page. No independent test in this note.
Opens Amazon. Price and stock change. I have not used this. Affiliate link: if you buy, I may earn a commission. You do not pay more.
Titebond II Premium
Budget. Maker or shop pages, not an independent test.
Titebond says it passes ANSI/HPVA Type II and is their shortest open time, 3–5 minutes.
Still a maker claim.
Opens Amazon. Price and stock change. I have not used this. Affiliate link: if you buy, I may earn a commission. You do not pay more.
Titebond III Ultimate
Budget to mid. Maker or shop pages, not an independent test.
Titebond says it passes ANSI/HPVA Type I, open time 8–10 minutes, and is FDA-compliant for indirect food contact. Not for continuous submersion.
The food-contact line is the maker’s, and it is indirect.
Opens Amazon. Price and stock change. I have not used this. Affiliate link: if you buy, I may earn a commission. You do not pay more.
Three yellow bottles get treated as one product. The maker does not. I have not glued with any of them. The longer buying note, including hide glue, is here.
What the sheets say
High on the labels, low as a test. These are Titebond’s own pages. Nobody independent is in this note.
All three, on Titebond’s comparison, claim a bond stronger than the wood, water cleanup while wet, and a 30-minute clamp.1 The split is water.
Original is interior. The product sheet says it is not for exterior use or where moisture is likely, and names II or III for exterior. Chalk temperature on that sheet is 50°F: glue, air and wood.2 Their guide prints an open time of 4–6 minutes for Original.3
II is the one they say passes ANSI/HPVA Type II, which they call weatherproof, with the shortest open time of the three, 3–5 minutes, and an indirect-food-contact claim.45
III is the one they say passes the stricter ANSI/HPVA Type I, which they call waterproof, with an open time of 8–10 minutes and the same indirect-food-contact line, including cutting boards. The III sheet adds that it is not for continuous submersion or below the waterline, and that the chalk temperature is 45°F.67
Where a shop will still confuse you
“Waterproof” on III is the Type I claim, not a promise that a soaked joint never fails. Titebond says so by excluding submersion. Indirect food contact is not the same sentence as “safe to eat off the glue line.” I am not adding a test I did not run.
Hide glue, which comes apart with water and heat, is not one of these three. It is in the other note.
My take
Dry indoor furniture: Original matches the sheet. Occasional damp: II is the Type II bottle. Wet, outdoors, or a board you want the maker’s food-contact line on: III, and then read the finish note before you believe the board is food-safe. The finish guide is here.
The clamps in the photo are a glue-up. They are not a rating.
Where this comes from
- Titebond. The big three. Maker note. Titebond Consulted 29 Oct 2026. back
- Titebond. Titebond Original wood glue. Product sheet. Titebond Consulted 29 Oct 2026. back
- Titebond. Titebond III Ultimate. Product sheet. Titebond Consulted 29 Oct 2026. back
- Titebond. Woodworking glues product guide. Maker PDF. Titebond Consulted 29 Oct 2026. back
- Veta. Wood glue for furniture. This notebook. Veta 29 Oct 2026. back
Changes in this guide
- Split out from the furniture-glue buying note so the three ratings sit in one place.
Common questions
Is III the one for a cutting board?
Titebond says III is FDA-compliant for indirect food contact, including cutting boards, and that it is not for continuous submersion. That is the maker. The finish on a board is a different note.
Did you glue with these?
No.