Should I use glue on my woodenware? (Please say "No.")

[TwoHoneys]

I just received a huge order of woodenware, and I'm thinking now about my winter projects.

Until now, all of my woodenware has been assembled using nails but no glue. And I've painted the hive boxes.

But I don't want to paint them anymore. I like the way they look unpainted, and all that painting is a time suck. If it means my boxes won't last forever, I guess that's okay with me. I figure what I save in time and paint is worth the expense of the boxes.

But now I wonder...since I've stopped painting, should I use glue?

Liz

[alfred]

I would be using glue for sure. Paint or no paint. The nails are just there to hold things together until the glue bonds. Your box joints will last so much longer. I am suprised that you have not had problems without using glue so far.

[iddee]

With glue and paint, repainting regularly, 20 t0 30 years.

Without glue, but with paint, 10 to 20 years.

Without glue or paint, 1 to 4 years.

It's your choice.

[Hethen57]

A good glue joint will be stonger than the wood grain around it.  I probably don't use as much as I should on my bee boxes, but I always use some good waterproof tightbond glue on the joints.  A $4 bottle will do alot of woodenware and frames.  It such a pain building the stuff...I want it to last.

[Scadsobees]

I usually find that the first time I drop a box that the glue snaps free anyway.

Most of my boxes stay in one place most of the time.  If you don't have glue you may have to pound a few boxes back togather now and again.  End up with some wobbly boxes, etc.

I think that the paint will do far more than the glue.

Either way i'd say you'll get far more than a few year out of them no glue no paint, but if you are going to put that kind of work and money into them in the first place it is worth protecting that investment of time and money and making it last as long as possible  Yeah, more time, but you are already going to be putting a lot of time into them, a few more hours won't hurt.  

One box here and there I'd say don't bother, but a whole bunch of them?  Might as well do it right the first time.  Consider that if they are all used in the same area  and outdoors that they'll all start failing at the same time too.

Rick

[Two Bees]

Glue them!  In the longrun, you'll be glad you did!

[Kathyp]

i glue when i remember but i also nail them.  one considerations with the paint is that bare wood absorbs moisture.  that may not be an issue where you live, it is for me.  paint no only water proofs the outside, but helps close up any little gaps that i missed.

[Stlnifr]

I glue and screw had to take one apart about 15 minutes after I screwed  one I had to take a chisel to break the glue joint.

[AllenF]

I have boxes made both ways, with and without.   It don't hurt to glue them and it really don't take that much of your time to do it.  I do glue them now where I didn't in the past.  Glue don't cost much either.  But my older boxes are not glued, and some are way older than I.

[lenape13]

Glue is the way to go.

[AliciaH]

I have spent more time fixing equipment that I didn't use glue on than the time up front gluing would have taken.  Even with the best of planning, equipment will eventually fail, at the most inconvenient of times.  I vote for putting those experiences off for as long as possible, whenever possible.  It just gets too busy during the bee season to be fixing stuff all the time.  But then, Murphy is a member of my immediate family  :-P!

[hardwood]

Would you rather take a few minutes to glue and paint your boxes now or an hour or two replacing the bottom box on a 4 deep hive in the field later.

Scott

[bassman1977]

I use gorilla glue on all woodenware.  Makes everything, especially the frames, so much sturdier.

[BjornBee]

Glue em... ;)

[hardwood]

Oops, didn't really check the title of this post.................no.

Scott

[BjornBee]

Oops, didn't really check the title of this post.................no.

Scott

Your right. Way too many going with the glue. What a boring thread.
So I'll change my vote.

No to glue. And just to keep it rolling, lets keep the glue off the queens back also. Glue on wood, glue on queens, you guys are glue freaks... :-D

[hardwood]

I stopped marking queens as soon as I found out that it was gay :-D

Scott

[BjornBee]

"Not that there is anything wrong with that"

Anyone want to guess the tv show that is from.

On a scale of 1 to 10, that is a one, which is as easy as it gets.

[woodchopper]

Glue,paint,and the short time to apply them goes a long ways towards protecting your investment.

[harvey]

I put together a bunch of frames with just glue, no nails or staples.  They have held up fine so far!  My boxes I like without paint too.  I used clear poly and they look great,  use them for high class bees!!!