Most of the time when we talk about wood adhesive products we are discussing new construction, but there frequently comes a time when you have to repair wood. That presents special challenges, and the J-B Weld company, long known for its J-B Weld metal epoxy, has now ventured into the world of wood to offer repair alternatives.

WoodWeld

The most obvious place for J-B Weld to go in woodworking would be a two-part epoxy adhesive specifically designed for wood applications, and so they have. It’s called WoodWeld and comes in familiar tubes of hardener and resin that are mixed just like other epoxies to form the adhesive.

J-B WoodWeld claims a strength of 1,800 psi and a set time of 6 minutes. It fully cures in about 3 hours depending on the conditions and mix. The final color is a light tan that will blend with many wood applications. The fully cured material can be sanded, drilled, tapped, and filed, much like wood. For best results, the company recommends degreasing the original surface and roughing the areas to be bonded with a file or coarse sandpaper to give the epoxy a better grip. The final bond can be painted, but we did not have good results trying to stain it.

KwikWood

J-B Weld’s new KwikWood product is a little different. This is also a two-part epoxy, but it is in the form of a putty roll. You cut off the amount you need then knead it like bread to mix the inner part with the outer part until the glob of stuff is uniform in color. Then press it into the surface to be repaired. The company suggests using damp fingers for kneading and final shaping.

KwikWood putty can be worked for about 15-25 minutes depending on temperature, mix and atmospheric conditions. It reaches a functional cure in about 60 minutes, at which time it can be sanded, drilled or tapped. The putty does accept some wood stains, but the results are not going to be consistent with surrounding wood, so you’ll have to experiment to get color matches in repairs.

Both of the new J-B Weld wood repair products are available in most outlets where J-B Weld adhesives are sold, so they are readily available in case you need to make a repair. I suggest you pick up some and experiment before you use them on a treasured antique, but these both offer potent alternatives for your repair tool kit. For more information, visit www.jbweld.com.