Is it possible to construct a wood stand with glue only? Another crackpot theory!

[FINWIN]

I've often wondered if the right type of industrial adhesive were used would it be structurally possible to make a stable wood stand with no screws? Not the standard format...say if slats were horizontally stacked and glued like a 'wall' could it conceivably work? Woodwork has never been my forte.

Say the slats would be glued with an extended spacer slat for each row for stabilizing the corners? It would be the same principle as say a popsicle stick box. A solid piece could go on top. Better still if the slats were 4 x 4's. Don't think the cost would be too bad.

 

[tlindsey]

I've often wondered if the right type of industrial adhesive were used would it be structurally possible to make a stable wood stand with no screws? Not the standard format...say if slats were horizontally stacked and glued like a 'wall' could it conceivably work? Woodwork has never been my forte.

Say the slats would be glued with an extended spacer slat for each row for stabilizing the corners? It would be the same principle as say a popsicle stick box. A solid piece could go on top. Better still if the slats were 4 x 4's. Don't think the cost would be too bad.

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I wouldn't be surprised if someone has tried just glue but haven't recorded if it worked.

 

[tlindsey]

I wouldn't be surprised if someone has tried just glue but haven't recorded if it worked.

I sleep better with using screws and with glue will make stand structurally stronger.

 

[FINWIN]

I was thinking with the increased surface area contact it could be stable with the right adhesive.

 

[jjohnwm]

As an experiment when I was a kid, my dad and I constructed a stand for a 36x12 inch tank out of 2x4's, designed and built like most of the ones we see here on MFK. His point was to show me how strong properly applied carpenter's wood glue really was. We built the stand just like all the other numerous ones we had done...except we used a bare minimum of screws, and a couple days later we removed every screw that was accessible! There were perhaps 4 or 6 screws that were covered by other pieces of wood which we left alone. I think I was about 13 or 14 at the time.

That stand supported that tank (30 gallons?) until I left home to go to university several years later. No creaks, no splits, no failures of any kind. The screws had essentially functioned as clamps to hold the thing together in the proper alignment while the glue dried. I have zero doubt that I could build another one today without a single screw ever being used, but that would take days since it would be necessary to use C-clamps to hold pieces together in stages as the construction progressed. I also am fairly certain that glue alone would be sufficient for much bigger stands, supporting much heavier tanks.

So your design...which would probably work without any adhesive or fasteners at all, simply stacked up carefully...would absolutely work with glue alone. If you go ahead with it, I would suggest not using one of the super-strong miracle construction adhesives unless you find one that gives you some working time. Most of them "grab" and don't want to let go. Good ol' Elmer's Wood Glue gives you plenty of time to fiddle with it and get it just right...then you just wait for it to dry and you are golden.

 

[eon aquatics]

go with silicone because its more squishy and fills in the gaps

 

[jjohnwm]

go with silicone because its more squishy and fills in the gaps

This is...hopefully a poor attempt at humor. If not, then please limit yourself to bad advice which will only inconvenience those who are unfortunate enough to take it.

Making suggestions like this one achieves two things. First, it illustrates that you do not know anything about this topic. Second, and much more important...it risks causing someone else to have an expensive and demoralizing disaster instead of a satisfying DIY experience.

FINWIN , you might consider using an auger bit and drilling one hole straight downward in the centre of each corner. Then run a length of threaded rod down through all the pieces. Countersink the underside of the bottom pieces and the upper side of the top pieces for washers and nuts. This thing is pretty wasteful of wood, but I think it might actually look pretty slick when it's done.

 

[esoxlucius]

In the hobby there is an accepted and very much tried and trusted method of building aquarium stands, a template if you will. The key factor is NEVER allow any screw within the build to be load bearing.

If you follow this simple practise then there is a good chance, with the right glue, and clamps, that you could construct a stand using glue as the only "fastener". Failure to adhere to this method will probably mean, over time, that load bearing joints, using just glue, may fail, or maybe not!

Would I actually do it though? Probably not? I am a complete overkill type of guy. Screws AND glue is the way to go for me.

Incidently, a skilled carpenter could build a stand just as sturdy as any using screws and glue, without using either!!!!

There are some very complex carpentry joints out there which are extremely reliable. If you are into woodworking check out some of the Japanese carpentry videos on you tube. The skill making some of the joints is mind blowing.

 

[Backfromthedead]

It could absolutely be done, but it is much more reliable to use screws and glue, or even just screws, than just glue imo.

This concept really boils down to one thing for me. When dimensional lumber fails it tends to split from one end or at a weak spot in a knot or other imperfection. So if the 2x4 happens to split right where your joint is there's the potential for the whole surface with glue attached to simply rip off. If you have multiple screws anchored into the wood this doesn't happen as easily.

 

[jjohnwm]

It could absolutely be done, but it is much more reliable to use screws and glue, or even just screws, than just glue imo.

This concept really boils down to one thing for me. When dimensional lumber fails it tends to split from one end or at a weak spot in a knot or other imperfection. So if the 2x4 happens to split right where your joint is there's the potential for the whole surface with glue attached to simply rip off. If you have multiple screws anchored into the wood this doesn't happen as easily.

This is correct thinking; especially if you are not experienced and comfortable with typical construction techniques and methods, why experiment with non-traditional ideas? Learn to walk before you run.

It's pretty hard for a properly-glued joint to be torn loose...wood glue is so strong when dried and cured that the wood will usually break before the joint does...but splits in wood will still cause you grief. And it's worth mentioning that all screw holes must be pre-drilled and preferably countersunk before screws are applied; just jamming "self-drilling" screws into the wood will encourage splitting.