Tropical Hardwood Epoxy Glue™

(glues any wood)

Tropical Hardwood Epoxy is a highly flexible two-component epoxy adhesive which will glue oily hardwoods including teak, mahogany, apetong, araki, osage orange, and lignum vitae, acidic woods such as oak, as well as spruce, pine, fir or any softer wood. Oily hardwoods need no special pretreatment, and should NOT be solvent-cleaned before gluing. A freshly sanded or saw-cut surface is adequate surface preparation.

It will (with proper surface preparation) glue a wide variety of metals, glass, rubber or plastic materials. The cured adhesive is completely waterproof and weatherproof. Tropical Hardwood Epoxy was originally developed in the early-seventies for Don Philbrick, a well-known builder of speedboats in the San Francisco Bay Area. Don wanted a glue that would bond mahogany, teak and other woods used in marine construction and survive the pounding vibration which speedboats receive when their owners take the craft out for a ride. Over the last thirty-five years this glue has become famous for gluing any wood known to man or beast.

Its formulation and ingredients are derived in large part from the natural resins of wood itself, which accounts for its toughness, flexibility and natural compatibility with all wood, especially oily hardwoods.

Our expertise in molecular engineering has allowed us to formulate Tropical Hardwood Epoxy as a thick liquid with a tendency to hang in small gaps. This is done without adding any fillers, thickeners, or other artificial means. Tropical Hardwood Epoxy has a reduced tendency to be absorbed into the end grain of wood, thus minimizing glue-starved joints without sacrificing strength. When cured it will have a toughness and flexibility comparable to Old-Growth Redwood.

Tropical Hardwood Epoxy is intended to be mixed one-to-one by volume, and is forgiving of minor mix ratio errors. Mixing by weight may be done at 10 parts A to 12 parts B by weight. For best results mix in one container, transfer to a second container and mix again. Allow to sit 10 to 20 minutes before use, and allow to sit on wood joints with exposed end grain or exceptional roughness for at least half the pot life before assembly. Soft rubber pads under clamp faces will maintain an even pressure on the joint as excess glue is squeezed out.

Where a more liquid consistency is desired for gluing softer woods or for fiberglass layup, our Layup & Laminating Epoxy is appropriate. Tropical Hardwood Epoxy does not cure properly below 55°F. For dependable cure in cold weather use the Oak and Teak Epoxy Glue.

Larger mixed quantities will have a shorter pot life. Location in the sun and other factors can also shorten pot life.

© copyright 1972 - 2014, The Brain Trust, a California irrevocable trust, reprinted with permission