Why Does Modern Furniture Use Glue?

Short Answer: Glue is invisible, waterproof, and adds strength in more ways than one.

1 minute read: In an another post we spoke about the value of traditional joinery when we reviewed a 17th century piece from China. Some furniture has lasted hundreds of years without glue or modern fasteners. So, this isn’t arts and crafts time with grandchildren, why use glue??

One very common place is to make panels. These panels can be used as shelves, casing sides, door frames, or table tops. Gluing multiple narrow(ish) pieces together gives the furniture more stability so it doesn’t warp or twist over time. Surprisingly, in applications like this, there is tons of research which shows the glue joint is stronger than the wood itself. If you were to drop a 500lb weight onto a modern table top, the wood would splinter and crack before the glue joint. All the clamps in the photo are to ensure a tight glue joint.

Another common place is in the joints. This is a “belt and suspenders” approach to making custom furniture that will last a lifetime. Many joints will last for decades without glue. The glue adds even more strength and is invisible to everyone except the craftsman who assembled the piece.

As with all things, when to use glue is situational. At NorthStone we work with the customer to develop a solution that fits your space, your needs, and your vision for custom furniture. We bring value to the process with an uncompromising view on quality and longevity of the commissioned piece.