MDF boards are used for more than 3 decades now, but their popularity doesn’t seem to diminish.
They are one of the top choices for various carpentry projects because of their affordability, versatility, and ease of use. Since the MDF boards need to be joined, we need to use some kind of glue to do so.
But what kind of glue should we use to bond this material? There are hundreds of different models online, but which is the best glue for MDF?
To answer these questions, we’ve made a list of the top 6 best glue for MDF. Along with the list, we’ve made a guide where you can learn more about MDF, as well as the adhesives for bonding it.
Last update on 2024-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Glue For MDF
MDF is a specific material that needs a specific type of glue for the best bond. W started our research with more than 40 glue models, but only 6 of those worked and bonded MDF well.
We’ve included models that are the best for gluing MDF to MDF, but also adhesives that are great for bonding MDF to other common materials such as glass, metal, or stone.
Our Pick
Elmer's E7300 Carpenter's Wood Glue
Drying Color: Tan
Setting Time: 20-30 Minutes
Viscosity: High
With a lot of high-quality wood adhesives on the market, it’s hard to say which one is the best for MDF bonding. From our experience, and in our opinion, Elmer’s E7300 glue is the best performing glue for the MDF board you can buy.
A lot of people prefer Titebond, and we can see why. It is an excellent wood glue that provides rock-solid bonds. But we found that for MDF, Elmer’s E7300 performs as good and sometimes even better than the Titebond while being much more affordable.
With E7300, you don’t have to worry about moisture, mildew, and water. This adhesive is fully waterproof and is an ideal choice for outdoors or MDF projects in moist environments. We highly recommend it for the MDF countertop application!
The heat resistance is on point as well. This glue can withstand high temperatures with no issues. It will hold whatever the weather!
For high-strength projects like cabinets, countertops, and such, we recommend using this adhesive. It offers enormous structural strength that you can rely on. It is more likely that the MDF board will break before the bond because of the massive strength of this adhesive.
We enjoyed working with this adhesive for its super easy clean-up. Whenever you are doing a carpentry project, you’ll always find yourself making a lot of mess. The cleaning of that mess can be a bit tricky, but not with this glue. You can clean it simply by using water, and it comes off easily.
Another thing that makes working with this glue easy is the non-toxic, low VOC make-up of this MDF glue. It doesn’t emit toxic fumes that are dangerous for your health and can give you a headache. It is perfectly safe to use indoors!
The thing we don’t like about this glue is the drying color. It has a tan color when dry, which can be a problem when the joints are visible. If you have such a project where the aesthetics of the bonds are important, we recommend painting the dried residue. If you don’t prefer painting, take a look at the next clear-drying wood adhesive we reviewed.
This glue is the best glue for MDF board, whatever the environment. The bonds are strong, the resistance is massive, and the price is a bargain. The only downside is the drying color, but if you don’t mind that, go for this glue and you won’t be sorry!
Titebond 6123 Trans Glue
Drying Color: Crystal Clear
Setting Time: 30 Minutes
Viscosity: Medium
Our runner-up and by far the best clear-drying glue for MDF is the Titebond 6123. If the aesthetics and clean bonds are of the essence, this glue should be your first choice for MDF projects.
As we previously mentioned in our review above, this is the glue to go for if you have an MDF project where bonds are highly visible. The drying color of this glue is crystal clear, and we do mean crystal, transparently clear. The bonds are 100% transparent, and you can see through them.
This is not the case even with the wood adhesives that claim to be clear drying. The Titebond 6123 is the only truly clear-drying wood glue you can find. The bonds look phenomenal with it, and the results look clean and professional.
Another thing that sets this glue apart from the competition is the fast drying time. It is one of the fastest-setting wood adhesives we found. You can expect it to set in 30 minutes on average, which is better than 90% of the PVA wood adhesives on the market.
The Titebond 6123 is well suited for medium and high-strength indoor MDF projects. The strength of the bond is slightly less than Elmer’s 7300 but is very close, and for most projects and most people, the difference won’t be noticeable. The bond is still stronger than the MDF material, and that’s all that matters!
You won’t have to worry about the toxicity with this glue either, as it is great for indoor use. It doesn’t produce harmful vapors and is safe to inhale, and no protective equipment is necessary when working with this adhesive.
The problem we had with this glue is that while it has excellent heat resistance, it doesn’t like and tolerate water. That means that this glue doesn’t work that well in moist environments and most certainly isn’t suited for outdoor MDF applications. We wouldn’t recommend it for applications like kitchen countertops where you would expect a lot of water contact.
With that being said, it is still a terrific glue for other applications where water tolerance isn’t essential. No other glue on the market bonds MDF this well while having a truly clear drying color. This is the glue for clean and expert-like results.
Gorilla Wood Glue
Drying Color: Clear
Setting Time: 30 Minutes
Viscosity: High
The Gorilla wood glue is an adhesive that you can rely on as it works on any and every type of wood you can think of. It is the product that always ends up on our list and that we always go back to, which speaks of its consistency and reliability.
It works great for MDF as well and is a glue you can’t go wrong with for any type of MDF project.
The Gorilla wood glue is our favorite for MDF kitchen countertops because of its non-toxic and food-safe properties. It is low VOC and doesn’t produce dangerous fumes, but is also FDA approved for indirect food contact.
This, coupled with excellent water resistance, makes this glue perfect for such application. It is also a wonderful choice for outdoor and highly moist environment MDF projects. All in all, the environmental resistance of this glue is phenomenal!
The bonding strength of this glue is sufficient for medium and sometimes high strength MDF board projects. It isn’t quite on par with the Titebond and Elmer’s glue but will do the job for most common MDF applications.
We like the fast drying time that this adhesive has. It does require clamping, but only for 30 minutes, while some of the other wood adhesives might require up to an hour for them to set. This will improve your working time and will give you faster results!
What really surprised us is the apparent clear drying, which isn’t indicated anywhere on the packaging or in the information available online. When applied, the glue has a white color but slowly changes to semi-clear until it cures. The color isn’t as transparent as with the Titebond 6123 but is much better than a tan or brown color most wood adhesives have.
What makes this glue a worthwhile purchase is its affordability. The current price for 36 fl. oz. of the Gorilla Wood Glue is just $15.69! No other adhesive that works on MDF is that affordable!
Titebond III
Drying Color: Tan
Setting Time: 45 Minutes
Viscosity: High
The legendary Titebond III had to be on our best glue for MDF list. It is one of the strongest PVA wood adhesives today and works really well with MDF boards.
This glue is known and used for its massive strength and resistance. No other glue on the market is stronger than the Titebond III, and you can be sure that its bond will be stronger than the MDF board itself. You can safely use this adhesive for MDF projects of any size without worrying about structural strength.
The water-resisting properties of this adhesive are perhaps the best of all wood adhesives. It is fully waterproof and tolerates moisture and mildew with ease. It is one of the best glue for outdoor and kitchen MDF projects.
While most people praise this glue for MDF application, we don’t fully agree and think this isn’t the best but one of the best adhesives for MDF. That is because, despite its enormous strength, it has quite a few drawbacks.
The first one would be the drying color of this glue. It is tan and doesn’t look nice for visible joints. If this is something that you don’t prefer, painting or going for a clear-drying alternative like Titebond 6123 would be your best bet.
Next, the drying time isn’t the quickest. Like with all wood adhesives, this one requires clamping, but the clamping time can go anywhere from 45 to more than 60 minutes. Compared to Elmer’s E7300, this is almost twice as much.
You can say that the increased drying time is justified by increased strength, and that is true for most wood adhesives, but not in the case of E 7300 that is as strong as the Titebond III but sets 2 times faster.
The last thing we don’t like is the high price of this glue. It is a premium wood glue that performs better than most of the other PVA adhesives, but for MDF, you don’t benefit from the increased strength. The Elmers 7300 will do just fine and will be as strong for less money.
Still, Titebond III is a great choice and will certainly bond MDF boards superbly. You can’t go wrong with it, but there are more affordable options out there.
Gorilla Original Waterproof Polyurethane Glue
Drying Color: Brown
Setting Time: 120 Minutes
Viscosity: Medium
The original Gorilla super glue unsurprisingly worked great for bonding MDF to MDF, but also for bonding other common materials. It is the most versatile adhesive on our list and is a great choice if you intend to bond MDF to all kinds of different materials.
As we mentioned, the main advantage of this polyurethane glue is its versatility. It is by far the best glue for MDF to metal, MDF to glass, and MDF to stone. No other glue we tried was as good as this adhesive for successfully bonding MDF to itself, but also other commonly used materials.
The strength of this glue is definitely on par with the highest-performing models on our list. Polyurethane adhesives like this one are known to bond wood excellently as they tend to expand and go into the wood, making the bond extra secure.
Apart from its immense structural strength, this adhesive has the best water resistance out of all adhesives on our list. It is the king of outdoor and MDF projects and will hold its bond whatever the weather!
So, if this adhesive is so great for bonding MDF, why is it ranked fifth on our list? Well, it definitely comes with a few drawbacks that we will now look at.
First, it’s high VOC and isn’t food safe. That means that it can’t be used in the kitchen and requires protective equipment and a well-ventilated area if you want to work with it indoors.
Next, the setting time is very high and can go up to 120 minutes of clamping! That’s 4 times more than the E7300 and 2 times more than the slow setting Titebond III. If you prefer a quick-drying glue for MDF, look elsewhere.
Lastly, it doesn’t dry clear. If you have visible bonds, this glue probably isn’t for you unless you want to paint the glue residue. It dries brown color that sometimes matches the wood but many times won’t be as neutral.
This glue has quite a few drawbacks, but for certain applications, it is the best choice. There is no better adhesive for outdoor and high moisture MDF projects than this Gorilla Polyurethane adhesive. Its water and temperature resistance is unmatched!
Titebond II Premium Wood Glue
Drying Color: Honey Cream
Setting Time: 20-30 Minutes
Viscosity: High
The last glue on our list is the Titebond II. It works really well with the MDF board and is an excellent choice for a project of any size.
The thing we like the most about this glue is the quick drying time. It is one of the quickest-setting wood adhesives and by far the fastest-drying Titebond glue we’ve tested. It requires only 20 to 30 minutes of clamping time which is very little.
The strength of this adhesive is high and is sufficient for most MDF board projects. It’s not as strong as the Titebond III but is very close and will be more than enough for most of the common MDF applications.
It is an excellent choice for outdoor and kitchen MDF projects as it is waterproof and food-safe. This adhesive also has an excellent heat resistance and can be used in almost any type of environment.
The drying color of this glue is honey cream which isn’t ideal if you have visible joints that expose the bond. You can sand and paint the residue if you like or can grab a Titebond 6123 that is crystal clear if the looks of the bond concern you.
The price of this glue is quite high for the average performance it provides. It is a solid choice for MDF, but there are cheaper and better-performing options on the market.
Glue For MDF – Guide
MDF or Medium Density Fireboard is a wood product made of softwood and hardwood residue that is combined with resin and wax. It’s a unique product with unique properties that require a certain type of adhesive to be bonded.
We will now go through the most important features of those adhesives. That way, you will be able to find suitable adhesives for the MDF board yourself.
Type of Adhesive
There are two types of glue that work the best for bonding MDF. Those are PVA wood adhesives and polyurethane glue. Let’s look at each one and its pros and cons.
PVA
PVA wood glue is the most commonly used adhesive for wood. It is a standard adhesive in carpentry and works with all types of wood. Naturally, this is the first glue you should look for if you need to bond MDF.
The advantage of the PVA adhesives is their low cost to performance ratio when used on wood. They create bonds stronger than the wood, and in this case, MDF itself. No other adhesive will match the strength of their bonds.
PVA Wood glue is designed to soak into the porous surface of the wood and make the bond extremely strong. No other adhesive works and soaks into the MDF as well as PVA glue.
PVA glue is almost always used for kitchen and MDF projects where indirect contact with food is present. Most of the PVA adhesives aren’t toxic and are low VOC and food safe.
This type of glue usually isn’t waterproof since it can be easily removed with water. More expensive and better-performing wood adhesives have certain additives that make them waterproof and heat resistant. Titebond III and Elmer’s 7300 are great examples of PVA adhesives that have excellent water and heat tolerance.
The drying time for PVA glue ranges from 20 to 60 minutes and usually requires clamping.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane glue is the second most used adhesive for wood after the PVA glue. It offers great bonds and works wonderfully on MDF.
The main advantage of polyurethane glue is the versatility. Unlike PVA glue, polyurethane adhesives can bond much more than wood. They are great for glass, metal, stone, and more. They are the most versatile glue that works well for MDF.
Another perk of the polyurethane glue is the great water and temperature tolerance. This glue can withstand both sub-zero and boiling temperatures while also have excellent water resistance. It is the perfect choice for outdoor MDF projects!
The strength of this type of glue is on par with the best PVA glue models. The glue expands into the wood creating a strong bond.
The problem with polyurethane adhesives is their toxicity. They can’t be used and aren’t recommended for food-contact MDF projects, and are not the best for indoor use.
Their setting time is also rather high and can go as long as 3 hours. This glue can take as much as 9 times more time to set and requires clamping.
Still, if you need massive strength and resistance to extreme environments, there is no better choice.
Toxicity
If you plan to use MDF boards in areas that come in contact with food such as kitchen countertops, you will need to get a food-safe adhesive.
This is where PVA glue shines as almost every model on the market today is food-grade and low VOC.
Adhesives like epoxies, polyurethanes, and super glue are mostly non-food-safe and are not the best choices for non-toxic applications.
Drying
The drying color of the adhesive is something to consider if you are having an MDF project where the bonds will be visible. Some clear-drying polyurethane and PVA adhesives are the best for those types of applications.
You can also consider using a super glue like Loctite Super Glue Gel for some small repairs or MDF projects. It’s clear and quick-drying, which is beneficial for those types of projects.
- Drying Color: Tan
- Setting Time: 20-30 Minutes
- Viscosity: High
Last update on 2024-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Wrap Up
That ends our search for the best glue for MDF.
There are many models out there, but only a few models are both effective and affordable.
All of the adhesives we reviewed are like that and will help you bond MDF with ease!
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