Where can I find a chart that shows all of the Better Bond veneer glue differences?
This downloadable adhesive chart shows all of key points about each of the Better Bond veneer adhesives and may be helpful when choosing a glue for your next veneering project.

Will Titan DX work on unbacked veneers?
This adhesive is suitable for most backed veneers (2 ply and paperbacked). It is not suitable for unbacked veneer.

Why is Titan DX not suitable for all backed veneers and all substrates?
Some 2 ply veneers are made with acidic adhesives and/or backer veneers with high tannic acid content. And some substrates contain chemicals that are acidic as well. A non-neutral pH surface will de-stabilize the polymers in Titan DX. When this happens, the adhesive will typically turn white and gummy. This is not an issue with the Titan adhesive. It is simply an incompatibility with non-neutral surfaces. The 2 ply veneers offered at VeneerSupplies.com work exceptionally well with Titan DX. You should always test this adhesive on same-surface scrap materials to verify compatibility.

Why do the instructions indicate that Titan DX is not suitable for non-virgin, hollow core, or solid wood substrates?
Non-virgin surfaces are those which previously had a stain, finish, top-coat, or other chemical intentionally or accidentally applied to the surface. These chemicals often can not be removed and will impact the integrity of the bond. Hollow core substrates may not be rigid enough to prevent any warping that can occur with the application of any water-based glue, stain, or top coating. Solid wood substrates are generally not suitable for use with any type of contact cement.

What else should I order with this glue?
The glue roller and a veneer scraper tool are "must have" items when working with Titan DX contact cement.

Can I use Titan DX on a curved project surface?
In most cases, the answer to this is affirmative, but contact cement must be used on a rigid substrate. If the curved substrate has any flexibility at all, then the contact cement will not bond correctly. This is largely true of all contact cements (both solvent-based and water-based). If bending ply is used, it must be made rigid first. This often means gluing two or more pieces of bending ply together with a hard setting glue like Ultra-CAT. This is a foundational concept in veneering. If this substrate is not 100% rigid, then a hard setting glue must be used to bond the veneer to the substrate.

How can this glue claim to have a permanent bond?
Once the adhesive has set up and is ready for the veneer to be set upon the substrate, you will feel tackiness on both surfaces. If the two surfaces are allowed to touch, it is not likely that you will be able to cleanly separate them. After the veneer has been applied and "set" with a veneer scraper tool, the bond will be permanent. There will be no way to remove the veneer from the project surface at that point. The glue line will still be soft at first, but the bond will be permanent. Unlike other water-based contact adhesives, the glue line will turn rigid after 24 hours if applied correctly.

Will the water content of this glue create any issues?
Some species, grains, and backers can expand when a water-based adhesive is applied. It typically takes 24 hours for the veneer to return to its normal size. Therfore it is best to allow a day before flush trimming the veneer panel. This is especially true for flat cut veneers - and more so for maple. And speaking of maple, we do not recommend Titan DX for use with maple burl veneers.

What kind of finishes can be used on a project that has been veneered using this adhesive?
You can use water-based, oil-based, lacquer-based, and alkyd-based stains and top coats. Shellac is also a fine finish coating. Do not flood the surface with the first coat of finish. Apply a light coat and allow it to dry. Then proceed with heavier coats of finish as needed.

Is this adhesive suitable for areas of high heat or moisture?
No contact cement is ideal for projects that will be subject high or prolonged amounts of heat. Additionally, we do not recommend this contact cement for areas exposed to excessive moisture or humidity.

Can I use spray equipment to apply this adhesive?
Sprayers designed for low-viscosity adhesives may work with Titan DX.

Will Titan work on plastic laminates?
It's best to use Titan DX only on porous surfaces. When I developed this adhesive, I never requested it to work with plastic laminates but the chemist involved in the project said that it could work for that type of material. However, there are many chemicals that can be found on the back of a plastic laminate and some of those chemicals will prevent Titan DX from adhering.

Will Titan DX bond to foam board, metal, plastic, glass, or pre-finished wood surfaces?
Titan DX will only bond properly to a porous surface. Plastic, glass, metal, and pre-finished wood surfaces are not porous.

Does Titan DX bond to surfaces that have been patched with Bondo?
Generally speaking, the two-part types of fillers like Bondo are non-porous. Titan DX does not bond well to non-porous surfaces, but if the filled area is small and it is thoroughly scuff-sanded, you will likely get adequate adhesion.

Do you have a recommended filler for small imperfections in the substrate?
I've had success with Durham's Rock Hard Water Putty. Be sure to scuff sand the filled area with 60 or 80 grit paper to get maximum bond strength. Large areas of filler may not be appropriate for bonding with Titan DX. Lastly, I can't over-state the importance of using scraper tool to "set" the bond.

Can Titan DX be used on non-porous surfaces?
Like all water-based adhesives, Titan DX only bonds porous surfaces. We provide no warranty whatsoever if either of the bonding surfaces are non-porous. Materials such as plywood, MDF, particle board, and paperbacked veneers are often not porous unless they are scuff sanded with 80 grit sand paper.

What can I do if the veneer needs to be removed from the project after being bonded with Titan DX?
First, say a prayer because removing the veneer and the glue will not be easy. Some customers have said that removal of the veneer with hot air and a putty knife is possible. Of course, the veneer is ruined by doing this. The next step is removing the adhesive from the substrate and that will be tricky. Thanks to Nick F. for the following comments... "I used mineral spirits soaked on the surface for 20 minutes and a very sharp bench plane iron as a scraper.  Once the majority of the glue was off, I soaked the ply again, waited 20 minutes and ran the scraper from top to bottom like plowing a field to get the residual glue film off of the surface."

What is the clean up process with this adhesive?
Clean rollers with hot water mixed with 10% liquid detergent while the adhesive is still wet. Rollers will never come completely clean but they will clean up well enough that it can be used again many more times. The roller in my shop isn't as soft as new but it still works very well. If the adhesive starts to dry to the roller, soak it in mineral spirits for an hour and then clean with hot water and soft-to-medium duty scrub brush. Cured adhesive can not be removed from rollers.

Is Titan DX freeze/thaw stable?
This adhesive is not usable if it is allowed to freeze. Once frozen, it turns to a solid lump of very hard rubber.

Can I use this glue even if it is beyond the shelf life?
That is a risk that you have to be willing to take. I would not recommend it and I would not use an expired adhesive for my veneer projects. Typically there are no visual indicators that a glue has exceeded the shelf life and is not suitable for use.

What causes a bubble to form in a veneer panel?
Bubbles only occur for three reasons. The first and most common is from excessive moisture being absorbed into the wood cells which causes them to expand. Maple (especially flat cut) is notorious for expanding quite a bit when there are any changes to moisture content whether it be from glue or just ambient humidity. This is greatly worsened when used in an overly dry shop as the wood cells become like sponges. When working with any kind of veneer, it is critical to keep moisture at a reasonable level - around 40% RH. There is a good article here that goes into detail about humidifying the work space in dry winter conditions.

The importance of controlling absorption of moisture from the adhesive cannot be overstated. Keeping moisture in check starts with thoroughly scuff sanding the substrate with 60 to 80 grit paper. Plywood, MDF, and particle board are often thought to be porous, but the manufacturing of these sheet goods creates a surface that is often not very porous at all. Thorough scuff sanding with a coarse grit paper will help make the substrate more porous, and doing so allows the moisture from the adhesive to draw into the substrate. If the substrate is not scuff sanded and left non-porous, then the water content from the adhesive is forced to slowly migrate into the veneer where it causes swelling (often days after the panel is thought to be finished). Also, if too much adhesive is applied, or if the adhesive coating is not given enough time to dry before the veneer is set upon the substrate, then more moisture is retained in the veneer and substrate which leads to swelling of wood cells and the creation of bubbles.

The second cause of bubbling is from scraping across the grain. Doing so will always lead to bubbles. Scraping across the grain stretches the veneer. Veneer has excellent longitudinal strength, but comparatively little across the grain. It's hard to believe, but true. When the stretched veneer starts to return to its normal size, bubbles will form.

A third and final cause of bubbling in veneer is from veneer that is poorly bonded to a substrate, stored in a dry shop, and then moved to a location of much higher humidity. A good example of this occurs when a poorly bonded panel is made in a heated/non-humidified shop and then installed in a boat cabin where humidity is exceptionally high.

What other details should I know?
Shelf Life: 8 - 12 months (based storage conditions)
Coverage: 100 square feet per quart / 200 square feet per half gallon
Storage: Store in a dry area at 60° F – 80° F
Compatibility: Titan DX is compatible with most stains and finishes including lacquer, conversion varnish, and polyurethane.