Local hardware stores have a wide selection of wood glues.
You can choose from glues of various chemical formulas and strengths, and even from glues that are specially formulated to be used either inside or outside the house.
Additionally, it is important to take into consideration the color that the glue dries to, especially if you are making or fixing something like a tabletop, and you would like the glue line to be as invisible as possible.
It’s likely that the wood glue that dries a specific color won’t be the right selection in this case.
Table of Contents
Wood glue that dries clear: what happens?
The wood glue in most cases doesn’t dry clear. There are PVA glues, CA glues, and super glues that each appear in different colors. In addition to the fact that most polyurethane glues also dry orange or brown upon being applied, many PVA glues also do the same thing. CA wood glues are generally the most consistent of all wood glues, and most of them dry transparent or translucent when dried.
To find out what type of wood glue works best for your project, as well as what color it dries to, watch the video below. In addition, we will test six types of wood glue and provide recommendations as to which type of wood glue you should use to ensure an invisible glue line.
Wood glue dries clear?
Let’s run through some of the more common wood glues available before testing some of the most popular wood glues on the market:
- Glues for wood made from polyvinyl acetate (PVA)
A modified version of standard PVA glue is white PVA wood glue.
PVA craft glues (polyvinyl acetate) are formulated with the same resin as these wood glues, but they possess additional properties making them the best choice for applications in woodworking.
Examples:
- Glue for interior wood Evo-Stik
- Glue for exterior wood Evo-Stik
The white PVA wood glues used in most cases are stronger than craft glues, and their properties and chemicals make them dry more rapidly for a faster clamping time.
One of the main differences and advantages of PVA wood glue is its superior water resistance. White PVA wood glue fare better than craft glue in water resistance. Even interior grades resist a certain amount of moisture, unlike craft glue.
PVA White Wood Glue dries clear?
The white color of PVA wood glues in the bottle is what gives them their name. They have a similar finish to PVA craft glue, which is colorless, translucent. There is a difference between white PVA wood glue and aliphatic resins, which dry yellow or brown.
- Wood Glues Made of Liphatic Resin
In the same way that white PVA wood glues are modified versions of regular PVA craft glue, aliphatic resins are sometimes referred to as carpenter’s glue, yellow glue or carpenter’s filler.
To overcome some of the weaknesses of the base glue’s application to woodworking, such as poor heat and water resistance and high creep susceptibility, this glue contains tackifying resins.
Example:
Titebond Original
The different types of tackifiers that are added to aliphatic resins can range from yellow to light brown; however, their colour is largely determined by the dyes that are added to them during manufacture.
It could be argued that the change of color of the glue is a mere marketing ploy (to differentiate the glue from white PVA wood glues, for example), but on the other hand, there might be a slight advantage to the glue’s dried color more closely resembling the wood that it’s being used on.
There are several different types of aliphatic resin-based wood glues that are easier to work with than PVA, and many of them tend to have a better initial grip than PVA, so they can make assembly or repair a far easier task.
Will wood glue made of aliphatic resin dry clear?
Often, epoxy resin-based adhesives, such as aliphatic resin-based glues, are referred to as yellow adhesives, but that is because most of them dry with a yellowish tint. A wood glue with aliphatic resin base can dry fairly transparently or quite clearly, but they are much less common than glues with yellow drying properties.
- Cyanoacrylate Glues
CA glue is often called Super Glue or Krazy Glue, but it’s actually a glue that comes in many different flavors.
Example:
- Wood Adhesive Titebond Instant Bond
Depending on how easily the glue flows, CA glues usually come in various viscosities.
CA glues with thinner formulations will set rapidly, while thicker varieties may resemble thick gels, filling in gaps in what you’re bonding. MDF and other porous types of wood can be bonded with CA glues that are thicker and more durable.
Glues containing cyanoacrylate dry clear?
Most cyanoacrylate (CA) glues are clear when they dry. The consistency of CA glues can vary from thin to thick depending on their viscosity.
- Polyurethane Wood Glues
As multi-purpose glues, polyurethane glues aren’t just designed for sticking wood – they can be used for bonding textiles, plastic, metal, ceramic, rubber, and a lot more.
Examples:
- It should be noted that we tested the standard Gorilla Glue here, not the particular wood-glue-specific Gorilla glue below.
- Glue Liquid Titebond Polyurethane Liquid
It is one of the main characteristics of polyurethane glues that they expand quite a bit during the drying process. As the glue dries, a large amount of foam is produced.
If you need a clean finish on certain projects or repairs, you can remove the foam by sanding or scraping it back.
Polyurethane glues have the advantage of being waterproof, which makes them excellent for outdoor projects.
Is polyurethane wood glue clear when it dries?
However, some polyurethane glues don’t dry brown. Polyurethane glues, such as Gorilla Clear Glue, are both non-foaming and clear upon drying.
Is Titebond Original Wood Glue clear when it dries?
Wood glue Titebond Original is non-toxic and easy to clean up with water since it is based on aliphatic resin.
It is suitable for wood of various types and can provide a strong initial tack as well as a faster setting speed, thereby shortening the clamping time.
To determine what color Titebond original dried as, we tested it as follows:
It is impossible to dry Titebond Original wood glue clearly. It is interesting to note that Titebond Original appears to dry with a tan or yellow color when it dries.
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Does Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Home » Home Improvement & DIY » Fixing & Gluing » Does Wood Glue Dry Clear? [6 Popular Types Tried & Tested]
There’s no shortage of different types of wood glue available at your local hardware store.
From glues with different chemical formulations and strengths to those specifically designed for interior or exterior use, you’re spoilt for choice.
Another important consideration, though, is the color that the glue dries, especially if you’re creating or repairing the likes of a tabletop where you’d like for the glue line to be invisible.
In this case, a wood glue that dries a particular color likely won’t suit.
So, the question is, does wood glue dry clear?
Most wood glues do not dry clear. The color depends on both glue type (e.g. PVA or CA) and the specific glue. We found that many PVA glues dry orange or brown, while most polyurethane glues also dry brown. CA wood glues tend to be the most consistent, with most drying clear or translucent.
Keep on reading to learn about the various types of wood glue available and to find out more about the colors they typically dry. We’ll also be testing six popular types of wood glue to give you our recommendations on what to use if you need an invisible glue line.
Contents
Does Wood Glue Dry Clear?
White PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate) Wood Glues
Aliphatic Resin Wood Glues
Cyanoacrylate Glues
Polyurethane Wood Glues
Does Titebond Original Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Does Titebond 2 Dry Clear?
Does Titebond 3 Dry Clear?
Does Gorilla Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Does Evo-Stik Interior Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Does Evo-Stik Exterior Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Other Types of Wood Glue
The Bottom Line
Does Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Before we jump into testing some of the more popular wood glues on the market, let’s run through a few of the more common types of glue that are used to bond wood:
1. White PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate) Wood Glues
White PVA wood glues are modified versions of standard PVA glue.
These wood glues are formulated from the same synthetic resin as PVA craft glue (polyvinyl acetate), but they contain additional properties that make them a better choice for woodworking applications.
Examples:
Evo-Stik Interior Wood Glue
Evo-Stik Exterior Wood Glue
In most cases, white PVA wood glues are stronger than craft glue, and they feature properties and chemicals that speed up how quickly they dry to reduce overall clamping time.
Another significant difference and benefit of PVA wood glue is its superior water resistance. Whereas craft glue has little to no water resistance, most white PVA wood glues fare better, with even interior grades typically resisting a certain amount of moisture.
Does PVA White Wood Glue Dry Clear?
White PVA wood glues are a milky white color in the bottle, hence their name. These glues are similar to PVA craft glues in that they dry with a colorless, translucent finish. White PVA wood glues should not be confused with aliphatic resins, another variant of PVA, which dry yellow or brown.
2. Aliphatic Resin Wood Glues
Sometimes referred to as carpenter’s glue or yellow glue, aliphatic resins are similar to white PVA wood glues in that they are another modified version of regular PVA craft glue.
In this case, the glue contains tackifying resins to further improve some of the base glue’s weaknesses for woodworking applications, such as poor water and heat resistance and high susceptibility to creep.
Example:
Titebond Original
The various tackifiers used in aliphatic resins range from yellow to light brown, but the color of these glues predominantly comes from dyes that are added during manufacture.
The changing of the color is arguably a marketing ploy (to differentiate these glues from white PVA wood glues, for example), although it could be said that there is a slight advantage to be had from the glue’s dried color more closely resembling the wood it’s being used on.
We prefer working with aliphatic resin-based wood glues because they’re easier to sand than PVA, and they also tend to have a much better initial grip which can make assemblies or repairs much more straightforward.
Does Aliphatic Resin Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Aliphatic resin-based glues are often referred to as ‘yellow glues’, and this is because most of them dry with some shade of yellow. You can get aliphatic resin-based wood glues that dry relatively clearly or transparently, but these are much less common than the yellow-drying glues.
3. Cyanoacrylate Glues
Cyanoacrylate glue, or CA glue as it’s usually shortened to, is often referred to by various brand names, including Super Glue and Krazy Glue.
Example:
Titebond Instant Bond Wood Adhesive
CA glues are usually available in various viscosities (essentially how easily the glue flows), ranging from thin to thick.
Thinner CA glues have rapid setting times, while thicker variants can resemble thick gels that are capable of filling gaps in whatever you’re bonding. Thicker CA glues are an excellent option for bonding MDF and other porous types of wood.
Do Cyanoacrylate Wood Glues Dry Clear?
The vast majority of cyanoacrylate (CA) glues dry clear. CA glues can dry with a more translucent (i.e. not fully clear) appearance in thicker viscosities.
4. Polyurethane Wood Glues
Polyurethane glues aren’t just designed to stick wood; they’re multi-purpose glues that can also be used to bond textiles, plastic, metal, ceramic, rubber, and plenty of other things.
Examples:
Gorilla Glue (the standard stuff, not the wood-glue specific Gorilla glue that we test below)
Titebond Polyurethane Liquid Glue
Polyurethane glues expand quite a bit as they dry, and one of the main characteristics is the creation of a lot of foam that squeezes out as the glue dries.
The foam can be removed by sanding or scraping it back, but this can be an issue if you need a clean finish on certain projects or repairs.
One of the biggest advantages of polyurethane glues is that they’re usually waterproof, making them great for outdoor projects.
Do Polyurethane Wood Glues Dry Clear?
The majority of polyurethane glues dry with a brown color, although that isn’t always the case. Gorilla Clear Glue is an example of a polyurethane glue that is not only non-foaming but also dries clear.
You can check out Gorilla Clear Glue on Amazon here.
Does Titebond Original Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Titebond Original is an aliphatic resin-based wood glue that is non-toxic and easily cleaned up with water.
It works well on various types of wood and provides a high-strength initial tack and faster-setting speed to reduce the clamping time.
We tested Titebond original to see what color it dried, as shown below:
an image of titebond original wood glue that we tested to see if it dries clear
Titebond Original wood glue does not dry clear. In our test, we found that Titebond Original dries with a tan or yellow color.
What is the drying time of Titebond 2?
Titebond II Premium is a PVA-based wood glue with a good amount of water resistance to make it a good option for outdoor projects and repairs, such as fixing outdoor furniture.
The adhesive can be sanded for a better appearance and finish, and it provides strong initial adhesion and quick setting time to reduce clamping time, as with Titebond Original.
Using Titebond II Premium, we tested its drying color as follows:
A clear or white finish is not achieved with Titebond 2. The Titebond 2 we tested dries orange in color during drying.
Does Titebond 3 Dry Clear?
One of the first one-part wood glues, Titebond III Ultimate is a PVA-based glue that can be clean up with water and is water resistant.
Because it’s FDA-approved for indirect food contact, it’s also well-suited to indoor projects or repairs, particularly in the kitchen.
Among the many great features of Titebond III Ultimate is the longer assembly time. Thanks to this, it is ideal for glue-ups that are complicated and for which you may need more time getting everything into place before the glue sets.
As part of our test, we were checking the color of Titebond 3 once it dried. Here is what we found:
There is a problem with the Titebond 3 ultimate wood glue when it dries clear. Based on our tests, it turned out that Titebond 3 dried with a dark brown color after it was applied.
ToolCrowd is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Does Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Home » Home Improvement & DIY » Fixing & Gluing » Does Wood Glue Dry Clear? [6 Popular Types Tried & Tested]
There’s no shortage of different types of wood glue available at your local hardware store.
From glues with different chemical formulations and strengths to those specifically designed for interior or exterior use, you’re spoilt for choice.
Another important consideration, though, is the color that the glue dries, especially if you’re creating or repairing the likes of a tabletop where you’d like for the glue line to be invisible.
In this case, a wood glue that dries a particular color likely won’t suit.
So, the question is, does wood glue dry clear?
Most wood glues do not dry clear. The color depends on both glue type (e.g. PVA or CA) and the specific glue. We found that many PVA glues dry orange or brown, while most polyurethane glues also dry brown. CA wood glues tend to be the most consistent, with most drying clear or translucent.
Keep on reading to learn about the various types of wood glue available and to find out more about the colors they typically dry. We’ll also be testing six popular types of wood glue to give you our recommendations on what to use if you need an invisible glue line.
Contents
Does Wood Glue Dry Clear?
White PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate) Wood Glues
Aliphatic Resin Wood Glues
Cyanoacrylate Glues
Polyurethane Wood Glues
Does Titebond Original Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Does Titebond 2 Dry Clear?
Does Titebond 3 Dry Clear?
Does Gorilla Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Does Evo-Stik Interior Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Does Evo-Stik Exterior Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Other Types of Wood Glue
The Bottom Line
Does Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Before we jump into testing some of the more popular wood glues on the market, let’s run through a few of the more common types of glue that are used to bond wood:
1. White PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate) Wood Glues
White PVA wood glues are modified versions of standard PVA glue.
These wood glues are formulated from the same synthetic resin as PVA craft glue (polyvinyl acetate), but they contain additional properties that make them a better choice for woodworking applications.

Examples:
Evo-Stik Interior Wood Glue
Evo-Stik Exterior Wood Glue
In most cases, white PVA wood glues are stronger than craft glue, and they feature properties and chemicals that speed up how quickly they dry to reduce overall clamping time.
Another significant difference and benefit of PVA wood glue is its superior water resistance. Whereas craft glue has little to no water resistance, most white PVA wood glues fare better, with even interior grades typically resisting a certain amount of moisture.
Does PVA White Wood Glue Dry Clear?
White PVA wood glues are a milky white color in the bottle, hence their name. These glues are similar to PVA craft glues in that they dry with a colorless, translucent finish. White PVA wood glues should not be confused with aliphatic resins, another variant of PVA, which dry yellow or brown.
2. Aliphatic Resin Wood Glues
Sometimes referred to as carpenter’s glue or yellow glue, aliphatic resins are similar to white PVA wood glues in that they are another modified version of regular PVA craft glue.
In this case, the glue contains tackifying resins to further improve some of the base glue’s weaknesses for woodworking applications, such as poor water and heat resistance and high susceptibility to creep.

Example:
Titebond Original
The various tackifiers used in aliphatic resins range from yellow to light brown, but the color of these glues predominantly comes from dyes that are added during manufacture.
The changing of the color is arguably a marketing ploy (to differentiate these glues from white PVA wood glues, for example), although it could be said that there is a slight advantage to be had from the glue’s dried color more closely resembling the wood it’s being used on.
We prefer working with aliphatic resin-based wood glues because they’re easier to sand than PVA, and they also tend to have a much better initial grip which can make assemblies or repairs much more straightforward.
Does Aliphatic Resin Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Aliphatic resin-based glues are often referred to as ‘yellow glues’, and this is because most of them dry with some shade of yellow. You can get aliphatic resin-based wood glues that dry relatively clearly or transparently, but these are much less common than the yellow-drying glues.
3. Cyanoacrylate Glues
Cyanoacrylate glue, or CA glue as it’s usually shortened to, is often referred to by various brand names, including Super Glue and Krazy Glue.

Example:
Titebond Instant Bond Wood Adhesive
CA glues are usually available in various viscosities (essentially how easily the glue flows), ranging from thin to thick.
Thinner CA glues have rapid setting times, while thicker variants can resemble thick gels that are capable of filling gaps in whatever you’re bonding. Thicker CA glues are an excellent option for bonding MDF and other porous types of wood.
Do Cyanoacrylate Wood Glues Dry Clear?
The vast majority of cyanoacrylate (CA) glues dry clear. CA glues can dry with a more translucent (i.e. not fully clear) appearance in thicker viscosities.
4. Polyurethane Wood Glues
Polyurethane glues aren’t just designed to stick wood; they’re multi-purpose glues that can also be used to bond textiles, plastic, metal, ceramic, rubber, and plenty of other things.

Examples:
Gorilla Glue (the standard stuff, not the wood-glue specific Gorilla glue that we test below)
Titebond Polyurethane Liquid Glue
Polyurethane glues expand quite a bit as they dry, and one of the main characteristics is the creation of a lot of foam that squeezes out as the glue dries.
The foam can be removed by sanding or scraping it back, but this can be an issue if you need a clean finish on certain projects or repairs.
One of the biggest advantages of polyurethane glues is that they’re usually waterproof, making them great for outdoor projects.
Do Polyurethane Wood Glues Dry Clear?
The majority of polyurethane glues dry with a brown color, although that isn’t always the case. Gorilla Clear Glue is an example of a polyurethane glue that is not only non-foaming but also dries clear.
You can check out Gorilla Clear Glue on Amazon here.
Does Titebond Original Wood Glue Dry Clear?
Titebond Original is an aliphatic resin-based wood glue that is non-toxic and easily cleaned up with water.
It works well on various types of wood and provides a high-strength initial tack and faster-setting speed to reduce the clamping time.
We tested Titebond original to see what color it dried, as shown below:
an image of titebond original wood glue that we tested to see if it dries clear
Titebond Original wood glue does not dry clear. In our test, we found that Titebond Original dries with a tan or yellow color.
Does Titebond 2 Dry Clear?
Titebond II Premium is a PVA-based wood glue with sufficient water resistance to make it a good option for outdoor projects or repairs, such as outdoor furniture.
It’s sandable to improve the look and finish, and as with Titebond Original, it provides a strong initial tack and quick setting time to reduce the amount of clamping time needed.
We tested Titebond II Premium to see what color it dried, as shown below:
an image of titebond 2 wood glue that we tested to see if it dries clear
Titebond 2 does not dry with a white or a clear finish. In our test, we found that Titebond 2 dries with an orange color.
Does Titebond 3 Dry Clear?
Titebond III Ultimate is the first one-part, PVA-based wood glue that can be cleaned up with water and is proven waterproof.
It’s also well-suited to indoor projects or repairs, particularly in the kitchen, given that it’s FDA-approved for indirect food contact.
One of our favorite features of Titebond III Ultimate is its longer assembly time, making it ideal for complex glue-ups where you need more time to get everything into position before the glue sets.
We tested Titebond 3 to see what color it dried, and here’s what we found:
an image of titebond 3 wood glue that we tested to see if it dries clear
Titebond 3 ultimate wood glue does not dry clear. In our test, we found that Titebond 3 dries with a dark brown color.
Is Gorilla Wood Glue clear when dry?
Wood adhesives such as Gorilla Wood Glue are among the most popular on the market.
Thanks to its D3 water resistance, it can be used for interior and exterior projects and repairs.

According to our tests, Gorilla Wood Glue dries the following colors:
It is not possible to dry gorilla wood glue clear. Throughout our test, we found the glue to be an orange/brown color once it had dried. The manufacturer describes the color as natural.
Evo-Stik Interior Wood Glue dries clear?
This is another type of wood glue containing PVA based on Evo-Stik, but it is designed for use in interior projects or repairs.
The Evo-Stik company claims that their glue has a bond between it and the wood it is being used on that is stronger than the wood itself, although this is a pretty common claim across many wood glues.

It is capable of being sanded, painted, stained, and it can be used on more than one variety of wood and it reaches full strength within 24 hours.
Our testing of Evo-Stik Interior Wood Glue on drying color results shows:
Interior wood glue, like Evo-Stik, dries clear, albeit in small quantities. There is still no noticeable color, but it becomes translucent or somewhat cloudy as it gets thicker.
Evo-Stik Exterior Wood Glue dries clear?
This outdoor version of the Evo-Stik glue, made from PVA, provides D3-level water resistance.
The exterior version of Evo-Stik is said to be stronger than wood itself, and it can be painted, stained, or sanded on a variety of wood types.
We ran a test on Evo-Stik Exterior Wood Glue’s drying color. Here are the results:
Particularly in smaller quantities, Evo-Stik exterior wood glue does dry clear. With thicker amounts, it tends to become translucent or slightly cloudy, despite the lack of visible color.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for wood glue that dries clear, there are several choices:
Gorilla Glue Clear
Polyurethane-based glue that dries clear and is non-foaming.
Titebond Instant Bond
A CA glue that dries clear and is available in various thicknesses, including thin, medium, and thick, as well as in a gel.
Evo-Stik Interior Wood Glue
Designed for interior use, this clear-drying wood glue is based on PVA.
Evo-Stik Exterior Wood Glue
The PVA-based wood glue dries clear and is suitable for outdoor use.
It doesn’t completely dry clear, but it’s pretty close and should do a good job of hiding your glue line. Titebond Translucent Wood Glue is also a good alternative.
Additionally, wood glue’s color can also be influenced by a couple of factors. In the first place, glue tends to darken as it ages, which is why that old bottle of wood glue you’ve got sitting in your shed might not dry in the way you expected.
Additionally, we found that the darker the color gets, the more glue you use. The wood glue had a milky or cloudy appearance after using a lot of a supposedly ‘clear’ wood glue, for example.
You may leave a comment below if you have any particular questions or queries that you have not found an answer for above. We will do our best to respond to you as soon as possible.