Cleaning up glue squeeze-out between clamps and wood

[Meatwad]

I was gluing up several strips of wood into a cutting board this weekend and I got everything lined up, clamped up, cauled up, and glued up. While the board came out pretty good I did have a lot of glue cleanup to do where the clamps and cauls were holding the wood. Is there a good way to handle this? I've just been using a chisel and sanding but that doesn't always work out well. And I've got some new clamps I don't want to ruin with glue and rust.

[curlyoak]

I'd rather have too much glue than not enough. Let it dry then belt sand. With a chisel be carful. If going against the grain you could pull up som wood. Titebond 3 sands easy.

[Coop]

I like to clamp mine up with the clamps all on one side and clean the exposed side up. Then apply the clamps to the clean side, flip the piece over and remove the initial clamps and clean that side. 

[Chet]

I am similar to Coop but I alternate clamps.  Maybe 3 on one side and 2 on the other depending on the size of the panel or cutting board.  I scrap of excess glue with a putty knife getting to it as soon as possible.  After I get the bulk of it cleaned up I go back and remove one clamp at a time to get the final squeeze out cleaned up.

[curlyoak]

When I have glue in areas I cant sand, I let it dry for an hour or 2. flexible at this point. Then I carefully clean it ups with chisels and carving knives. When I wipe it when it is fresh I end up filling the wood and the finish shows it.

[Chestnut]

I just run cutting boards through the planer. Makes quick work out squeeze out. I use a chisel to get the big nibs to get it too sit flat first.

But i also use just enough glue to get a tiny bit to squeeze out anything more is just wasted glue and more work.

[wtnhighlander]

A paint scraper works pretty well for me, if I can't get the to glue before it dries.

[Coop]

I don’t understand the dark area the chrome plated bar clamp leaves on the wood where it contacts the glue? 

[wtnhighlander]

@Coop, most steel / iron clamp bars will react with the moisture and acetate (the 'A' in PVA) in the glue to leave a stain, just like using steel wool & vinegar does. Pipe clamps using black pipe are terrible about it. I use door shims to hold the pipe off the work piece a little and avoid the staining. On high-tannin species like oak, the stain can go pretty deep.

[Coop]

Good to know Ross, thanks. I’ve used packing tape in the past but it’s a pita. I guess the door shims need to be removed pretty quickly before the glue sets? I have some HDPE that I will cut into thin strips to use in lieu of the shims that might work. 

[wtnhighlander]

Yeah, Ken. I take the shims out once the clamps are tight, and hold themselves in place. 

Those shims are one of the most used 'accessories' in my shop. Just this weekend, I was using some to make a toggle clamp hold tight. Much faster than adjusting the clamp.

[Chestnut]

I put painters tape on the bars of my clamps as well as my pipe clamps. It works well to protect both the work piece and the clamp from the glue. It may not work on all clamps so your mileage may vary.

I have to change the tape every other year or there about.

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[Meatwad]

@Chestnut, that's what I have been doing but this time the tape came off and glued to my cutting board leaving an awful purple mess. Thankfully that became the bottom side but I think I'm going to have to combine all this advice. Seems like getting to the glue under the clamps after 30 minutes or so is my best bet.

[Cliff]

On 5/23/2021 at 12:29 PM, Chestnut said:

I just run cutting boards through the planer.

I have issues with flatness doing that. Not significant, but enough that the feet I put on the cutting boards need shims to sit flat.

[Chestnut]

19 hours ago, Cliff said:

I have issues with flatness doing that. Not significant, but enough that the feet I put on the cutting boards need shims to sit flat.

Interesting i have not had that problem. Though I will say i never put feet on my cutting boards, nor juice grooves, not sure if that makes a difference.

I like the 2 sided nature, more time between needing to refresh them.

[curlyoak]

19 hours ago, Cliff said:

I have issues with flatness doing that

A glob of dried glue will not help to make an accurate thickness. I'd rather sand it off but if I was going to plane it I would make sure the bottom was clean of glue.