Shelf Life of PVA Glue

Article - February 25, 2008

This week’s question comes from Knothead. He writes:
“I’ve heard that PVA glue has an expiration date of about 1year after opening. Is this tuely so, or does it just start hardening in the bottle? I bought a gallon jug and didn’t get it used up within a year but it still pours out. Can I use it until it is too thick to pour?”

And here was my reply: “Hey Knothead. The recommended shelf life on PVA glue is generally a way for the company to cover its butt. One year is simply the length of time they will guarantee the quality level. But most glues can go for two years or more if stored consistently at room temp. And fortunately, the glue will show signs of problems when it is bad. So if it still flows nice and smooth and its not clumpy and stringy, you should have no problems using the product. Here is a link to the Titebond FAQ where they cover these topics extensively.

From Titebond: “…as long as products like Titebond Original, Titebond II and Titebond III remain fluid, without drastic change in appearance, they will continue to perform as intended. Most of our yellow and white glues, including Titebond Original and Titebond II, remain usable beyond two years. Should Titebond Original become thick and stringy, or Titebond II turns into an orange colored gel, these changes signify that the glue is no longer usable.”

Discussion

LordLQQK February 25, 2008 11:45 am

Hey Class,

One other thing that I noticed about TB2 is that once it is past its prime is that when you apply it to the wood it almost resists seeping into the grain. When you side the wood together once glue is initially applied it almost sounds like plastic bubble wrap, and trapping air bubbles, even the tiniest of them, in a glue joint isn’t good. Hard to describe the consistency other than the feel of old pudding and it does not really wet/attach/soak to the wood. When it passes that point, it gets pitched.
Have thrown out a couple jugs of TB2 thinking that I would use them in the time and wanted to save money on buying in bulk.

LQQK

Reply
Denny February 25, 2008 11:57 am

More helpful info on this subject from Titebond’s web site:

How do I read the lot number?

For most Titebond products the first digit of the lot number is a number. It is the last digit of the year of manufacture. The second digit is a letter. It indicates the month. We use the letters A through M, excluding the letter I. The third digit is a number. It represents the manufacturing division the product was made for. The next four numbers represent the internal lot or batch number. That is followed by a decimal point and two numbers which represent the day of manufacture.
Example: 6L12455.23 – This material was manufactured on November 23rd of 2006.

Reply
Alan Sonnenburg January 12, 2012 11:04 pm

I have a 4 litre container of Selleys Exterior Aquadhere about half full which has been in my farm shed for around 3 years. When I recently opened it, the glue has none of the white or creamy white appearance it previously had and the smell is now pungent and nothing like the smell of normal PVA glue. The glue has gone opaque, almost colourless, but perhaps with a slight amber tint. It had not formed a skin on top, which I had expected as it slowly dried out in the plastic container. The glue no longer works.
I now find I have a smaller container of Selleys interior Aquadhere which has gone an opaque amber colour with the same pungent smell as the Exterior Aquadhere. The glues no longer stick.
I have not previously heard of Aquadhere having a use by date. It clearly has, and Selleys should state that. Has anyone else had a similar problem with PVA glues?

Reply
Ken Threlfell March 2, 2017 10:51 pm

I wonder how good wood glue is after 1 year. I repaired a guitar neck with Gorilla wood glue, however when the tension of the strings were applied the glue joint cracked. Now I have to redo the joint by maybe adding a thin piece between the joint. I will use the TB III that has a 4000 pound test. HOPEFULLY this will hold under the pressure.

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Eric Scott November 16, 2017 5:13 pm

I recently face glue two pieces of poplar, which, when dried (next day).p, showed us an orange hued glue line. The joint was tight and clamped sufficiently. Anyone else experience any orange’ get on gluing (Titebond)

Reply
David Outram February 28, 2018 2:34 am

We have some PVA glue which appears to have separated into an oily liquid sitting on top of the white thick stuff. I tried remixing but it separated within a week. Is this glue passed it? can it be restored for use?
I work in a school and projects glued with the remixed glue came apart when knocked accidently. The glue had been sitting in a cupboard for at least 18 months (before I started here, so don’t know exact age).

Reply
Bill Holliday July 17, 2018 9:47 pm

From Selleys FAQ:
Aquadhere Interior and Aquadhere Exterior have a shelf life of 2 years or more depending on storage conditions.

Aquadhere Durabond which is a polyurethane glue only has a shelf life of only 15 months.
September 2017

Reply
Ian wallace March 23, 2019 6:04 pm

How long does max bond glue last i have a 4 litre container and its dated 2014 and inside its lumpy and does not pour out like a smooth liquid is this no longer workable

Reply

Shelf Life of PVA Glue

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