Keith Nuttle wrote in news:mkd4sp$ck3$1
@speranza.aioe.org:

Will titebond or any glue make a satisfactory joint with a varnished
surface?

Typically, no - the glue may stick well to the varnish,
but then the varnish will pull off the wood.

Typically what's done in cases like this is to tape over
the area that will be glued, then varnish (or whatever),
remove the tape, and glue up the joint.

If it's going outside, you'd want to use Titebond III
or epoxy.

Also, you'd probably want to use spar varnish. Spar
varnish is softer than regular varnish, and tolerates
thermal expansion due to sunlight better.

John