I want to glue some PT boards together to make a deck for a swim platform
and have them very waterproof. Will biscuits swell properly with urethane
glue?
I have a large bottle of TitebondII, but don't think it is sufficiently
waterproof for this application.

(If not, maybe I will try that glue-joint router bit I have never used...)

Try titebond III - it's new, better than urethane and waterproof. it's the
green label bottle.



"toller" wrote in message
...
I want to glue some PT boards together to make a deck for a swim platform
and have them very waterproof. Will biscuits swell properly with urethane
glue?
I have a large bottle of TitebondII, but don't think it is sufficiently
waterproof for this application.

(If not, maybe I will try that glue-joint router bit I have never used...)

I'm betting this can't last long...too wet an environment, too much
temperature swing.
Please report how it works.
Wilson
"toller" wrote in message
...
I want to glue some PT boards together to make a deck for a swim platform
and have them very waterproof. Will biscuits swell properly with urethane
glue?
I have a large bottle of TitebondII, but don't think it is sufficiently
waterproof for this application.

(If not, maybe I will try that glue-joint router bit I have never used...)

Although it's not PT, I made a picnic table out of cedar 3 years ago. I
used biscuits and Gorilla Glue, there has been no problems at all. It
sits outside all year, everything from snow to the hot sun here. I'm
not sure if PT acts differently than cedar when it comes to biscuits,
though. Mark L.

toller wrote:
I want to glue some PT boards together to make a deck for a swim platform
and have them very waterproof. Will biscuits swell properly with urethane
glue?
I have a large bottle of TitebondII, but don't think it is sufficiently
waterproof for this application.

(If not, maybe I will try that glue-joint router bit I have never used...)

I constructed a deck storage box (24 x 48) about 4 years
ago and used poly glue for the M/T lid and for the butt joints
on the box. I stained it with semi-transparent (Behr)
stain.

No problems so far - joints still tight (allowing for the
P/T wood shrinkage factor).

It is not adjacent to the pool, so not soaked daily. I cover it woth a
tarp during the snowy months, but not during the rainy spring/
summer/fall.

Lou

In article , "toller" wrote:
I want to glue some PT boards together to make a deck for a swim platform
and have them very waterproof. Will biscuits swell properly with urethane
glue?

No, they don't swell at all -- but they don't really need to, either. The
urethane glue forms a pretty strong bond. In any event, the principal benefit
of biscuits is to aid in alignment of the joint, and not to add strength: the
strength comes from the glue bond between the edges of the boards.

I have a large bottle of TitebondII, but don't think it is sufficiently
waterproof for this application.

(If not, maybe I will try that glue-joint router bit I have never used...)

You're better off with a box of 16d galvanized spiral deck nails.

I have my doubts that *any* glue is going to work for long in this
application. No finish short of total encasement in Lucite is going to make
your platform waterproof. After a few years/months/weeks/days (depending on
where you live), the UV in sunlight will have degraded any finish you put on.
The platform will be exposed to repeated soaking and drying cycles, hence
repeated swelling and shrinking cycles, and the glue joints will eventually
break. Further, the PT lumber is going to twist and warp as it dries, too. IMO
you can count yourself lucky if any glue survives two years in this use.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)

Get a copy of my NEW AND IMPROVED TrollFilter for NewsProxy/Nfilter
by sending email to autoresponder at filterinfo-at-milmac-dot-com
You must use your REAL email address to get a response.

it isn't REALLY "waterproof". it's water resistant. You
gotta read the fine print.

David

wrote:
Try titebond III - it's new, better than urethane and waterproof. it's the
green label bottle.



"toller" wrote in message
...

I want to glue some PT boards together to make a deck for a swim platform
and have them very waterproof. Will biscuits swell properly with urethane
glue?
I have a large bottle of TitebondII, but don't think it is sufficiently
waterproof for this application.

(If not, maybe I will try that glue-joint router bit I have never used...)

Just wet the biscuits before insertingt them to make them swell.
Gene
"toller" wrote in message
...
I want to glue some PT boards together to make a deck for a swim platform
and have them very waterproof. Will biscuits swell properly with urethane
glue?
I have a large bottle of TitebondII, but don't think it is sufficiently
waterproof for this application.

(If not, maybe I will try that glue-joint router bit I have never used...)

on second thought, i think i would consider using cedar and shiplap the
joints. if you prefinished the boards, you could add a bead of clear caulk
in the shiplap during assembly. I'm uncertain as to why you need a
watertight deck, but water has to go somewhere. You may be able to cut a
channel in the deck or slope it in the direction you want the water to go.
In any case, keep in mind that galvanized fasteners will stain cedar (and
redwood for that matter) so another metal fastener, such as stainless steel
, would make a better choice. I built many decks and have not yet been
challenged with making one watertight, but i do know the characteristics
of PT. I can say for sure it has a tremendous shrinkage rate, and easily
checks, making way for splinters in your feet. I've used 2x6 tongue and
groove and some of the boards shunk so much the tongue and groove were
barely touching each other after time even with 3 16d twistie nails per row!
You could leave the boards out in the sun for some time until they dry out
for use, but they have a tendency to twist and bow as they dry (about 1/3 of
them would be useless and have to be returned for straight ones) I
personally don't recommend PT to finish a deck for these reasons. PT is
fine for the framing though. If cost is not a problem, you also may want
to consider vinyl (hate so suggest this on a WW forum, but vinyl can be far
superior to wood in some cases) please keep us informed as to your choice
and how it turns out. -dave


"toller" wrote in message
...
I want to glue some PT boards together to make a deck for a swim platform
and have them very waterproof. Will biscuits swell properly with urethane
glue?
I have a large bottle of TitebondII, but don't think it is sufficiently
waterproof for this application.

(If not, maybe I will try that glue-joint router bit I have never used...)

In article , toller wrote:
I want to glue some PT boards together to make a deck for a swim platform
and have them very waterproof. Will biscuits swell properly with urethane
glue?
I have a large bottle of TitebondII, but don't think it is sufficiently
waterproof for this application.

(If not, maybe I will try that glue-joint router bit I have never used...)



I've used the PU glue with biscuits for some gates and arbors a few
years ago and they have held up fine. Don't know if it is really
necessary, but I dunked the biscuits in water before inserting in the
slots.


--

Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland

Why not Titbond II for biscuits and urethane elsewhere?

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 14:07:28 GMT, (Lawrence
Wasserman) wrote:

In article , toller wrote:
I want to glue some PT boards together to make a deck for a swim platform
and have them very waterproof. Will biscuits swell properly with urethane
glue?
I have a large bottle of TitebondII, but don't think it is sufficiently
waterproof for this application.

(If not, maybe I will try that glue-joint router bit I have never used...)



I've used the PU glue with biscuits for some gates and arbors a few
years ago and they have held up fine. Don't know if it is really
necessary, but I dunked the biscuits in water before inserting in the
slots.

I've had similar success with Gorilla glue.


"Mark L." wrote in message om...
Although it's not PT, I made a picnic table out of cedar 3 years ago. I
used biscuits and Gorilla Glue, there has been no problems at all. It
sits outside all year, everything from snow to the hot sun here. I'm
not sure if PT acts differently than cedar when it comes to biscuits,
though. Mark L.

toller wrote:
I want to glue some PT boards together to make a deck for a swim platform
and have them very waterproof. Will biscuits swell properly with urethane
glue?
I have a large bottle of TitebondII, but don't think it is sufficiently
waterproof for this application.

(If not, maybe I will try that glue-joint router bit I have never used...)