Titebond I vs II vs III
Titebond Original, Titebond II Premium and Titebond III Ultimate are all PVA wood glues from Franklin International. They differ most in water resistance, open time and the lowest temperature they can be used at. Every figure below is Franklin's own.
One source: Franklin International (Titebond), the maker of that product
| Property | Titebond Original | Titebond II Premium | Titebond III Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open assembly time | 4–6 min | 3–5 min | 8–10 min |
| Total assembly time | 10–15 min | 10–15 min | 20–25 min |
| Lowest temperature | 50 °F (10 °C) | 55 °F (13 °C) | 47 °F (8 °C) |
| Water resistance | Not intended for exterior use or where moisture is likely | ANSI/HPVA Type II (water-resistant) | ANSI/HPVA Type I (waterproof) |
| Food contact (Franklin’s words) | No statement | “U.S. FDA-compliant for indirect food contact” | “U.S. FDA-compliant for indirect food contact” |
| Notes | 46 % solids; not for structural or load-bearing use | 48 % solids; not for continuous submersion or below the waterline | 52 % solids; not for continuous submersion or below the waterline. The same page also says 45 °F under its limitations; we show the stricter 47 °F |
Which one, by Franklin's own limits
- Indoors and dry: Original. Franklin says it is not intended for exterior use or where moisture is likely, and points to II or III for that.
- Outdoors, out of standing water: II passes ANSI/HPVA Type II; III passes the stricter Type I.
- A longer glue-up: III has the longest open time of the three, 8–10 minutes against 3–5 for II.
- A cold shop: III can be used down to 47 °F; II needs 55 °F and Original 50 °F.
- Underwater: none of them. Franklin rules out continuous submersion for II and III.
Franklin's clamp and cure guidance is the same for all three: about 30 minutes to an hour for an unstressed joint, 24 hours for a stressed one, and 24 hours before machining. More: what Type I and Type II mean and the wood glue dry time chart.
On food contact, Franklin's words are quoted as it prints them. It names no regulation for them, and we add no claim of our own.