How to test your adhesive?

Tensile Test: Glue two blocks together face to face with their ends offset (figure 1). After curing, secure the tester in a wood vise with the glue joint free. Using a hammer, smack the upper block away from you. If it breaks on the glue line, you have a bad glue joint. You have a good bond if the sample breaks somewhere other than along the joint or if it pulls away portions of the wood surface.

Shear Test: Glue up a similar pair of blocks as you prepared for the tensile test. Secure the sample in a vise, but leave space between the higher block and the vise (figure 2). Smack down on the end grain of the upper block. If the blocks are properly bonded, you'll have difficulty breaking them apart. If the wood breaks, rather than the joint, you have a good bond.

Cleavage Test: Glue the edge of one block to the face of another to form a T-shaped sample (when viewed from the end grain). Place the top of the T in the vise so the tail rises above it (figure 3). Smack down on the tail of the T. What broke loose—the wood surface or the glue line? The parts will likely break apart easily with this edge-to-face grain glue-up. Dowels or biscuits can add mechanical strength to such a joint.

Peel Test: This test evaluates the bond of veneers and plastic laminates. After the glue has cured, try lifting a corner (figure 4). If you have a good bond, the material will break and/or split when you try lifting it.