Best surface to glue up on

[Ozi]

I'm looking to make a small assembly board to sit on my bench as I'm tired of sticking pits and pieces to the bench, what surface would people recommend that will not stick to PVA or wood fillers? I have some 3mm acrylic sheet that I am thinking of using but do you have a better suggestion?

 

[Sachakins]

If you also use CA glue and activator you'll find acrylic will craze and crack because of activator.
I'd just go with a piece of smooth melamine board, conti-board but not the textured finish type.
A piece that's at least 25mm thick is ideal as it stays flat. An offcut off a melamine worktop is ideal.

 

[scholar]

I use a sheet of heavy gauge polythene to cover the workbench when gluing. Rolls up and usually stays in the tool well (which is used for everything but).

I keep a big (heavy) roll of polythene for this and various other uses. I think I have 125 micron/500 guage. It is 4m wide unfolded (the roll is 1m long) and it comes in long length rolls - I think I have 25m or 50m, I don’t remember)

Cheers

 

[Sideways]

6mm sacrificial MDF and and a piece of that thick red silicone bench mat from Peter at Woodworkers Workshop.
Use either or both together depending on the job.
I would expect glues to stick to hard plastics.
If you need something different / bigger than the silicone mat, then trawl ebay for HDPE sheet. That might be worth a try.

Last suggestion : ptfe baking sheet when it goes on sale at lidl from time to time. Thin and flexible, but very non stick.

 

[Cabinetman]

My assembly table has just water based poly varnish on it’s ply top, it had some furniture wax applied years ago. The odd time there’s a drip I find it enormously satisfying to ping the dry glue spots off afterwards, only takes a minute. I did have a polythene sheet but gave it up as it was always in the way when laying out the cramps and very annoying during a tricky glue up.
Ian

 

[Sheptonphil]

I use a roll of brown waxed paper it’s 90mm wide and 100m long. I use it for all glue ups and paint jobs. No glue sticks to it and it doesn’t stick to your work. Keeps the bench clean for the sake of 30p a time to cover the whole bench.
https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/office-supplies-and-packaging/kraft-paper/waxed-kraft-paper-rolls-9-00mmx100m-55gsm/p/ZT1057078X?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=pla+|+Office Supplies & Packaging&utm_term=ZT1057078X&utm_medium=pla_css_1&mkwid=-dc&pcrid=725916861082&pkw=&pmt=&prodid=ZT1057078X&slid=&pgrid={groupid}&ptaid=pla-392781147790&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADgXECMAuw57IseHPVoSQHFRG7FQX&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_sK-neHRigMVYppQBh2_Yg8UEAQYCCABEgIgT_D_BwE

 

[recipio]

A silicone mat works a treat. Just let the glue droplets dry and they simply peel off. You will find them in good supermarkets

 

[Ozi]

Thanks one and all, sounds like several low cost options to try

 

[Inspector]

For small jobs I peel off some parchment paper from the kitchen. For bigger jobs I always have some corrugated cardboard from something we have bought. TV boxes, door box, furniture box etc. Last a long time and they get stood up with the plywood until needed.

Pete

 

[Keith 66]

In the boatshed i will use polythene sheet, melamine faced chipboard, whatever is around.
I always keep a roll of brown parcel tape handy, it is very useful for putting on backing blocks if scarphing timber together or on laminating jigs. Parcel tape is made from mylar & gives a perfect release with anything up to epoxy.

 

[Katomi woodsmith]

Another for brown paper, or gease proof paperI use pva to seal home made/cut blanks. The brown paper will stick to the bottom of the blank.... but turning removes it

 

[woodbloke52]

You don't need anything fancy. Your ordinary bench will do the job well; all you need to do is to wax the surface to form a 'resist' and any glue will simply 'ping' off (using the end of a cabinet scraper) when it's dry. I also have a large mdf assembly table which simply gets a decent coat of wax every few months and nothing sticks to it. Simples - Rob

 

[Fergie 307]

In the boatshed i will use polythene sheet, melamine faced chipboard, whatever is around.
I always keep a roll of brown parcel tape handy, it is very useful for putting on backing blocks if scarphing timber together or on laminating jigs. Parcel tape is made from mylar & gives a perfect release with anything up to epoxy.

Parcel tape is great for veneer repairs, where you often have to use a small block shaped to suit the area being repaired. Just wrap in parcel tape and it won't stick.
For cheap big sheets of suitable plastic you can use DPM.

 

[Chubber]

For small jobs I peel off some parchment paper from the kitchen....

Pete

+1!

I now have to buy my own as SWMBO recently didn't have enough for a batch of cheese straws...as in "Why the (rude word) did you leave just nine inches on the roll??"

 

[RonnieI]

Brown paint masking paper, get a big roll off ebay. If you need it to be completely non stick just wipe a bit of beeswax polish or mineral oil over the surface.

 

[Katomi woodsmith]

Opps chubbier your in trouble, it’s like leaving just one sheet of toilet paper

 

[Inspector]

+1!

I now have to buy my own as SWMBO recently didn't have enough for a batch of cheese straws...as in "Why the (rude word) did you leave just nine inches on the roll??"

Since I do a lot of cooking and line the pans with it to reduce scouring (I do the dishes too) I make sure we have lots. It's cheap enough at Costco to get one for the shop but my shop is attached to the house and it is only a 10 foot walk to the kitchen so don't need to. I do the vacuuming so if I bring in some dust so what.

Pete

 

[bp122]

I just use old newspapers most of the time when I have them. I also have some melamine faced chipboard from an old table top that I use sometimes.

 

[Chubber]

On an almost parallel subject, when I know I will be staining a job, I mask the edges of joints with parcel tape to avoid
a. having to clean away any extruded glue
b. having the 'wiped off' glue acting as a resist for stain, etc..

 

[TRITON]

Big fan of clingfilm. Any surface you dont want bonded or any surface a wayward drip is going to find, lay down cling and its protected.
This is pva/type only, superglues would likely adhere to, or melt it

Probably the cheapest method of anything.