Glen-L.com

When epoxying gussets and floor timbers to frames is it necessary to use clamps in addition to the screws or do the screws provide enough clamping pressure on their own? Thanks

Screws should provide enough pressure...you want some squeeze out of epoxy at the joint but you don't want a starved joint (squeezing all of the glue out). I usually use clamps for insurance in case a screw fails...I also use screws in case a clamp slips off...ironic isn't it?

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Bill

I told my wife we needed a three-car garage for my projects...she told me to ask her for permission next time before I buy a house.
http://www.unitybuild.net

What Bill said.

With epoxy, its not clamp pressure that keeps the bond but rather having enough material inside the joint. Epoxy will soak into the wood and if you are too lean it can actually form voids in the joint, which would make it weaker. Precoating both sides seems to do the trick (instead of just coating 1 side). I would precoat the surfaces with unthickened epoxy then thicken the batch for void filling and mate the surfaces together, screw and/or clamp.

I most cases, I left the screws in.

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Ian (aka Iggy)
My Malahini Build

Thanks for the information guys. Iggy - I will take your advice and precoat. Thanks