How to Glue Felt to Wood – Guide what Glue works

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The question of how to glue felt to wood is admittedly not commonly asked, as there is no obvious reason for wanting to do such a thing. However, have you ever looked at the inside of your grandmother’s heirloom jewelry box and wished you could repair its tattered interior? Or maybe you have a hankering to build your own card, games, or snooker table. Felt is also ideal for making media shelves to store your video games, DVD’s and CD’s. Whatever your reasons, this tutorial will enlighten you on everything you need to know about gluing felt to wood. We will include step-by-step instructions for the best methods on how to attach felt to wood. We will also enlighten you on which adhesives work for felt, specifically the best glue for securing felt to wood.

What Is Felt?

Felt is a unique and iconic fabric that is made from natural fibers and a mixture of water and soap. The natural fibers are compacted and this is the effect of the soft material, felt. It is a very strong fabric that is not easy to rip, which is one of the main reasons it is used, and not so much for the aesthetics. Some amazing benefits of this material are that it is made out of natural fibers which makes it easy on the environment and it repels dirt.

How to Choose the Best Adhesive for Gluing Felt to Wood

Choosing the right glue can easily be mistaken for a simple task. This might be the case if you are familiar with the different types of adhesives. But, for those who are new to this area of DIY expertise, determining which glue is likely to be the best for felt can be challenging. Luckily for you, we have compiled a list of suggestions that you can keep in mind the next time you are at the supply store. The first part of the answer for how to glue felt to wood is in choosing the best adhesive for felt.

Selecting the Correct Glue

When it comes to gluing felt to wood, the correct glue you use is very important. This all depends on what type of surface you are planning to glue the felt to. Certain types of glue are better for certain types of surface materials. The best glue for felt might not be the best glue for the surface you are trying to glue the felt to.

Drying Time

This is extremely important to always consider this before you purchase the glue. This is because if you do not have the time to wait around for the glue to dry, then you should look out for glue that dries and cures faster too!

Application

This might be a surprise, but the design of glue is very important and not just the glue that comes inside of the container or tube. How easy is it to apply the glue? Some glues come in a little tube that has a smaller nozzle where the glue comes from. This makes it easier to get into those little spaces to fill the glue in.

Child Care

It is of the utmost importance to protect our children, that is why when you are working with tools, paints, glues, or anything of a chemical nature, it is strongly advised to be vigilant of them at all times. When it comes to gluing felt to wood, the right glue would be less harmful, ideally. You would want to look out for glues that are non-toxic and easy to wash when cleaning up later.

Opacity

If you are gluing felt to the wood where the glue might be more visible, then a glue that cures transparent will be the better choice. Glues only show their true colors when they have finished curing. Some glues are more yellow or even an opaque color when they cure, and that can ruin the aesthetic appeal of your project.

Glue to Avoid

If you are wondering how to attach felt to wood, there are a few types of glue that are not the best for this particular purpose and should be avoided. The typical white craft glue that is commonly used in DIY projects may fail to bond due to its thin consistency.

The Best Glue for Felt to Wood

Now that we have discussed the few key points to look out for in choosing the best glue for felt to wood projects, we can highlight some of our favorite products made by some very reputable brands. Keep reading for our recommendations on the right glue to use, thus partly answering the question, how to attach felt to wood.

Best Tacky Wet Glue for Gluing Felt to Wood: ELMER’S Tacky Glue

This glue is well-known for its ease in the clean-up process. Not much effort needs to be taken to wipe it up, even when applied mistakenly to your felt. It is celebrated amongst crafters and DIY extraordinaire as a versatile glue that works well in bonding other materials and not just felt and wood. The strong bond from Elmer’s Tacky glue is great because a little bit spreads quite far so only a small bottle can last you through a decent amount of projects.

Best Super Glue for Sticking Felt to Wood: GORILLA Super Glue Gel, Clear

Gorilla Glue is one of the most well-known glues in the DIY industry as well as the industrial industry. Professionals and hobbyists are huge fans because this glue delivers on every promise for strength in bonding. It is easy to apply and the glue will not run and ruin the surface you are applying it to, which means any surface of either a horizontal or a vertical angle will suffice.

It has a magnificently fast drying time, taking only 10 to 45 seconds (depending on the humidity and temperature of your working conditions) and when it cures, it is transparent – aiding the aesthetics of your project and adding a more professional appeal. Gorilla super glue is versatile in function because it works to bond not only felt to wood but a variety of other surface materials.

Best Hot Glue Stick for Sticking Felt to Wood: ADTECH Mini Hot Glue Stick

This glue by Adtech comes in the form of a glue stick for a hot glue gun. It is perfect for any projects where you might need to glue felt to wood, or many other types of materials for that matter. It is aesthetically appealing because it dries and cures in a transparent opacity, and the drying time between use is only 30 seconds, making the bonding application quick and easy. These glue sticks also come in various sizes, including a 28inch glue stick that beats the length of other glue sticks by 8 inches.

When applying AdTech’s mini hot glue stick you can choose between a high temperature or a low temperature. If you are wondering how to attach felt to wood with this type of glue, a lower temperature is suggested so that you do not damage the felt in the process. Make sure that you are wearing protective gloves regardless of the low heat, and do not leave children alone with the glue gun.

Best Spray Glue for Sticking Felt to Wood: ALEENE’S All Purpose Tacky Adhesive Spray

If you are wondering how to glue felt to wood for your child’s latest project this would be the best option. Aleene’s All-purpose tacky glue spray is perfect because it dries clear, so none of that yellowing color. Once applied the bond starts to take effect after about two minutes so there is not much time to wait, which is another benefit. One more benefit would be that it is non-toxic so you can use it for child’s craft projects or even make a new toy for your pet.

The tackiness of this glue is phenomenal, it promises professional bondage that lasts a long time. The application of this glue is easy to use because of the spray mechanism it is made with. This makes it easy for children to apply the glue and less messy because there will be fewer glue dribbles.

Types of Glue That Work Well for Bonding Felt to Wood

We do not always have the luxury of well-stocked hardware stores or craft shops. Sometimes we may not find the particular glue that we are looking for, but that does not mean that you will not find a glue that works just as well. Here is a table that will highlight the different glues and if it works in gluing felt to wooden surfaces.

Instructions for Gluing Felt to Wood

Now that all of the information about what type of glue to choose for projects where you need to glue felt onto wood, we can start getting into the instructions for the process for gluing the felt onto the wood.

Preparation

This part of your felt gluing experience is one of the most important! Make sure that you read this section before you start your project so that you can gather up all the necessary equipment for the job. The worst thing would be to suddenly find that you don’t have an important part of the process delaying or possibly even ruining the project.

Felt Material

Low-quality felt tends to be more stretchy than high-quality felt once you start to work with it. This depends on how compact the fibers are when the fabric is made. This means that the quality of your felt-to-wood projects is reliant on what type of pet you buy, and how well it was made. Also, remember that the sun will fade the color of the felt, so take into consideration where the felt will spend most of its time. Billiard cloth is a good example of high-quality felt material.

The Glue

You may think that any old glue will work fine, but, the glue you need must be chosen specifically for the type of project, as not all glues will be suitable for gluing felt to wood. If you are trying to avoid a messy job, then avoid using a spray application because they tend to overspray.

Brushes

Any type of contact glue or Elmer’s glue is best applied using a foam brush. These are disposable brushes and super affordable, but you can use a more costly reusable brush and use paint thinners to clean them after each use if you want to be more environmentally friendly.

Removable Tape

Tape can be your best friend when it comes to precise gluing when it comes to using a spray adhesive. Because these tend to spray over where you do not want the glue, you can use tape to seal off those spaces. Once everything has dried you can take the tape away.

Rollers and Scissors

If you don’t want any lumps, folds, or air pockets under your felt application, and you are expecting that smooth and sleek felt feeling. You will need to remember this important step. When you have applied your felt to a wooden surface, the smooth feeling and look are because once you have placed it over the wet glue and then you must use a roller to flatten it out. This will smooth out any crinkles in the material. You can use a ruler or a credit card, or even just by hand.

Selecting the Correct Felt

If you were to purchase lower quality felt material, you will find that although it was kinder to your budget, it is far more difficult to work with, and it will break as you do so. This is because the fabric is made by compacting natural fibers together and the more compact, the higher the quality. Always try to work with higher quality felt materials to create something of professional value. Here are some of our suggestions on how to care for and prepare the felt material you choose before you start gluing it.

Cleaning the Felt

Another very important consideration. This does not necessarily mean for you to stick the felt into the washing machine on a full cycle of delicates. It does, however, mean that there should not be any sticky stains or dust on the material that might prevent the glue from sticking. Use a dampened cloth and wipe the material down, cleaning away any dirt marks, but the best cleaning method for felt is by steam.

Select the Correct Glue

When selecting the glue you want to use for your felt-to-wood project, you must consider a few things. If the surface area you are gluing is large, like for a snooker or pool table, you might benefit from choosing a spray adhesive. Just make sure to use the removable tape so that you do not spray on the spaces where glue should not be.

For fiddly projects involving larger sections of felt, we recommend Elmer’s glue. This is because it does not peel over time, which adds to the many benefits of this glue. The canister design makes it easy to apply even in hard-to-reach spaces.

Cutting Your Felt

Sometimes when you are gluing felt to wood for a particular project you might need to cut off some excess, or even cut out a shape in the felt. If you do not have such a steady hand for drawing the shapes yourself, you can use stencils that you bought from the shop, or you can make them yourself out of cardboard. You can also make use of templates so that you can cut more and be more time proficient. Templates can also help to get the right shape cut out of the felt you need, avoiding wasting materials by accidentally cutting the wrong shape. Make sure that your measurements are sound before you start snipping.

Applying the Adhesive

Make sure that you have paint thinners before you start if you are using the longer-lasting, non-disposable brushes to apply the glue. This will prevent them from tarnishing too early and wasting your money.

By using a brush that is made of foam, you can eliminate most of the cleaning time because you just throw the brushes away once you are done. This might not be the most environmentally friendly option, but if you are in a rush, or can not afford the most expensive brushes, then these are great.

Make sure that you apply glue to both the felt and the wood to ensure adhesion. This will result in fewer gaps t the edges and a smooth finish without lumps and bumps.

Placing the Felt

This part needs to be done with the utmost care, ensuring that the pieces are placed and aligned accordingly. Some glues tend to dry faster than others, so keep this in mind when you apply the felt in case you make a mistake and the felt cant be removed.

Once the felt has been applied, you must smooth out any bumps that may have formed. This can be done by using your hand, or a roller for larger areas. A credit card or something similar is good for smaller items, and run it down the surface, working out any of the bumps you can see. Once the surface is smooth, you are complete with this step. It is important for a flush finish.

Trim the Overlapping Edges of the Felt

By reading the label and the instructions that come with the glue you use, you will know how long to wait for the glue to have dried and cured. Once it has, you can trim off any excess felt that was not needed and might be flapping over the edges. Use a blade for accurate trimming.

How to Remove Felt From Wood

If the project you are working with is to replace an older layer of felt that started to peel off and look messy or tacky, then the proper method for removing the original felt must be applied, so that you do not ruin the wood and the next layer of felt that is to replace the old.

Use a putty knife to lift enough of the old layer from the wooden surface, being careful not to nick the wood. Make sure to get enough to get a good grip with your fingers and lift the felt off by hand. If you need, you can use the scraper to lift the felt off if the adhesive is still bonding strong in some places. Bits of the felt might remain, but you must try to remove as much of it as possible. This will make sure that the next layer can lie as smooth on the wooden surface as possible.

If you do not get all of the felt when removing it, that is not the end of the world, because the next step is to sand it down and get the wooden surface nice and smooth again. Make sure you get into the harder-to-reach spaces because you will notice the difference when you apply the next layer of felt. Make sure you clean up all of the residue left from the sanding before you apply the glue. You can also remove old felt with hot water.

If you do not get all of the felt off when removing it, that is not the end of the world, because the next step is to sand it down and get the wooden surface nice and smooth again. Take care to get into the harder-to-reach spaces because you will notice the difference when you apply the next layer of felt. Also, clear away all of the residue left from the sanding before you apply any glue.

Useful Tips on How to Attach Felt to Wood

Perhaps your reasons for gluing felt to wood are for decorative purposes, or for protecting your wooden floor from being scratched by furniture. Whatever the case, here are some useful tips, in a summarized form, so that you can get a better feel for the process of gluing felt to wood and so that you can ensure a smooth even application the first time!

• When you are smoothing out a larger area, a roller will be used to make it go quicker. If you were to use anything smaller, it would take too long and you might end up just pushing the bumps around instead of flattening them.
• Use a higher quality felt to prevent it from tearing or stretching when you start to work with it. High-quality felt is also more resistant to heat and it will last longer.
• Use scissors or a razor blade when trimming the excess felt that is hanging off the edges of the project you are gluing it to.
• Place some wax paper over the surface you have just glued with something heavy over that. This will add weight and keep the felt secure to the wood whilst the glue dries.
• Make sure to read the fable of the glue you purchase so that you have sufficient time for the glue to dry, typically 10- 15 minutes should suffice.
• Make sure that both the felt and the wooden surface you are gluing it to are applied with glue so that optimal adhesion will be achieved.

Now that you have learned a substantial amount about the art of gluing felt to wood, you can start to apply this knowledge to the various projects that might require this knowledge! Gluing felt does not need to be a daunting experience at all!

Frequently Asked Questions

Will PVA Glue Bond Felt to Wood?

If you are using a polyvinyl acetate PVA glue it will not work to bond the felt, but if you are using a craft PVA you may have more success.

Is Selecting the Perfect Felt Important?

If you use lower quality felt, your project will not last as long, not to mention a lack of professional appearance. It will also stretch as you are working with it, and possibly tear. This means that higher quality felt is essential.

Will Hot Glue Work on Felt?

Hot Glue is ideal for gluing felt to wood and other surfaces. Adtech has a good product that even comes with a longer stick than with other brands.

Will Super Glue Work With Felt?

Super glue is a fast-drying and fast-acting glue. This makes it a perfect candidate when working with felt projects. Be careful of the highly toxic chemicals that release intense fumes when working with it.

Do All Glues Work With Felt?

Not all glue will work with bonding felt, some of them are too thin in consistency and end up getting absorbed by the material. These types of glues include PVA wood adhesive, general craft glue, and fabric glues.