To Glue or Not to Glue?

I have had a dozen or so emails asking about white glue as an additive in concrete and hypertufa. I have tried it and not seen any difference in the end result. The concrete seemed to cure faster but that may have been the weather. It was during the summer and very hot out. "Elmers" brand glue says on the label that you can use it in concrete and gives instructions. I think it said 10 oz per gal. of water. don't take my word for it, look it up!! I have used it as a bonding agent when pouring new concrete on top of old. First wash the old with muratic acid, rinse then paint on the white glue. It seems to help. I have seen these joints taken apart with jackhammers a couple of years later and the bond looked excellent. This was in a very harsh west coast marine application, so lets say it works good! I also think that it makes a difference when added to hypertufa. My theory is that it gives back some of the strength lost due to the organic matter (peat) in 'tufa. I also have an idea that it helps waterproof it a little, and that is a big benefit in outdoor projects. I made a couple of "Giant Heads" about 3 feet high with 'tufa. These where done over about a week, adding on every day. The 'tufa had glue in it. I am certain it helped it bond better during the sculpting process. When done they seemed a little harder on the surface and water ran off better than it did on projects where there was no glue added. I can tell you they survived one -35 degree winter, they disappeared after that so I cannot report any further. Generally I would say that white glue works at least as well as you have heard. If you heard it does not work, don't try it. I will continue to tell people to go ahead. It can't do any harm! Copyright