How do I remove a glue line?

Our expert answers

A visible glue line almost always means the joint wasn’t perfectly tight or the surface fibers were somehow contaminated with glue. The only reliable fix is to remove the affected wood until clean, uniform material is exposed. In some cases, careful scraping or sanding will solve the problem — provided the glue is only on the surface and hasn’t soaked into the grain. More often, though, the joint needs to be ripped apart and re-glued to achieve a truly invisible seam. Best of luck on resolving this Clay.