Verleimen

Verleimen is a German verb meaning to glue pieces together or to bind with adhesive, typically by applying an adhesive to surfaces and pressing them until the bond cures. The term is common in woodworking, furniture making, bookbinding, and crafts, where a seamless glue line is required.

Etymology: Verleimen comes from leimen (glue) with the prefix ver-, forming a verb that emphasizes the act of bonding a set of parts. It often implies operation on multiple parts, as in joining boards or sheets into an assembled unit. The related noun Verleimung denotes the process of gluing.

Process and materials: In practice, Verleimen involves surface preparation, even application of glue (often PVA, animal glue, or polyurethane), alignment of components, and clamping until the adhesive cures. Workpieces should be clean and free of dust to ensure a strong bond; excess glue is wiped away before curing.

Contexts: In woodworking, Verleimen is used to join panels, veneer to a substrate, or create edge joints. In bookbinding, it describes attaching pages to the spine or sealing the cover. Model making and cabinetry also rely on Verleimen for permanent assemblies.