Which wood glue? Ponal, Pattex Mitiplast, PUR D4 and PA370 compared
For indoor furniture and joinery that stays dry, a white wood glue does the job: Ponal Professional is Henkel's trade grade, and Pattex Wood Glue Economy, the glue Nairobi carpenters call “Mitiplast”, is Henkel's cheaper everyday grade at under half the price per kilo. Neither has a published water-resistance class. If the joint will get wet (doors, windows, exterior joinery, kitchens, bathrooms or boats), use a D4 polyurethane wood glue instead: Pattex PUR or Akfix PA370. Both are classified D4 to DIN EN 204, the highest class, and both also bond wood to metal, concrete and foam.
What D1, D2, D3 and D4 mean
DIN EN 204 sorts wood adhesives by how well the bond survives water, from D1 (dry interior only) up to D4 (frequent long exposure to water and weather). It is the number to look for when a joint has to survive damp. A glue only earns a class when its maker tests and publishes it, so a seller quoting “D3” for a glue whose maker publishes no class is guessing.
That matters for the two white glues below. Henkel publishes no EN 204 class for Ponal Professional or for Pattex Wood Glue Economy, and Kenyan listings quote D2, D3 and “D3 waterproof” for the same bottle. We quote none of it. The two polyurethane glues do carry a published D4 rating.
The four glues compared
| Glue | Type | Water resistance | Bonds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pattex Wood Glue Economy (Mitiplast) | White wood glue, Henkel economy grade | No class published | Wood | High-volume indoor work at the lowest price |
| Ponal Professional | White wood glue, Henkel professional grade | No class published | Wood | Furniture and cabinet workshops |
| Pattex PUR | One-part polyurethane, moisture curing | D4 (DIN EN 204) | Wood to wood, metal, concrete, polystyrene foam | Exterior joinery, windows, doors, laminating |
| Akfix PA370 | One-part polyurethane, fast curing | D4 (DIN EN 204) | Wood to wood, metal, concrete, foam, plastics | Furniture and boat work, wet joints |
What is Ponal?
Ponal Professional is Henkel's white wood glue for the joinery trade, made at Henkel's Nairobi plant. The pack reads “Ponal PROFESSIONAL White Wood Glue”. Carpenters, furniture makers and shopfitters use it for assembly, carcassing, edge jointing and panel work: spread it onto clean, well-fitted timber, then clamp. Henkel publishes no open, press or setting times for these sizes.
It comes in five packs. The 30 kg pail is the same Ponal Professional in Henkel's industrial Aquence drum, and is the cheapest per kilo.
| Pack | Price | Per kg |
|---|---|---|
| Carton of 24 × 250 g | KSh 6,000 | KSh 1,000 |
| Carton of 24 × 500 g | KSh 11,280 | KSh 940 |
| Carton of 12 × 1 kg | KSh 9,360 | KSh 780 |
| Carton of 4 × 4 kg | KSh 11,320 | KSh 708 |
| Pail of 30 kg | KSh 19,730 | KSh 658 |
What is Mitiplast?
“Mitiplast” is a trade nickname, from miti, wood. The bottle actually reads Pattex Wood Glue Economy. It is a Henkel product carrying the KEBS Standardisation Mark SM#17471. This is Henkel's economy line, below Ponal Professional, for everyday high-volume work: workshops, fundis, school and site carpentry, and shop shelves. Henkel does not publish what separates the two in chemistry or water resistance, only that one is the professional line and the other the economy line. Stir it well before use. The pack is labelled for wood only, so ignore listings claiming it bonds metal or plastics.
| Pack | Price | Per kg |
|---|---|---|
| Carton of 24 × 250 g | KSh 2,640 | KSh 440 |
| Carton of 24 × 500 g | KSh 4,080 | KSh 340 |
| Carton of 12 × 1 kg | KSh 4,320 | KSh 360 |
In the 1 kg size Mitiplast costs KSh 360 a kilo against KSh 780 for Ponal Professional.
When you need a D4 glue
Pattex PUR Wood Glue
Pattex PUR is a one-component polyurethane that cures with moisture. Henkel classifies it D4 to DIN EN 204 and publishes a service range of −30 °C to +100 °C. It bonds wood to wood and to metal, concrete, polystyrene foam and other porous and non-porous materials, and it will take slightly damp surfaces.
It is fast. Open time is two minutes at most, so dry-fit everything and have your clamps ready before you spread any glue. Henkel gives at least 15 to 20 minutes under clamps and coverage of about 150 ml/m². It contains diisocyanate, so ventilate the room and wear gloves. Prices: KSh 20,160 for a carton of 48 × 150 ml (KSh 420 a bottle) or KSh 13,440 for 12 × 500 ml (KSh 1,120 a bottle).
Akfix PA370 Express PU Wood and Marine Adhesive
Akfix PA370 is a fast-curing liquid polyurethane that conforms to D4 to DIN EN 204. Akfix publishes it for furniture and boat production and for bonding wood to metal, concrete, polystyrene foam and other plastics. It does not shrink and can be used on slightly wet surfaces. Akfix gives about 150 ml per m², roughly 3 m² of glue line per 500 g bottle, and a tack-free time of 5 to 15 minutes. Do not use it below +5 °C; acetone cleans off uncured glue. It costs KSh 1,050 for a 500 g bottle, or KSh 11,400 for a box of 12.
Which one should you buy?
- Indoor furniture, lowest cost per job: Pattex Wood Glue Economy (Mitiplast).
- Furniture or cabinet workshop that wants the professional grade: Ponal Professional; the 4 kg or 30 kg packs work out cheapest per kilo.
- Anything that will get wet, or wood to metal, concrete or foam: Pattex PUR or Akfix PA370 (D4).
- Gap-filling or mounting rather than a tight joint: a cartridge adhesive. Our guide to construction adhesive vs silicone vs PU foam explains the difference.
Where to buy
All four are in our wood glue collection. The wider ranges are under adhesives, Henkel and Akfix. Furniture workshops and hardware shops buying by the carton can request a trade quote on our trade page. You can collect from our Nairobi trade counter at Royal Business Park, opposite Complast, Old Mombasa Road, Monday to Saturday, 8:00 to 17:30. Or order for countrywide delivery at a flat KSh 350, free on orders over KSh 15,000. For a quick answer on which glue suits your job, message us on WhatsApp.
Common questions
Is white wood glue waterproof?
Not as far as anyone can show for these two. Henkel publishes no EN 204 water-resistance class for Ponal Professional or Pattex Wood Glue Economy. For joints that will see water, use a glue with a published D4 rating, such as Pattex PUR or Akfix PA370.
Is Mitiplast the same as Ponal?
No. Both are Henkel white wood glues made in Nairobi, but Mitiplast (Pattex Wood Glue Economy) is the economy line and Ponal Professional is the professional line. Henkel does not publish the technical difference between them.
Can wood glue stick wood to metal or concrete?
A white wood glue is labelled for wood only. Pattex PUR and Akfix PA370 are both published for bonding wood to metal, concrete and polystyrene foam.
How long do I have to work with a PU wood glue?
Not long. Pattex PUR's open time is two minutes at most, and Akfix PA370 is tack-free in 5 to 15 minutes. Cut and dry-fit everything before you open the bottle, and wipe off squeeze-out before it cures; Akfix says acetone removes uncured PA370.