Why is it called DAP Weldwood Adhesive?

Have you ever wondered why auto upholstery shops use an adhesive called “Weldwood” to bond non-wooden materials?

DAP Weldwood, the company that makes our industry’s favorite adhesive, recently shared a video explaining the history of the company, including its name:

“In the 1930s, a group of chemists, engineers and wood technologists developed a technology to bond panels of wood together to form a material stronger than the wood itself. The United States Plywood Corporation was the first organization to market resin-bonded plywood and they sold it under the brand Weldwood. The manufacturing process used a film of indestructible resin to impregnate sheets and literally weld the panel into one unit, hence the name Weldwood.”

From there, the company went on to develop other types of adhesives for a range of uses and materials, including the contact adhesive used in vehicle upholstery. But because the brand name Weldwood was so well known, they applied it to their full range of products.

As for the “DAP” that precedes the Weldwood brand, that came from an entirely different company. DAP was founded in 1865 as a manufacturer of sealing wax for food-canning. As time went on, they expanded their product line to include caulks, foam and adhesives for professional contractors. In 1983, DAP merged with Weldwood, as did their names.

Check out the full video below: