Material pair

Aluminum to Wood

Best bet

2-part epoxy

Wets out both surfaces — but the aluminum must be scuffed bright and degreased first.

Preparation

Prep each side differently

Aluminum

Scuff the aluminum to bright metal and degrease — the dull oxide layer is the weak link.

Wood

Sand to fresh fibers and brush off the dust.

Conditions

When the answer changes

If the joint will flex or live outdoors, polyurethane is more forgiving than rigid epoxy. For a rigid bracket-style joint, stay with epoxy — a slow-cure formula for maximum strength, a 5-minute epoxy for quick work.