AbstractIn this study, it is aimed to determine the bonding strength of white oak (Quercus petreae L.) and chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) woods impregnated with borax and zinc chloride. Within this purpose, the experimental samples were bonded with Polyvinyl‐acetate and polyurethane based Desmodur‐VTKA (D‐VTKA) adhesives according to BS EN 205 standards after they had been prevacuumed with a pressure equal to 760 mmHg−1 with impregnating at 2 atm pressures for 60 min according to ASTM‐D 1413 standards and applied vacuum‐impregne‐vacuum method. During the experiments, the retention amount, the retention proportion, and the bonding strength values of the samples were determined. According to the test results, the highest values of retention amount, and bonding strength were obtained from the wood material impregnated with zinc chloride. The impregnating materials had a negative effect on bonding strength. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008