The pH and buffering potential for water extract of seven hardwoods and three softwoods were determined. The pH values ranged from 3.81 to 5.51 for hardwoods and 4.08 to 5.49 for softwoods. The gelation time for a urea-formaldehyde resin for each woods was determined and found to be a range of one minute thirty seven seconds to two minutes thirty nine seconds. Results shows that gelation time of a urea-formaldehyde resin was directly correlated to the pH and inversely correlated with acid buffering potential for seven hardwoods and three softwoods aqueous extracts