All I get is nasty looking WRC around here so I have no choice but laminate and never had a problem. I use Titebond III, the waterproof one. You have to have good mating surfaces (flat) and plenty of clamps too. If you don't have the tools maybe you know a woodworker that can joint the edges for you?

I have not done this yet, but I am have a couple of sticks of wood and I am just going to cut out the knots and cut a scarf and glue it up out of several pieces of wood rather than scrap a lot of otherwise usable wood.