Gluing Top and Bottom Using Go-Bar
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2022 5:52 am
Beginner question of the day.
Thinking a bit ahead to gluing the top and bottom of the guitar.
Would like to use my Go-Bar setup.
Two problems I could use help with.
1) I would probably like to glue the bottom first so I can remove squeezed out glue from the inside (see problem 2 below). If I do, my question is what to use to support the top sides of the guitar. I could put it on a flat surface or I could put it on a 28 degree radius disk but neither seems right. I have been following John Hall's recommendation on shaping the sides and as a result the top is flat over the middle third (from about the max of the top bout to the max of the bottom bout) and then 28 degree radius from about the max bottom bout to the tail block and the same radius from the max top bout to the neck block. As a result, both a flat surface or radius disk as a support surface won't contact the top rim everywhere. A flat surface will have gaps at both the neck and tail end of the guitar and a radiused surface will have gaps at the waist. So.... what to do? My idea at this point is to start with a flat surface, then 1/2 inch foam pad over that and then a 2 inch wide masonite strip which follows the contour of the sides over that . Seems like this would provide a more or less conformal caul base that would more evenly distribute the pressure and contact the top side everywhere. Does this make sense? Any suggestions/comments welcome.
2) If I do glue on the bottom first, how do I gain access to remove the excess glue that seeps out, and messes up the look of the inside of the guitar? I plan on using Titebond glue. It seems like I might be able to glue on the bottom, using the method I proposed above with go-bars, wait about 10 to 15 minutes for the glue to set up, remove the bars and the body from the go-bar set up, scrape out the excess glue, and then put it back in the go-bar set up. Once again, does this seem to make sense? Suggestions/comments welcome.
Thanks in advance for your help
Thinking a bit ahead to gluing the top and bottom of the guitar.
Would like to use my Go-Bar setup.
Two problems I could use help with.
1) I would probably like to glue the bottom first so I can remove squeezed out glue from the inside (see problem 2 below). If I do, my question is what to use to support the top sides of the guitar. I could put it on a flat surface or I could put it on a 28 degree radius disk but neither seems right. I have been following John Hall's recommendation on shaping the sides and as a result the top is flat over the middle third (from about the max of the top bout to the max of the bottom bout) and then 28 degree radius from about the max bottom bout to the tail block and the same radius from the max top bout to the neck block. As a result, both a flat surface or radius disk as a support surface won't contact the top rim everywhere. A flat surface will have gaps at both the neck and tail end of the guitar and a radiused surface will have gaps at the waist. So.... what to do? My idea at this point is to start with a flat surface, then 1/2 inch foam pad over that and then a 2 inch wide masonite strip which follows the contour of the sides over that . Seems like this would provide a more or less conformal caul base that would more evenly distribute the pressure and contact the top side everywhere. Does this make sense? Any suggestions/comments welcome.
2) If I do glue on the bottom first, how do I gain access to remove the excess glue that seeps out, and messes up the look of the inside of the guitar? I plan on using Titebond glue. It seems like I might be able to glue on the bottom, using the method I proposed above with go-bars, wait about 10 to 15 minutes for the glue to set up, remove the bars and the body from the go-bar set up, scrape out the excess glue, and then put it back in the go-bar set up. Once again, does this seem to make sense? Suggestions/comments welcome.
Thanks in advance for your help