Checking your work - glue joints

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Srick
Posts: 76
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2023 12:23 pm

Checking your work - glue joints

Post by Srick »

As much as I hate to admit it, even with cauls and fastidious clamping, not all my glue joints are perfect. In this case, these sides are wavy and caused the problem.

Here, I am using a piece of .001 dental matrix strip (ask your dentist for a few) to check around the edges of the joint and…. “Oh crud! How did that happen?”

Image

You could also use a feeler gauge for this. (BTW - a sheet of paper is about .004.)

And here’s how I fixed it. I placed some CA glue on top of the strip and ran it back and forth through the joint. Then I clamped it.
Image

It worked! And it probably saved this build from having a weird buzz after completion.
And you know there's a YouTube video of a guy in Mexico who builds a guitar only using a machete, right?
TEETERFAN
Posts: 387
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2018 12:43 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Checking your work - glue joints

Post by TEETERFAN »

Nice tip! I will bug my dentist for some of those.
Kevin Doty
Kansas City
tippie53
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Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
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Re: Checking your work - glue joints

Post by tippie53 »

CA on Mahogany may bleed into the wood and show in finish. The more I do this the less I us CA. I like Fish glue and Spectrum CP0101
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Srick
Posts: 76
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2023 12:23 pm

Re: Checking your work - glue joints

Post by Srick »

tippie53 wrote: Fri Jan 03, 2025 6:38 am CA on Mahogany may bleed into the wood and show in finish. The more I do this the less I us CA. I like Fish glue and Spectrum CP0101
Zoinks! I had a ton of issues with rosewood and shellac, but never dreamed that hood ‘ol mahogany would be a problem. I liked the fish glue (StewMac) when I used it, but failed to mark the date that I opened it. Maybe I’ll order a new bottle. I’m finally writing the opening dates on everything - time flies when you’re having fun.
And you know there's a YouTube video of a guy in Mexico who builds a guitar only using a machete, right?
tippie53
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Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
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Re: Checking your work - glue joints

Post by tippie53 »

we sell fish glue at blues creek guitars.
Glues are something that you want to be sure you are using the right ones.

in a nut shell
Fish glue
when in doubt do a test glue up you will know if its fine . Glue up wait 2 hr see if it pull wood fibers off when pulled apart

types of glues
Drying glues
these are hide and fish
once dried they are set can be reglued
curing clues
Tite bond
Pva ect
these are usually a 24 hr cure once cured you need to remove old glue to reglue
Reactive glues
CA epoxy
once set done I have seen them reglue to themselves often can be removed with solvent. Naphtha can take off epoxy acetone removes CA
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Srick
Posts: 76
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2023 12:23 pm

Re: Checking your work - glue joints

Post by Srick »

Thanks John! Good advice.
And you know there's a YouTube video of a guy in Mexico who builds a guitar only using a machete, right?
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