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What is the difference between LMI luthiers glue and Titebond. Which is superior?

Hide Glue

Seriously: I haven't tried LMI's glue, but I know a lot of people like it, but then, a lot of people like Titebond, and thousands (if not more) successful instruments have been made using little else.

The LMI glue is white, so it will soften with heat better than Titebond. I use them both, but I use the LMI more.

LMI WHITE is much harder [when dried] than TB. It's only one durometer measurement unit softer than LMI's hide glue.

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

They are both PVA, polyvinyl acetate. Some claim that LMI White is superior, and I can't refute that since I've never used anything but original Titebond, 3.99 for 16 ounces at Lowe's, fresh and strong. Of course, I use hide for a few special joints, but not always.

Some folks feel fingerboard to neck should be hide or epoxy to eliminate glue creep. I like Hide under the bridge and for cleanup there. Also, since I'm a dovetailer for a while longer, I do the dovetail with hide glue but titebond the fingerboard extension.

Robert, I guess it just depends on who you talk to as to which is best, and where it is best.Dickey38439.4010648148

I stopped using the LMI white glue after having it fail on an otherwise perfect joint. There was nothing to make one think the glue wasn't fresh.

I've also read over on the mimf that others have had this happen as well, so I am quite weary of it.

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

That is one reason to use stuff from Lowe's. I wonder if Titebond has a date on it. It would sure be a bummer to build a batch of guitars and have the glue fail on all of them..... ouch.

Bruce - exactly. Luckily for me I was using it mainly for things like gluing the purflings to the bindings, etc for which it works fine. Most things that need any strength or affect the sound I use fish glue for.

Best wishes,
Joshua

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

I've had some LMI glue fail one time. I was gluing a back on the rim and
when I went to rout for binding it popped right off. I thought it must
have been me so I re-glued the whole thing (I could pop the whole back
off the linings with just my fingers and VERY minimal pressure. The next
day I checked again and it happened again. So I thought maybe that
bottle was bad (only had it from LMI for a couple months tops) so I tossed
it grabbed a fresh bottle and re-glued it. The next day it did it AGAIN
three times in a row. I glued it on with titebond and the next day it was
rock hard. I've VERY wary of LMI glue now and I won't use it.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

John I bet you had a few choice words for that glue.... yikes! Once bit, twice shy. (or should I say thrice?)

I have never used LMI's White glue but this is one of a couple stories I heard about failures with it. I use Titebond for almost every thing just because Hide glue makes me ill at my stomach to smell while heating. I know get over it! But I have never had a failure with Titebond.

[QUOTE=Dickey] I wonder if Titebond has a date on it.[/QUOTE]

It does. Fabrication code is very simple, actually: look on the bottle, there's a little number stamp. You only care about the first two figures on there, a number and a letter: first figure is a number, indicating the year: 4 would be 2004, 5 would be 2005. Then there's a letter: A = January, B = February, etc. etc., although they skip I, probably beacuse it can look too much like a 1, so J = September. The rest of the numbers are a mystery best left uninvestigated.

I avoid using any glue that's older than 12 months, relegating that stuff to non-critical, non-guitar applications, and if it starts smelling bad, or exceeds 18 months (whatever comes first), it's outta there.Mattia Valente38439.5059490741

Yes, I also had a bad experience with the LMI white glue. A back came apart that I joined with the LMI glue. At the time, I thought I just didn't have a good joint, but I used Titebond the second time, and it seems to be rock solid. It may be a very good glue, but I'll probably keep using Titebond until it starts failing, and then I'll probably make the inevitable switch to hide glue.

Thanks for the info. I used LMI for bracing-keep fingers crossed. I will change to titebond.

After reading this I won’t be using LMI glue again. What do you people recommend for a good white glue?

Elmer's. Just kidding.

Would Elmers be good enough? I think I have heard of people using it before. I just think there is certain places where it is better to use white glue because of how easy it is to melt down and repair.

i have used both the current lmi white glue and titebond 1 without any failures by either.

as to which i prefer, i'm tending more toward the lmi because of its ease of cleanup, and its unobtrusive glue line. reptedly it is more resistent to creep, but as i've not had the problem with either the jury is still out on that issue for me.

michael mcclain

[QUOTE=Dickey] Elmer's. Just kidding.[/QUOTE] Really, I was kidding. white and yellow, same stuff. The real glue guru is Tim McKnight, he's tested and retested the stuff. Tim?

[QUOTE=Tim McKnight] LMI WHITE is much harder [when dried] than TB. It's only one durometer measurement unit softer than LMI's hide glue.[/QUOTE]

Does harder mean stronger?

Hello!
Our FG glue is an aliphatic resin glue -just like tite-bond except that it dries harder and is white in color (which makes it a bit less visible).
I don't doubt that a few of you have a had problems, but frankly, I am quite surprised! We sell nearly 100 bottles of the stuff per month and to many, many respected builders (I am not exaggerating!). It is by far one of our most enduringly popular products.
If you ever experience problems with the glue, or any other product, I am always glad to hear about it and usually can offer a refund etc.
-Chris (Luthiers Mercantile int'l).

Hi Chris, if it's the same stuff, why does it cost twice as much? Never used it due to satisfaction with Titebond, but I could be enticed....

Thanks for the comments.

Hi Chris...

Thanks for jumping in on this...

One question for you. Do you date this glue? Is there any way for us to know how old it is before we get it?

I go through about 2 bottles every 6 months or so. I keep one in the fridge and the other on the work bench. So I think I am stretching the life of it about as much as I can, but I have no way of telling how long it has set on the shelf.

I like the glue a lot because the clean up is more transparent.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Hey Chris! -- Thanks for stopping by


PS - that Coco you sent me a year ago is almost ready to make music - I send you some pics soon as its done.

Lance

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Dickey -well, it's not exactly the same stuff! I just meant to say that they are the same type of glue (aliphatic resin). It is a specialized formula with some important differences from tite-bond (which presumably, is why it sells so well for us).

Brock -We do not date the glue, but the stock is rotated and we get new stock in every other month or so. It's a good idea to store it in the refrigerator if you have some extra.

Lance -Great! I would love to see some pictures.

-Chris, LMI