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This weekend I did some testing of CA pore filling on four different woods and both thin and medium viscosity CA. the woods were IRW, Hond. Mahogany, Claro Walnut., and Koa

I did a fairly large patch on each with both viscosity of CA. I have to say that I liked working with the Medium viscosity CA the process was done the same as if I was epoxy filling except that I used a utility razor blade with rounded corners. Once cured out I sanded back with 180p then hit it with the ROS with 220

Anyway my conclusions are that in most cases medium viscosity is great. Continuing to sand I found the pores fill good a deep and the pieces sand out smooth as a babies bottom.

This was so easy and quick and actually much less trouble working cleans than I expected. One session and the filled some very porous IRW perfectly.

I did not like working with the thin as it took too much and would seep in too quickly. Felt like I had to saturate the wood just to fill the pores

I have resisted using this fill method in the past based on expense and the fumes but in truth with medium viscosity I doubt it will take but about one ounce to fill a typical guitar and with a fan blowing away from me the fumes were not noticeable at all while using a general propose respirator.

I think I may be hooked this is too easy

Although I can see your point, CA is highly brittle. Maybe do some thermal cycling and flex cycling to be sure it won't cause surface problems down the road?

BTW, where did you buy the medium viscosity?

Mike

I buy mine through my local RC airplane club it has the clubs label on it but it is Starbond The club members buy in bulk and rebottle it with our clubs label.

I really doubt brittleness will be an issue since I sand back completely to wood leaving the CA only in the pores. I know a lot of luthiers have been filling with CA for years I have never heard of a problem

A few years ago, I bought a set of worm hole laden BRW from a well-known luthier and teacher while at his shop. The price was very right! He showed me a quick and effective way to fill the holes that was amazing. He squirted the surface with thin CA and a few minutes later ran it through his thickness sander. The dust adhered to the not-fully-cured-CA and formed an undetectable fill. Very slick but the fumes are certainly something to be concerned about and avoid. I would recommend a charcoal filtered respirator however if in close quarters. And don't forget your safety goggles!

I have not repeated this lesson but would not hesitate to do it again for a similar situation.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

On the last guitar I finished, I used thick viscosity (gap filler) CA to fill on the neck. It took less than 1/8 of a 2oz bottle to fully fill the neck. In about 5 mins the neck was filled and about 30 mins later I sanded back to wood and started the Danish oil finish.

Yes the only issue is the fumes, but with a respirator and a fan it's really not a problem.

Yes Michael, I'm with you, I'm hooked. It's so easy and inexpensive and very very quick.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

And he said the fumes didn't bother him!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

funny

Yep fill that morning seal by lunch time I can live with that

Oh Michael, get some help, next thing you know you'll be trying to buy all the ingrediants to mix this CA stuff up in a lab in your basement. You'll be stealing televisons and old ladies purses just to get that fix. One snort from that stuff and you're hooked for life.....lol

For all us newbies, this was a joke, don't snort glue. It makes you where you can't type right.

Love you Michael!

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Well, this IS interesting. Seems that CA has endless potential. I may have to buy some and try it.

A side note, I found a website that creates a kit for fingernails (guitarplayernails.com). I have used these nails for fingerstyle. Now, my favorite part is the fiberglass mesh and CA only. Great for strengthening existing nails. I wish I could find another source for fiberglass mesh. Same for the glue. They do the same thing and repackage the glue.

One more thing... any reason to suspect that FP will not work on CA filled pores? Seems to me I read on a website that CA filling before FP was beginning to take hold as a practice.

Mike

For those that may not know, Starbond manufactures Thin, medium thin, medium, medium thick and thick viscosity. Thin has a viscosity of 2cp, medium thin 40cp, medium 150cp, medium thick 600cp and thick 2000cp

What most refer to as thick CA is actually medium viscosity. It is the first gap fill CA. Capable of filling a1.5mm open gap, thick will fill a 5mm gap

That is very interesting.

I would really love to try that, but the only way I know how to buy CA glues is in these tiny little SuperGlue bottles at any hardware store. Does anyone know where I could buy CA glue inlarger quantity around Montreal, Canada?

Thanks!

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

Thanks Micheal!

I thought CA glue could not be shipped outside the US (at least that's the case for Epoxy...)

I'll give them a call I guess.

Thanks again!

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

Nails; that interesting I am accustom to acrylic lacquer for nails but this sounds like it would work.

FP issues; none at all

MP,
Thanks for the tip. If I ever do my own finsh again, I will give that a go.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

may be the case I don't know. I am sure there is a Starbond distributor in Canada

Just wrote them an email, we'll see!

Thanks again!

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

Alain, Langevin & Forest is in Montreal and they have what you need. I don't read or speak french but from looking over their website they have luthier woods and products as well.

(You can send me beer as a thank you Just kidding)

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Yep....a few years ago I stabilized and filled a 17" wide spalted maple drop top on a double-neck electric with CA. To this day there have been no issues with the top at all (polyurethane clear).

Just make sure you get a good breeze going...

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The member formerly known as erikbojerik....

Hi Rod.

I go there on a weekly basis. There are my main wood and accessories supplier. And they don't carry CA in large quantities, unfortunately...

But I'd be glad to send you a beer anyways, specially since we're 'true flat tops' buddies!
(Saw that on a different thread...)

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

Well sorry Alain.

A 2oz bottle will be fine to fill an entire guitar and neck I think. Get the thick stuff as it doesn't set up as quickly. Work in about 3 square inch areas and it'll go a long way.

Nice to see another true flattop builder here, we're a minority bro

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

OK, just so I am certain, using the viscosity usnits listed above, which one is the proper one for pore filling? I know that thin stuff (guitarplayernails) really soaks into wood. Too thin.

BTW, if any of you play fingerstyle as well as build, I highly reccomend that nail building kit. Building and playing fingerstyle are not compatible hobbies (long nails).

I will ask again, does anybody know a source for very lightweight (sheer) fiberglass fabric?

Mike

Probably, but at 5$ to 6$ a 2oz bottle (that's what it costs around here), I figure that making about 1 to 2 guitars a month, I'd be better off buying bulk!

Regarding our 'true flattop brotherhood', just give me a sign if any of those domed top builder want to beat you up or something, I'll join in the fight! They can be a nasty bunch!

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

Medium or medium thick both would work well