Official Luthiers Forum!

-How do you guys store your CA glue? I just got few bottles from hobby stores and would like to know the best way to store these? Do these have shelf life?

-When putting sides together in mold, particular grain patterns decide which way will be up and down. Why does grain matter in deciding top and bottom?
Wouldn't it be just as strong regardless of it?

-Anyone use LMII white glue for side tapes? Is it going to be better than using titebond for this application?

Thanks, David

I buy CA in 2 Oz bottle. Usually I keep it in my shop glue box with titebond etc. I don't like the replaceable plastic top/cap. I find there is build up af excess glue that clogs the nipple. I use a bulletin board thumbtack ( the kind with the little plastic nob). This keeps a good seal and the nipple open. If I'm going to be away i put it in the fridge.

As for the grain of the ribs, I go for bookmatching and put the grain i like best on the upper rib. Usually if there is bias to the grain I run it from the back/tail toward the top/neck. Seems to work and look noce. Any body feel there are structural considerations? Or like me, mostly cosmetic.

Titebond for me, but once you bring a glue topic the discussion runs long and hard.

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

David,
After you use CA or epoxy, clear the tip of the bottle. I wipe the tip off first and then tap the bottom of the bottle on the table. Then I squeeze the bottle a little to get residual out of the tip being sure that air will flow freely in and out. Then I put the cap back on. It a good idea not to get any CA or epoxy in or on the cap. I see way too many people who just put the cap back on and call it a day. The residual that is left in the tip and cap will prevent the bottle from sealing properly and before too long your CA will turn into a rock. Epoxy will just make things messy.

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Rich S

"The inconvenience of poor quality will linger long after the thrill of a bargain has been forgotten"

David take the CA and place it right in your toilet and flush away..........

Greg's right, glue is becoming a sensitive topic for some here but not for me......

I store CA in the fridge. It does have a shelf life and varies from brand to brand. Quality hobby stores and hardware stores will store back-stock CA in the fridge too.

Sure there is no reason that I can think of why LMI White could not be used for side tapes. I use watered down, or up depending on one's perspective Titebond but LMI should be able to be thinned with water too. And just to mention this HHG probably is the best choice for side tapes and it's never to early to start to consider using and enjoying the benefits of HHG.

I don't use CA often but it does have its uses so it's nice to have some around. Home Despot sells 6 packs of CA little tiny CA tubes (.07oz each) for a couple bucks. I treat them as pretty much one time use tubes and not worry about storage If I can manage to get 3 or 4 uses within a month - even better. In the sealed foil tube, the CA seems to last quite a while.

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

For the CA glue, if you live in Texas or anywhere that gets as hot as Texas, Do not store CA glue in your garage. Just 2 days ago, I went out to the garage to get my CA glue and it was knocked over on it's side with a big hole in the side of the bottle and glue leaking everywhere. We have had 100 degree weather recently (today included) and the bottle just couldn't handle it. I finally managed to get all of the glue off my hands...

I'd keep it inside or in the fridge as Hesh does. That's where I'll be keeping my next bottle.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."