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So I am in the middle of doing a cello rebuild. It is a long story as to how I a guitar builder ended up rebuilding a cello and I won't get into it now. Anyway I only have enough clamps to glue the top back on in small sections. I have been gluing a section letting it dry for a few hours and then moving on and gluing another section.

I was just wondering what is the minimum time I should be leaving the clamps on? I had not done much with hid glue before I started this project.

thanks
josh Josh H38699.5094791667

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
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House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
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Get yourself a big bundle of rope and rope it all in one go.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Dont' say that! Ya need a vacuum press with an oversized bag (VW beetle sized)

Sorry, it was too tempting...Terry Stowell38699.517650463

I have a 24 hour policy with virtually any type of glue.Except of course super glue.

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Seems to sets pretty firm in two hours but does not reach full shear strength for 24 hrs. I always give 24 hours min. on clamping tops, backs and joining plates or any thing that is under any shear stress. flat pieces glued to flat pieces not under any shear load after un clamping I leave clamped for 8 hours

Make some clamps; now. Get some 1" dowel, 8" long 1/4" all thread (carriage bolts if you want to spend a lot), wing nuts and some (one side finished) thick leather. about two hours wotk will make you two or thre dozen cello clamps for putting on a top or back. work in small, logical sections and clamp as far dryin each direction as you do gluing. Be sure you have a good, thin pallet knife for getting glue in next to the previous glued area. Dry clamp each area you are going to glue before you use the glue; it will help you forsee potential problems. Don't glue any larger area than you can complete in about a minute-and-a-half (that's a lot if you dry clamp and rehearse).

If you have completely removed the top, be sure to start at the neck block and keep aside several clamps for the tailblock end to insure that you are lined up perfect to start. Remove your work if you are not and start over. Plan, plan, plan and rehearse it dry first. Look at where you are going to lay everything. so you can pick it up quickly.

Have fun. Wait til you do your first full-size double-bass.

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Mark Joy

mjoy Guitars

Do you have some long sticks? Lay it on the floor and use your ceiling like a go bar deck.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Just this Morning I was gluing a bridge on a guitar and just as I finished clamping it I realised I had shifted a little. I immediatly took the clamps of and it had already set up, I had to use a chisle to get it off and in a couple of spots it took some wood fibre with it. It had't even been clamped for a minute and it was no more than 4 miniutes untill I used the chisle. I couldn't believe it was already setting up.