Elmer's Or Gorilla Glue?

SC sawdaddy

I have always used Elmer's wood glue to stick in crown and chair rail returns, pieces of molding too small to nail, etc. but I'm on a project now that I'm wondering if I need something with a little more kahunas than my old stand-by. I am going to attempt to repair an old Gibson guitar that has had the head stock broken off. Its a clean break right at the bottom of the head just above the neck. I'm pretty sure I can make a jig to clamp it even though its in an awkward place but there will definitely be a lot of stress on this joint. What opinions do you wood butchers have on adhesives?

EricTheHandyman

Titebond III

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Five Star

the original gorila glue becareful,as it tends to expand as it dries and foam as it cures.make sure you clamp it well.but once it cures its a very strong bond.

they have a new version ive been using its also gorila glue but comes in white,chk @ the cheepot.

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greg24k

Loctite 5 minute Epoxy with a precise control tip

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SK Builders

maybe a dowel or two as well...

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Scott-master of my domain...

Railman

Epoxy still has the highest tensile strength of all those mentioned. The slower the set, the higher the strength. PUR adhesives can give similar tensiles with 15 to 20 time the elasticity. Epoxy runs in the ball park of 40% elasticity, & PUR is 700->800%. The problem with PUR systems is the initial cost, & shelf life of the cartridges.

Use slow set epoxy for your guitar!
Joe

Tom Struble

how about 2p10 no good?

m1911

2P-10 doesn't take impact or shock very well.

Deicide1

I don't bother with III unless the work has a chance of getting wet. III leaves a white residue that none of the other wood glues do.

TempestV

Gorilla Glue would be better than Elmers provided it's very well clamped. However, Epoxy would be best.

RED HORSE 554

First, there are only two types of glues used on guitars that are acceptable. Period. No epoxy, cements or super glue! The two acceptable glues are: Ground Hide Glue, which is a traditional luthiers glue and Franklin Co. “Titebond’ Glue. One of the most important qualities of a guitar makers glue is the ability to separate the glued pieces of wood without damaging the guitar

mmike032

just toe nail it

Teetorbilt

I just placed a call to my son, an expert in Strats. He also presented me a near flawless 1954 Les Paul a few years ago.



How jagged is the break? There is a lot more to this than just sticking it back together.

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Splinter

There was a test in one of the trade mags awhile back, and gorilla glue did poorly compared to the PVA types, like titebond and elmers.

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- Alex

Long Island Remodeling Contractor

SC sawdaddy

Lots of good advise boys, I've heard good things about titebond but never used it. Nice Les Paul Teeterbilt, Did your son have any thoughts?

TempestV

Why exactly would this be important?

@SC- I just realized that the guitar in question was a Gibson. Gibson makes most of their acoustic guitars right here in town. I've got nothing going, so I'll give them a call tomorrow and see what they recommend.

Teetorbilt

Son said TiteBond II or the new Elmers, you need to be able to cleanup with water as some solvents could ruin a large portion of the finish.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

RED HORSE 554

In case if it breaks agian and it has to be fix epoxys and gorilla glues dont come apart so good and damage could happen wile try to inact a repair in the item being repaired

jfikentscher

I would use a thinned out epoxy mixture, so that it soaks into the wood. Put on both sides. While still tacky go over the thinned out epoxy with s regular mix and then clamp.

The thin mixture will give some bite to the bond.

Use the west System Epoxy Products. Can be found in marine stores like boat USA or West Marine.

LA CROSBY

An old timer I used to work with would always tell the story of how
" When uncle Max would build his bass fiddles, He would hammer in screws, cuz then the suckers wouldn't back out on account of all the vibration." I must have heard that a thousand times.