Official Luthiers Forum!

Just wanted to make a post to thank you all for the help and advice you gave me on hide glue.

I am most definately a convert !

It is very much appreciatted.

welcome to the light side young padawan!   But really once you go hide
glue you won't go back!

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Glad you gutted it out...How was your first experience?

I used HHG from my 1st guitar and have never regretted the decision.

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

Same here, i'm a convert after seeing up close how strong HHG really is, it takes a bit of practice but in my young experience, i never saw any glue mor amazing than this one.

One of the attributes of hide glue that I love is that it doen't slip when you apply clamping pressure like titebond does. Several times I have glued up things that required critical alignment and the tite bond slips. Hide glue is high tack and it doesn't slip.

The first tests were a bit messy JJ, but this was two things, applying too much glue and trying to clean the squeeze out too early.

I am starting to get the hang of the size of bead I need to apply for each purpose and how long to let it gel before cleaning, I've not done a scientific test but looking at how it hardens by comparison to the tight bound it seems a lot harder, which must bear out the things people have told me about it having less of a dampening effect.

I also used it for a bridge repair on a customers guitar that had suffered some creep, and it seemed to improve the volume, which I put down to the hide glue, of course I guess it could be that the original bond was not a good one, but hey I'm giving the credit to the glue

Doesn't creep while clamping, doesn't creep once cured... Cleans like a charm... Is easily reversible... If it's started geling, just add a bit of heat and voila, it's like nothing ever happened... It's super strong. It has centuries of experience behind it... And the smell....Hmmmmmm, just heavenly...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Alain

Do you think it smells nice ?

I am not too keen on the smell myself, but hey with all the other fine properties I can cope with that.

Hey Alain, i just noticed you changed your avatar, your baby's coming along great bro! Looks like the strings are not far from being installed eh?

   I actually think it smells pretty good compared to heating bone... as is thinning bone on my sanding wheel... My goodness! Talk about a lasting impression...
   I also had a hard time figuring how much of a bead to lay down. I guess I was laying the same amount as if I were using Titebond. Let's just say that for my first few tries, I didn't have to worry about a starving joint!
   Now what really smells good is spanish cedar... They should bottle that stuff. I'm sure the ladies would go wild over it.

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

   Hey Serge, she's coming along... I'm just patching up a few little cracks here and there (me and my bright idea of using a light colored curly wood for my first!)...
   I just need to sand her and finish her. Which is easily said, but I'm sure, not so easily done. Cheers budy!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Russell,

Great news, I have been following the threads on this subject over the past several weeks and am making my first attempt with HHG on my current project. Your comments and first experience will be helpful.

Thanks

Mike
White Oak, Texas

Great Russell, Titebond and LMI white will hold a guitar together(usually) but to make it really sing you need HHG. The only thing that is worrying me is that your guitars sound so good with Titebond your going to be way out of my league now you've made the switch to HHG.

If I was you I'd give up on HHG and use Pritt stick that is the glue of the future.

Colin

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

Thanks Colin,

I think wallpaper paste is better for the bridges.

Thanks for putting up with all my questions on the subject by email, I appreciatte the help.

Hi Mike

Glad you have found it helpful, Credit must go to all of the people here who have shared their experience.

Its been said before by others, but I'll pass it on also, the open time seemd scary at first, but if you plan your clamping well, and make sure you have everything to hand, it is amazing just how long that open time seems.

Yes Russell, and to add to what you say, i'm using the 260g from Lee Valley which is supposed to give less open than 192g, and with little dry run practice, i was able to succeed with my first glue ups and what a glue! Serge Poirier38786.2933680556

I, too am a Hide glue convert. Currently using the 254 gram from Woodcraft. Same as Stew-Mac sells.
Amazing stuff.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy