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Rick Turner uses CA to glue .020" x .25" carbon fiber strips to the linings, and they go in a channel between the lining and the side. My reversed linings are glued to the sides, and I had planned to glue the carbon fiber along the side of the lining.

If I clamp the strip to the lining and let the CA wick in, will I get a strong enough bond? I won't have enough open time with the glue if I run it along the lining before clamping, and aside from that, it also sounds like recipe for disaster. If I let the CA wick in, is there a way to control the squeeze out?

I'll get a picture in case the description isn't clear.

Rick should know and I would do it his way.

I have only laminated CF to Adi brace stock and the guidance that I received said to rough it up with 100 grit a bit and then epoxy (West Systems) the sandwich. That worked great.

For linings the CA method that you described sounds like a good method. Perhaps test and develop your chops on scrap first?

Rick's method is ideal, but it requires a router table or something else to cut the rabbit between the side and lining. Me no have yet His are sandwiched between the lining and side.

The picture won't be in Fine Woodworking anytime soon, but this is what I'm working with. I'm just afraid of superglue streaks running down the linings.

A few ideas -

1. Use wood instead of CF and glue with PVA. If you use wood that's something like .060" thick and bend it first, it would add more stiffness to your rim (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) and avoid some of the issues involved in using CF.

2. Glue the CF with epoxy (clean up the squeeze out with alcohol and you can end up with a very clean-looking job).

3. Clamp the CF in place, then spread paste wax onto the lining below the CF strip. Flip the rim over so that you'll be wicking in the CA from the other side of the CF strip, so that gravity will keep it from running into the guitar - if it runs out the other way, it doesn't matter. Do you follow me? Use a knife or toothpick or something to clear excess wax from the edge of the CF where you're going to wick in the CA, so the wax doesn't block the CA from running in. Wick the CA in carefully so it doesn't run over the top of the CF strip, and be sure to cover your bench with wax paper. When you get done wicking in the CA, you'll just have a little to clean up along the edge of the CF, and it will have wax under it, so it shouldn't be adhered to the wood. Clean off the wax with mineral spirits and the CA will probably come off with it. This is just an idea. I'm not sure how well it would work.

I'd be nervous about the CA making an adequate bond. But I have no idea how well CA bonds to CF. With Rick's method, as you describe it, the CF ends up sandwiched in there, so the initial bond made by the CA isn't as important. I'd trust epoxy (after roughing up the CF surface with sandpaper). But my first choice would be to use bent wood rather than CF!

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Todd, thanks for the great ideas. I was thinking about the wax too, but I wasn't sure how to clean it from the lining. Epoxy sounds like it might be the best way to go. I'll do some searching on epoxy.

I'm excited to get this done and get the box completed. This guitar is my best effort yet.

Use a bit of epoxy, thickened to the consistency of honey/mayonaise. Cover anything that needs to stay clean with packing tape. Epoxy won;t stick to it, easy to apply, and easy to remove.

What are you trying to accomplish with this?

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Doug, this is an experiment in stiffening the rim. Thank you for the tip on using packing tape!