Official Luthiers Forum!

I just cut the channel for my LMI herringbone rosette, (single band,simple design), my question is how tight does the channel need to be, what type glue should i use, the rosette is some sort of fiber/plastic material and if i have any gaps what is the best way to fill them.

If you have any gaps, I would suggest epoxy. If it's pretty tight, then use CA.

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

same, good advice

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

wont the ca stain the spruce top and what name brand of epoxy and where do i get it

Seal the end grain in the channel with shellac or vinyl sealer prior to using either epoxy or ca.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

For me it depends on how loose it is. If there are no gaps, but you can easlily drop it in I would use LMI white glue. Both the wood and the rosette will swell with the water in the glue and you usually end up with very decent results.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

If there are any big gaps that you dont like the looks of, and you have not cut the soundhole out yet, it is not hard to rout the old rosette away and install a new one with an extra black line or two to take up any widening of the channel caused by re-routing. This will give you a second chance to get it perfect, instead of having to look at something that will bug you forever. Filling big gaps with glue or anything else is never going to be 100%, parts are cheap.

For glueing it in in the first place, make it a nice drop in fit, and you will be happy. I use titebond or hide glue if it is hot. If you leave a loose fit to allow for glue expansion, like many recommend, it will just shrink back in the future, leaving ugly gaps, maybe after the finish is on.

Very small gaps are fine to fill with glue, like others have said. Just dont try to get away with something you know you shouldnt and you will be ok.

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY