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I am building a ukulele to try something other than flattops. Got the Concert Uke plan from LMI.

Just wondered how any of you people glue on the bridge? I have bridge clamps that I use on guitars but they won't fit in the sound hole.

Thanks
Neil

Neil, I imagine you could make a variation on the fox bridge clamp. Here is a link to them on LMI in case you have not seen one.

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproduc ... dge+Clamps

Edward

I don't think that will work because it is a pinless bridge.

I think your only option then is a vacuum clamp?

Neil,
I drilled 2 tiny 1/16" holes in the saddle slot, and used the actual drills to keep the bridge in position while I just used 2 cam clamps to clamp. I put a board across the back to protect it, and if you can wedge a small piece of wood on the inside under the bridge, that will help. But just make sure you have a perfect joint, then you won't need much clamping pressure. Mine's been strung up for 8 months using titebond and it is still holding strong.

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

I just did a repair on a friends Taro patch Uke that involved re glueing the bridge. I used carpet tape to hold a caul under the bridge plate and used a single metal 4" C clamp with caul that I made to go over the bridge. That caul has a little relief in the center to even out the clamping pressure. I found working through that small hole quite a task. I had to make a tool out of a long screwdriver to get the inside caul off. That involved using a torch to heat and bend it into an offset with a hook on the end. It worked very well.

Steve Brown

Deep C-clamps. I think mine are 3", and I've used three in the past, until I welded up one of these (and used old c-clamps, small ones, for the ends)
www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tool ... _Caul.html

Now I use just one, with a caul epoxied onto the bottom, so it can reach over (or should I say under) the braces.

I know a guy that uses his go-bar, but, he installs a pinless bridge, so the strings pull from under the patch.
Some guys actually screw theirs in, and cover the screws with MOP dots.

I use two wooden paint stirrer sticks. One over the bridge and one under the ukulele with two C clamps at either end. A little flex provides enough force. I use titebond.
One detail, my strings run through the soundboard (Hana Lima style) and two of these holes are drilled with brads to pin the bridge in place.

Bob

Here is what I did.

I used a Harbor Freight deep throat clamp and rigged up a clamping caul with a coupole eye bolts and scrap plywood. The bolts push down on a couple cork pads and there is a radiused caul with cutouts for the fan braces under the bridge patch. It was quick and I have used it a couple times since. Hope this helps.




Oh and I use a couple locating pins in the saddle slot so it doesn't slip.

_Mike

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_Mike Tracz
MCT Guitars
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