Official Luthiers Forum!

My teacher at guitar making class I took last summer told me that Titebond is usable only for 3 months after you opened it. Is it true? Manufacturer claims at least 1 year, but how is it true for luthierie? I have a bottle that's been opened for 5 months and I'm about to glue fingerboard on my 1st this weekend. Or should I just buy some epoxy and use it ? Titebond is not that common around here.
Thanks!

The way I understand it, even when stale (meaning that the glue ropes when you rub some between the thumb abd forefinger and spread them apart) it still dries with all it's strength, it just doesn't spread as smoothly or evenly at this stage. I've been using Titebond for decades and have virtually always kept it around far longer than 3 months.
I don't think this is a problem.

I have used the same large bottle with a screw on top for one and a half years and joints with it will still tear wood before the joint fails, I think you're fine. You may just have less open time.

Another who has used it well over a year old.

I've used it, with good results, for more than a year after opening, too. Actually, I think its the date of manufacture that matters, and this can be deciphered by the numbers on the label. There is a description of how you do this in the MIMF library, IIRC.

That said, I only use epoxy to glue on FB's now. I believe its a good idea to avoid water based glues for this, as the water in the glue may make it warp.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Thanks a lot for the replies! The date code reads A90831... so it seems it was made on August 31, 2009 - so it's well over 1 year old. I think I'll use epoxy just to be sure

AS PVA and its derivatives (titebond is one) goes off it begins to smell more and more like vinegar. If your glue smells a little bit like vinegar, use it. If it smells a lot like vinegar, don't.

Cheers

Kim