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So, those of you out there who use CA glue and wick it into the rosette channel with the pieces all in place... I seeme to remember that you seal up the channel and the outlying area with shellac, is that right? so it won't bleed into the top, correct?

I'm thinking of making the switch to CA... it's just too 'iffy' to keep using white glue for rosettes... the stuff just sets up too fast!

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Ken Mitchell
Durham, NC

CA glue tends to give the soundboard some nasty jaundice. So yes, that is why you should seal the channels before using CA glue, to prevent the yellowing of the wood.

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-Marcus
http://www.bailieguitars.com
Instagram | YouTube

I have been using duco for rosettes. It also works well with wood. You can also use a thinned HHG wicked onto the rosette.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

The CA glue worked VERY well!

I don't think I'll ever go back to white glue for rosettes.

BTW, back/sides bubinga, fretboard, bridge, headstock overlay all macassar ebony.

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Ken Mitchell
Durham, NC

The thing I like about CA is I can fit the parts dry in the channels and get everything where I want before gluing and there is no need to allow for swelling due to the applied glues when cutting the channel widths. My only issue is I have developed a sensitivity to CA so I do it with a good mask on or outside.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Amen to what Fred said about the sensitivity. When I work with CA, unless I have a fan blowing the fumes away, I spend the next few days coughing up a lung.

Steve

I had to start wearing chemical goggles as well as my respirator. Even with small exposures, apparently I was absorbing enough fumes through my eyes to have a delayed systemic reaction. Took me awhile to figure that one out.

I try to avoid the stuff when possible but it sure is perfect for some things.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

A word of warning; I recently ran into a problem gluing a rosette with CA on a bear claw spruce top. I sealed the top and the inside of the channel with 2lb cut of dewaxed shellac. Then I dry assembled the rosette and glued with CA. Somehow the CA found a way into the bear claw pattern of grain in 2 small places at the edge of the rosette and darkened the top. I didn't discover it until I leveled the rosette and sanded through the shellac. I haven't decided what I will do about it, but I did decide to go forward and build with it. The guitar is at the binding stage now. Has anyone else had a problem like this with bear claw? Does anyone have any suggestions for a fix or cover up. I thought that I would deal with it when I start finishing. Wendy

I have used CA since the late 70's 1st with model airplanes and now with guitars, plus used it at work occasionally over the years. In the last couple years I started to get a tightness in my chest and it is a little hard to breath, but it clears after I am away from it for a bit. I only use it for rosettes, installing pearl and on minor cracks in backs and sides.

With precautions I can use it and wouldn't be without it in the shop.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

I use LMI's white glue on rosettes whenever it's comfortable to do. If something needs to be, or significantly cuts down my easy of installation I use CA. It's brittle, toxic, bleeds if you're not careful, and doesn't seem to work as well as white glue in general imo although I've never had it fail in this application as it;s just "sitting there" as it were. I've not tried wicking thinned HHG on a rosette, but I'm going to give it a try and see how it holds/works. I know I've used thinned hide glue on purflings (mainly endgraft) in lieu of CA and it worked well in a non-stress situation.

Oh and really watch out for the CA fumes, and it coming in contact with your skin. I had seriously elevated liver enzymes (no not from the whiskey!..I don't hardly ever drink) and after months of testing and trying things out it came back to CA exposure. Luckily the liver is very resilient, but watch yourselves.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com