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I have Gougeon 5 minute epoxy that I want to use to glue my cut away side to the headblock. Is the 5 minute epoxy strong enough? I don't have that much experience with epoxy. Clinton

Why epoxy? From what I've read here that particular joint may or may not be a perfect fit, and epoxy fills better than hide glue. I HHG everything and it's all I have, besides epoxy, that isn't a few months old. The joint looks pretty good, if I say so myself, but I 'm sure it's not"perfect". Clinton

In my experience the shorter the cure time the more rubbery the epoxy, I never use 5 minute epoxy for anything.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

I glue my end blocks and neck blocks (cut-away or none) with 5 minutes epoxy. I've had no issues with it.

And I can assure you that if properly mixed, it cures real hard (at least the Lepage brand I use).

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

Yes, I didn't need much working time, good fit. It went fine, only needed 1 minute to clamp. I was concerned with the "rubbery" rumor of 5 minute epoxy. I did a test piece, and oh my, it was HARD after ten minutes. The wood fibers let go, not the glue. Not a very scientific test, I know. I was wondering if there were others that used or had issues with the 5 minute stuff? I feel little better knowing Alain uses it. Clinton

Good to know I made somebody feel better today!

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

NOT FUNNY! I have nightmares about that kind of stuff ! Clinton

I'm not worried about that a single second. First off, compared to a none cutaway guitar, the cutaway itself adds an important amount of strenght to the neck joint area. So whatever glue is used, it will help compared to a none cutaway guitar, which may not even need a neck reset. In addition, I personnally have never seen, nore heard of, a cutaway that got unglued by itself (or even slightly moved) from the neck block.

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

Can't remember the brand, but years ago I used an epoxy to repair some parts on the back of chair. After just a few months of use, the epoxy released (not the fibers tearing). So, I guess the lesson would be to use a brand that others swear by, and make sure it is a reasonably fresh product.

Fillipo, you're on a roll man!


Todd,

I'm fairely convinced a cutaway joint provides a more sturdy and stable neck joint area. The logic is simple: on a non-cutaway guitar, two glue joints are stressed, which are the top and bottom of the neck block. On a cutaway guitar, there are three. Plus, the inner curved part of the cutaway also contribute to the extra sturdiness (is that a word?) of the neck joint area. So even with a weaker joint, given the end grain factor, an extra glue joint is still an extra glue joint.

Another point to address is what Clinton initially mentioned: it is hard to garantee that the contact surface is perfect regarding a cutaway neck block joint. In the case of a not so good contact between the surfaces, epoxy will do better than any other glue.

Like you said, we'll see 20 years down the line, but I won't loose any sleep over that.

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

Todd, which glue do you use in a cut away? Clinton

I use 5 minute epoxy pretty regularly, but only for things such as setting inlays or filling small gaps here and there. It's possible it could work fine for what you need, but there's no way I'd risk it. I don't see any reason why you couldn't use titebond instead, which you know will work perfectly. Every builder is different, but I really don't like to use epoxy an any point that has the potential to have any stress on it whatsoever. Happy building!

The engineer (tech adviser) stated that the G5 ( 5 minute epoxy) has a strength of 1,000 psi. I feel better. I did ask what would be another product that I could use with a longer curing time, he suggested 105 with a 205 hardener. Clinton

And I do, just as well. When I said that I won't loose any sleep over that, I didn't mean that I don't care. I meant that I'm confident my neck joints will hold through time.

Just thought I'd better be clear on that.

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