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Which method do you prefer - traditional clamps or vacuum?

have used both, but now use vacuum only.

Use both depends on the guitar. I can't reglue a bridge with holes in the top

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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

I have used both and am now using the vacuum bridge clamp. Another tool I really like is the vacuum work holder sold by the same folk who sell the bridge clamp. I also made a ventury vacuum pump that runs off of my compressor. I like it because I don't have to listen to a little vacuum pump chattering away all day. Not sure why my images are rotated. I'll work on it..

Cheers, Michael

I want more clamping pressure on a bridge than I can get with vacuum. Vacuums don't come close to supplying the recommended pressure for most glues. I don't have have personal experience to say that it doesn't work, just that I have no need to find out.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

Vacuum makes the job so easy. I also used it to conform the top into a radiused bridge (hauser type construction) that would have been very difficult to do without vacuum,
Mike

I use a home made clamp that has three clamping screws. Never tried vacuum.

Chuck

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I use a home made clamp as well. Fingers!

you must have some very tired fingers! Holding pressure on a bridge for 45 minutes waiting on glue must be murder on the hands.

If you use HHG and have a good fit, you really don't have to clamp at all. However, it seems to me that gluing a bridge without a caul inside the box is a huge problem, as you get variable gluing pressure at brace locatations vs spaces between. I use a caul inside the box and a home-made bridge caul on the outside with a pair of cam clamps for pressure. The magnets hold the caul in place while putting the clamps in. The caul has magnets inset at the outer ends.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Oh that's a slick design Waddy. I like it.

I've never tried vacuum either, just clamps and cauls.

Fox clamp,homemade by yours truely. Have to give Charles his due.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I think you are right. I probably would have very tired fingers if I held a bridge on for 45 minutes. I don't though, I hold it on for 4 minutes. Doesn't need much pressure either.
I guess that you are still adjusting your set of the clamps whilst I'm strolling off for my coffee break.

Have always had good results clamping, so I've never felt a need to go the vacuum pump route.

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michael propsom
www.propsomguitars.com

I use three soundhole clamps, three top cauls matching bridge shape and an inside caul matching the soundboard dome and notched for the braces.



Joe

Same here. Too much trouble making cauls and fiddling with clamps and position pins, when you can just stick some bits of masking tape to mark the position, slap it down, rub until you feel some friction with the top, hold it for a couple minutes, clean the squeeze-out, and call it a day. I've tried clamping without a caul, but they always peel up in a spot or two as soon as the humidity changes. The rub joints have stood up to major humidity swings no problem.

I use clamps as well, 5 of them actually, I've found this method the most reliable.

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Gwaltney Guitars

I like your magnet idea Waddy. I use a couple of small strips of double stick tape for the caul. Almost, OK did forget it in there at least once. Doesn't do much for the sound.

Hi Todd

How are you gauging/measuring the amount of clamping preasure you are achieving using deep throat bridge clamps?

Man.. that seems like too much preasure. I'm not arguing with you. But dang..! That's what the BB 460 in my F250 weighs..

I really like the ease of installation with the vacuum clamp. Trying to get the the bridge to stop skating around in the glue while getting my conventional clamps set is a pain. Perhaps I will try using multiple layers of tape as in the VC video and clamp conventionally. This would solve the skating problem.

Thank

I use a shop-made vacuum clamp. I can verify that a good fit is important and don't dawdle too much if using HHG - yep found out the hard way

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I'm building my first guitar now, so I've never glued a bridge before. But I'm making a go-bar deck. Couldn't the go-bar deck be used to clamp the bridge? Or is it not enough pressure?

No. The top would not support the load of the go-bars. I suppose you could make some props under the top but that would be way more trouble than it's worth to do it well.

Unless you have a very odd shaped bridge, clamps are easy and reliable. And even you you have an odd shaped bridge, you can quickly form a perfect caul with bondo or other material.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

It can be done, but as mr chasson has stated you will need support inside the box to keep from damaging the top.

Using a go-bar to clamp a bridge seems very high risk to me. In fact, I know of one person that had a go-bar slip while doing this and it went right through the top!

Pat

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those that watch things happen,
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