Official Luthiers Forum!

Just thought I would share this one because it is just so darn slick and easy. For cleaning glue out of the slot of a bound FB I have a soldering gun tip ground down to fret slot width and sort of sharpened to a point so it will go right into the bottom corner of the slot. Pull the trigger and in about 5 seconds the glue bubbles out of the slot leaving non behind. I tried to get a photo of it bubbling up but I needed a third hand, but you get the idea.



I got this one from my buddy Bob who I thing got the idea from his friends at Webber guitars in Vancouver.

Ouch! Close ups of my shoddy inlay work. It is good from far.

Good idea; thanks for sharing. Inlays look fine to me.

Sharp thinking!

Alex

_________________
"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Good idea thanks for sharing.

Fred

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

Thanks for the idea Danny

I usually just use the back of an X-acto knife which is the perfect width but scraping the glue out sometimes can be tough. That seems like it would do the trick of heating it up.

I know I have an old soldering iron around the shop somewhere.

Thanks,
Bob

I bought a tiny saw from Stewmac made especially for that very job. Cost like $12. Not to downplay your way. Just saying

I like that idea - thanks! For those of us that already own a soldering gun a spare tip would cost next to nothing.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Danny: Nice idea................I've struggled with getting stray bits of glue from fret slots.... and thought there must be an easier way. I use an exacto blade sharpened like a chisel. Will give this a try. Thanks for thinking this up...........wish I was as smart.
Tom

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

You don't scorch the fretboard wood doing this? (I can't see any evidence that you have). Man, I think this is a pretty neat idea. But let's advise those with plastic bindings on their fingerboards that this is probably NOT the best method for them. Wood bindings, okay. I'm sure it requires a certain touch that can only come with practice, but I do like the concept. Thank you.

It's pretty slick. You have complete control. You're sticking the tip in cold. Pull the trigger and as soon as the glue heats up and melts, a few seconds, with a little pressure it squeezes out. It works so fast there really is no time to scorch anything. The glue in this case is CA. I suppose I should have gave the disclaimer : WARNING - I HAVE NOT TRIED THIS WITH PLASTIC BINDING. I think if one was careful they could use this on plastic. I will never know myself. Kind of a wood guy.

I like it. Especially that you can get it where you need and then crank the heat.

That is so slick and solves one of my many many problems.
I must have 4 soldering irons too.
Thanks

_________________
Rick Hubka
Chemainus BC Canada