Will Super Glue Work for a Guitar Bridge?
- Cyanoacrylate adhesives, or super glues, do have a place in guitar repair, but it is not an option for wood-to-wood connections, nor is any permanent glue. With careful use it is appropriate for some repairs such as cracks or splits and even for repairs to modern guitar finishes, but it is not suitable for joints and seams that may require repair later in the guitar's life. When in doubt, use a glue that can be removed with heat later.
- Known more commonly as yellow carpenter's glue, aliphatic resins such as those made by Titebond and Lepage, are the super glues of the instrument-building trade. These glues set quickly under clamping and provide joints that are stronger than wood with glue and materials. When repairs are made, these glues will release around 200 degrees. Hardened glue can be sanded easily, while drips and seepage can be cleaned away with a damp cloth.
- Hide glues are the traditional glues of wood instrument builders. Sold in dry form, the glue is mixed with water and kept warm in a glue pot until use. It is less forgiving for placement and clamping time than carpenter's glue, but its holding strength and quick setting are often preferred by experienced luthiers. While liquid hide glues are available, these are not suitable for instrument repair. Like aliphatic resins, dried hide glue releases about 200 degrees.
- The restrictions that apply to cyanoacrylate glues also apply to epoxies. These are also permanent adhesives suited for cosmetic repairs such as replacing inlays and repairing slight cracks. It too can be tinted and sanded, but should never be used to repair glued joints or seams.
