Help for the future! 3M Ritelok-any sources for the 2 ounce bottle?

[Mark A. Kane]

Anybody here know of a source for 3M Ritelok PR600-56? Martin specifies this and only this for re-gluing bridges onto their laminate top guitars. Martin customer service says they have tried many available adhesives and this is the only one they've had success with. The glue is available by the case (10) at around $150, or by the gallon! but I need one 2oz. bottle. I'd normally just take one for the team, but the shelf life of this glue is 6-9 months (don't know if freezing would extend that duration) and I'll never use anything close to the $150 worth, as it is a glue that has very specific and narrow uses. It's priced on the web at around $12-15/bottle, but nobody I'm aware of will break open a case. Martin says they are not set up to distribute the glue to warranty centers, so they are in a pickle as well. They have sent a call tag for the guitar and are paying the shipping both ways, so it will be taken care of. I'm really just looking to avoid another snafu the next time one of these walks through my door.

I'm at least glad to learn from Martins' experience about the other glues, as I might, in a non-warranty situation, be tempted to try something else. If I can learn a valuable and potentially time-consuming and/or expensive lesson at someone ELSE'S expense, it's WAY better for ME! 

[Frank Ford]

For what it's worth, we use medium viscosity cyanoacrylate with success to glue the Micarta bridges to the "micarta" tops.

Now, if you want real misery, try gluing the bridge back on one of those aluminum top guitars. If ever there was a case for bolting a bridge on, that combination is one. Martin won't let us bolt 'em under the warranty, but we always suggest it to nonwarranty customers. Bolting may be a good choice for the "high pressure laminate" tops as well. . .