Franklin,s Hide Glue OK?

[Rob]

One local lumberyard sells Franklin hide glue in small 4oz size. Will that glue a Martin bridge down ok and how long should I clamp? Thanks in advance -nanccinut

[Tom Krebs]

Bottled hide is not a good choice. You'd better off with Titebond. Clamp overnight.

[Jeff Highland]

Most luthiers will only trust the bottled liquid hide glue for sticking on labels.
Occasionally you will get somone who will tell you of an instrument they built 20 years ago with it which has stood up fine but that is the exception.
learn to use hot hide glue or use titebond original

[Ron Frazier]

Don't use Franklin hide glue!!

I used it 50 years ago and things are still together;then a few years ago I used a whole bottle and all the violins that summer fell apart! It is not worth it to me again!!

I use Tite bond exclusively now!!

Ron

[Tim Mace]

I glued a hole gittar up w/Frankin's yesterday except for the bridge(hothide or titewad glue) and it's still together!.

[Rob]

Thanks for the tips to stay away from cold hide glu. Went out and bought medium bottle of Franklin's Tightbond III. Will that get the job done good? I know I need to clean bottom of rosewood bridge with alcohol 30 minutes prior to gluing. Should I apply the Tighbond III to both surfaces as doesn't really say and lad at lumber yard said put on both sufaces but thought Ibetter get that confirmed by the guitar building experts. It does say to clamp for 24 hours and will be working in 70 F conditions.-nanccinut

[Jeff Highland]

No You need titebond original in the red marked bottle

[Paul Breen]

Take the Titebond lll back and exchange it for Original Titebond. The 3 different Titebonds sold are not the same product and do not have the same properties. The best choices for the job are hot hide, Original Titebond or the wood glue that Luthier's Mercantile sells.

[FRANK]

i second that Opinion tight bond original make sure you above 60 degrees or it wont work lol

[Dave Fox]

I wouldn't recommend it at all. I've used it, and had to redo everything I used it for. I threw the rest away. Fish glue would probably be better than the bottle version. My two glues of choice: Titebond original and hide glue.

Dave Fox

[Michael Shaw]

I just posted about fish glue too. I didn't see your post.

[Magnus Hultin]

We have had this discussion before.

I beleive it was Frank Ford himself who mentioned a relatively large number of guitars he built 40 years or so ago, using solely Titebond LHG. They still hold together.

In a recent discussion on the subject at UMGF, Howard Klepper mentioned that he glued large number of bridges in the mid seventies, and he would have heard if any of them had broke loose.

I have used LHG a lot, especially for jobs where I want to have plenty of time to work with position the pieces.
Normally for glueing a bridge I use HHG and have also used the yellow Titebond (aliphatic) as these jobs are fairly quick from getting the glue on until it´s clamped up.

I wouldn´t hesitate to use LHG though, as long as You keep track on the age of the bottle. The shelf life is 12 months and the "lot code", or more recently the manufacturing date in clear text, is stamped on the bottle.
I would recommend to keep clamped 24 hours.

According to the product information the shelf life for the yellow Titebond is the same, 12 months.

For the record I have tried using outdated LHG for other gluejobs around the house and also made some tests glueing pieces of wood together. When broken apart the break has allways been in the wood and not in the gluejoint.

I think the stuff is great, just use it according to the manual....and check the age.

It seem to have gotten a bad reputation among luthiers, probably some people have had bad experience and the word is spread.

/Magnus

[Michael Shaw]

I have used this in woodworking and In some case it worked well and still have a piece of furniture that is still holding together but i also have seen this stuff fail at the glue line and not the wood like you would hope a glue joint would. So i suggest either use the hot hide glue if your serious about it or try something new and better then hide glue in some case. Fish glue! Available from lee valley. Much longer working time and it doesn't need to be heated. reversible like hide glue with water and heat. Doesn't go bad like hide glue will. Open bottle is good for at least a year. Doesn't have the foul odor of hide glue and it has a strength that is almost epoxy like....Mike