Best Glue to use??

In your opinion, what is the best glues to use for

a) body
b) thin vaneer
c) fret board

also white wood glue (evo stick) Vs. yellow wood glue (titebond)
which is the best

http://www.southdalesupply.ca/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_full/product_images/Titebond%20Original%2032oz.jpg

http://www.southdalesupply.ca/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_full/product_images/Titebond%20Original%2032oz.jpg

^WHS

I've used it for all of the jobs you've listed with no problems at all.

All adhesives have their pluses and minuses. I use yellow glue for areas that you don't need to come apart and it works great. It sets up and grabs fast but still gives you plenty of work time.

Hot hide glue resists creep but must be clamped almost within a minute. Hide glue resists creep and generally is used where future work may need to be done. Example, neck joints and violin tops/backs. I'd also use it on restoring an instrument that was assembled with hide glue.

White glue used to be the only PVA available years ago. It was used throughout the woodworking industry. It will work but from my experience, contains more water and takes longer to dry.

Yellow should do he trick on all 3 of those tasks you mentioned but in the end it is what you like the best and what gives you the best results.

All adhesives have their plusses and minuses. I use yellow glue for areas that you don't need to come apart and it works great. It sets up and grabs fast but still gives you plenty of work time.

Hot hide glue resists creep but must be clamped almost within a minute. Hide glue resists creep and generally is used where future work may need to be done. Example, neck joints and violin tops/backs. I'd also use it on restoring an instrument that was assembled with hide glue.

White glue used to be the only PVA available years ago. It was used throughout the woodworking industry. It will work but from my experience, contains more water and takes longer to dry.

Yellow should do he trick on all 3 of those tasks you mentioned but in the end it is what you like the best and what gives you the best results.
Hear hear! :smile:

I've tried all of them, and the original (red label) Titebond is the best. My local hardware store for some reason only stocks Titebond II, whcih is runny and I suspect from a few projects that had to be ripped and re-glued, it creeps more. Silly thing is, Titebond II is supposed to be more water resistant, but if that's important then it's been eclipsed by Titebond III where you're supposed to be able to boil the parts without opening the seam (a reason not to use III on guitars, especially the fretboard). So I stick with the original titebond red label. Elmer's (yellow) Carpenter's glue performs similarly, but it's a little darker and thicker when you try to roll out board edges for a glueup.

Some of the Gibson ad copy mentions something called "Titebond 50" but I've never seen that in any woodworking catalog or lumberyard.

As for veneer, that's a whole other story. I've done small things with titebond and clamping cauls, but once you get sophisticated enought to do arched veneers or vacuum bag glue ups, you're into another league where there are apparently varying preferences for glues.

http://www.southdalesupply.ca/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_full/product_images/Titebond%20Original%2032oz.jpg
..

I like the white glue from Luthier's Mercantile. It seems to dry harder or more crystalline than Titebond. I like Titebond too, and have used it for years but recently started using the LMI stuff. Can't go wrong with either really and Titebond is more readily available and cheaper--always a plus.

Only problem I've ever had with any of them is when gluing ebony. But that was probably over something I did wrong rather than the glue (I'm assuming).

Great thread! I've been looking for a good quality glue for a while now.

Thanks! :)