Applying CA to fill contoured surfaces?

[Jupiter]

Hi,

I'm planning to use CA to grain fill on an offset body that has some complex contoured surfaces. I know a lot of people use a credit card or suchlike to apply CA, but does anybody have a slick trick for applying it to contoured surfaces where a card won't work?

[Jupiter]

You can always tell the pioneers; they're the ones with the arrows in their chests. I'm gonna figure out a way to do this.

[Blacque Jacque]

I think the problem you'll have is finding a flexible enough spreader that CA won't stick to. There aren't many materials it won't bond to, even fewer that will conform to the contours of a guitar body.


Maybe if you heated a regular plastic spreader then moulded it around the edge of the body or something with a similar radius ?

I'd suggest using a gel based CA rather than the low viscosity ones, and one with a longer cure time. Work on a small area at a time.

But most importantly, try it on some scrap first, no point wrecking a decent body for the sake of some cheap CA.

Now if you could spray it.............
Don't even attempt this ^^ it's unbelievably dangerous !!!

[udimet720]

I used a spare piece of guitar string. You can use this to push a drop of ca ( liquid) around. Worked pretty well on a fabric topped strat where I had to fill the gap where the fabric ends right at the edge.

[Jupiter]

I was goofing around tonight with a YMCA membership card and high-viscosity CA; it worked pretty good in most areas, because I could bend the card, but for the 9 mm round over on the back, I might need to cut the card a bit. I think I got the right glue for this job. :-) It moved around with the card about the same as I saw the Zpoxy doing on YouTube. I like the way it sanded, too.

[Jupiter]

Why would it be unbelievably dangerous to spray it? I can think of plenty of reasons why it might not work well, but it doesn't sound unbelievably dangerous.....

[Blacque Jacque]

Because most CA cures by moisture catalysation, meaning it will cure on skin, eyes, lungs etc. It's probably more dangerous than 2 pack paint.

[mattia]

Just use some (decent quality) kitchen paper. Or a fingertip, really. As long as you keep moving, it won't stick to the wood. It's how I apply CA to all my spalt maple pieces to stabilize, never had any problems.

[Vizcaster]

Doesn't Buckocaster just smear it on with gloved fingers?

[rip_topaz]

I use the back of a piece of wet/dry sandpaper. Be careful, though. It won't stick to the paper right away, but it'll stick to everything else.