Martin style truss rod, which epoxy?

[DesmoDog]

I just got a Martin style truss rod from Stew-Mac for my first build. They suggest gluing it in with epoxy - is there any brand people prefer? I've got some two part adhesives I use for other things but they set up pretty fast...

[Nick JD]

Your good ol' 5 minute epoxy in a double syringe is the stuff.

It's important that the flat, upper surface is completely flush with the fretboard base's plane. You don't want the trussrod's epoxy holding the casing in by its sides.

Be sure to not get epoxy in the bottom of the rod. It's a good idea to get some thin masking tape and cover the gap in the bottom. Some of them come with the gap already covered with thin sticky paper.

[DesmoDog]

Thanks,

I have 5-minute stuff here but thought I'd use something that takes longer to set up... I've had that stuff start to set before I'm ready for it so I'm a little gun shy.

This one came with masking tape covering the open side, so I'm good there.

[Nick JD]

You ideally want an epoxy glue for this task, not a resin.

Preparation is the key (and working at the colder limit of the epoxy). At 35C, 5 minute epoxy is about 30 second epoxy! Using things with time limits means you have to make sure you've done everything (and everything is lined up ready to go like a surgeon in a theatre) before you mix the glue .

Get everything read to go, squirt all the epoxy you'll need for the task (plus a little more) into a container and stir/mix well for about 20 seconds.

Using a flat wooden stick (not your stiring stick - this can have unmixed parts on it) and holding the neck on its side, scoop up a big blob of epoxy and run it down the side of the slot, spreading as you go. Use more rather than less - epoxy is not like wood glues.

Whip it over and do the same on the other side. Put neck down and push trussrod in.

Wipe off excess squeeze-out with a razor. Cover with clingfilm and clamp something flat on top.

[mcgeorgerl]

I like Smith's epoxy. But I haven't used it to stick metal to wood, just wood to wood. They make several different types and some has a fairly long open time. Check out their site. You can mail order it through an outfit called Jamestown.

West makes some decent stuff (I hear) but I was never able to get it in small quantities so I passed.

[quaterstaff]

I just picked up a martin style truss rod- wanted to get it installed tonight.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...&keyword=epoxy glue&storeId=10051
is this an appropriate epoxy?

[whodatpat]

I like JB weld. But it gets expensive.

[quaterstaff]

Originally Posted by whodatpat

I like JB weld. But it gets expensive.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ec...&storeId=10051

Do you youse the cold weld product? or the industrial weld?

[Nick JD]

I forgot to add earlier ... it's good practice to sand the glue surfaces of the rod with 180grit (or similar) and wipe with a solvent before gluing.

You never know if the last person handling it had oily fingers.

[quaterstaff]

Originally Posted by Nick JD

I forgot to add earlier ... it's good practice to sand the glue surfaces of the rod with 180grit (or similar) and wipe with a solvent before gluing.

You never know if the last person handling it had oily fingers.

Thanks Nick.
I picked up the cold weld product. Since I've never used it before i decided to mix up a batch tonight and see how it sets up, how hard it is when it dries ect...
I appreciate your suggestions.