I'm wondering what gram strength glue other builders out there are
using. I noticed recently that while a local luthier supply (lmii.com)
sells 192 gram strength "high clarity" (it really does have high
transparency) hide glue as their standard for lutherie, another general
woodworking company (toolsforworkingwood.com) markets 3 types: 192,
251, and 315 (only the 192 comes with a "high clarity" alternative).
The only thing that really got my attention here was their description
of the strengths, copied below:
* The 192 gram strength is a good general purpose glue, and it's the
least expensive hide glue around. That's why it's the most common.
Its real application is veneering, although you can use it for
regular gluing in a pinch. A lot of people consider it the best
all-around glue for general woodworking (including veneering),
because it also has the longest open time. If you are new to hide
glue, this is the grade you should get.
* The 251 gram strength glue is traditionally the most appropriate
for regular cabinetwork. Its higher strength means that you can do
rub joints more easily, and clamped joints will have less time to
creep. But it's not optimal for veneering, when you'd want the
maximal amount of time for squeezing out the excess glue.
* The 192 gram strength "high clarity" is more expensive than its
cousins because it is especially refined for maximum transparency.
It's a good all-around glue that's slightly more tacky then the
regular 192 glue. This is the glue to use if you are worried about
visible glue lines.
* The 315 gram strength is a special purpose glue for very high
stress applications. It is favored primarily by instrument makers
for situations where a joint will be under constant force. Of the
glues the 315 has the shortest open time.
So, is 192 not strong enough for lutherie, as implied by the
description of the 315? Or is the concern here more about high-tension
modern instruments?
What are others using?
(As an aside, I should mention that I've had no troubles so far with
using the high clarity 192.)
Curiously,
Andrew
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