Okay.........

Violin makers have used "Hide Glue" for centuries. Specifically, they use a granular hide glue which requires some relatively strict controls on the shopp environment for proper setting. Its mixed at about 1.25 to 1.65 water to 1.00 part glue. You mix it with cold water and then heat it in a non-metallic glue pot to about 135-140 degress (don't go over 150 or the glue will be brittle). If you heat it too long, its weak. It sets at 80 or so and you want to work it at about 70. But if the humidity is too high.......Get the idea? The stuff is great but a major pain in the ass to use. Hide glues do have some significant advantages. Very resonant when properly applied because its very glass-like in hardness; if you do "beautiful" joints, only a little thin coat is needed; fills well; sands GREAT!; easy to get the joint apart if needed with heat/water/vinegar. But the stuff is just such a pain in the ass...........

Ideal glue would be easy to use, easy to get apart, resonant/glass hard; dry fast; sand easy; fill well, etc...........Common woodworkers glues like Franklin Tite-Bond and Elmer's formulations are totally crap for instruments as they are made to be flexible to absorb the shocks that they are likely to receive. Unfortunately absorbing shock=absorbing sound!!!

There are some good application possibilities for both multi-part epoxies and the Cyanoacrylate (Super Glue) stuff. The inability to get these apart easily is a drawback and they are bitches to sand.

Anyway...to wrap this up.....Franklin and Elmer's are "polyvinyl" glues, BUT there are several other polyvinyl glues specially formulated for instruments and is used by damn near everybody from Martin to me. This type dries harder than hell and with a few minor problems, its as easy as Franklin and dries faster. It doesn't store as well as its softer, flexible cousins, but it really works as the most nearly perfect stuff you can get.

That more than you wanted or cared about? LOL(:<))

Spaw