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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: thumbs on May 03, 2014, 09:00:07 am

Title: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: thumbs on May 03, 2014, 09:00:07 am
over the years I have never found out how to glue a delicate piece to a backer board with out glue oozing  out at the edges. I don't always catch it until after it is dry scrapping it off isn't always the neatest--any input from anyone would be great--thanks in advance--Richard
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: scrollgirl on May 03, 2014, 09:07:47 am
I use a small Glu-Bot and it helps a great deal.  Here is the link to one, but you can get them at a variety of places. I also use Gorilla Glue for WOOD because it holds really great.  Although - I think just about any good quality white, clear-drying wood glue will do. :)

http://www.amazon.com/FastCap-Glu-Bot-Glue-Bottle-Ounces/dp/B0006IUW8G

Sheila
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: edward on May 03, 2014, 09:29:23 am
Weldbond glue does a good job, and it dries clear, I use mainly titebond 111.  edward
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: don in brooklin on on May 03, 2014, 11:19:25 am
I use Titebond Translucent Glue.  Seems to hold well and if you get squeeze out it is clear.

http://www.titebond.com/product.aspx?id=e06720fc-44f9-42b2-8c5c-77e7d85cf624 (http://www.titebond.com/product.aspx?id=e06720fc-44f9-42b2-8c5c-77e7d85cf624)

If clamping is a problem I use a few drop of medium gap filling CA. (Tip picked up from Kathy Wise as that is how she glues up Intarsia)


Don

Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: overfifty on May 03, 2014, 11:48:45 am
Hi Thumbs. I struggled with the same problem. Through trial and error I now use an artist brush that's no wider than the width of the fretwork, and concentrate on gluing the bottom half of the fretwork and a few key points at the top. The stiffness of the bristles is a factor, and less glue is better than to much.  Cheers, Barry.
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: kennybruzda on May 03, 2014, 12:38:53 pm
Recently, in the last few days, I have used a small roller and pan. It does the job and everything is covered, I do not know why I did not think of this sooner. No more struggling with the glue bottle and putting too much glue on. It also makes it faster, I stack cut six 1/8" pieces and I can have them all glued up in 15 minutes. It does take a little more glue but I do not mind that.         



Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: ChuckD on May 03, 2014, 03:49:25 pm
Recently, in the last few days, I have used a small roller and pan. It does the job and everything is covered, I do not know why I did not think of this sooner. No more struggling with the glue bottle and putting too much glue on. It also makes it faster, I stack cut six 1/8" pieces and I can have them all glued up in 15 minutes. It does take a little more glue but I do not mind that.  

Wow, that seems to me to be a lot of glue.  I use a toothpick to place very small  amounts of glue (Gorilla glue) at key spots around the back of the fretwork.  After that I place a similar size board over the fretwork and set a weight on the board as a clamp.  You don't need much and as most of my works is framed and glassed it never comes apart.  But I do the same with intarsia without the glass so it works.




Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: Merlin on May 03, 2014, 05:39:06 pm
Richard the other day I wanted to glue the backer on a fret cut and as with you the glue squeeze out is a nightmare, so I thought I wood try the spray glue.
It seems to work so far no problems and no squeeze out.
Just spray the back of the fret NOT the backer.

***Merlin***
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: Dan26 on May 03, 2014, 09:58:15 pm
Richard, use clear drying glue, spread it thin, and let it get tacky then put on the backer. You don't need to use too much clamping pressure as most fret work is not that heavy.
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: thumbs on May 04, 2014, 06:53:39 am
thanks for all the replies-- Don & Merlin gave me a couple of good products to try--Shelia I have that same glue bottle and I just remembered that, somewhere in my shop I have extra tips for it. I'll try a smaller tip for it--Thanks again, Richard
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: scrollgirl on May 04, 2014, 06:57:40 am
I really liked this post Richard!  There were a LOT of great ideas that I wouldn't have thought about here.  I love this forum so much because it is always friendly and there are so many things we learn from it.  After you try some of these, check back with us here and let us know what worked best for you. :) 

Have a great Sunday!  Sheila
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: John M on May 04, 2014, 07:21:41 am
I usually dab small amounts in key spots. If I can't get a small enough drop from the glue bottle I will put a puddle on a scrap piece and then use a tooth pick to get the amount I want. I then put the item under some dead weight  until dry.
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: ChuckD on May 04, 2014, 02:33:18 pm
John, that sounds like a good idea
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: jim stiek on May 04, 2014, 08:54:52 pm
a trick I learned from a friend in K.C. Mo. wax paper spread glue on it as thin as possible with a plastic card an old credit card works well, get it thin as possible then put fret work on it then on backer works well and little to no squeeze out
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: cdrover(Clyde) on May 04, 2014, 10:40:02 pm
This has been a challenge for me as well. I tries the spray glue technique but found that after a period of time the pieces would separate. Mostly these days I squeeze a small amount onto some scrap as John previously mentioned. Then I spread it using a sharpened out stir stick. I shape it so that there is a tip that is about 1/16 or less wide. Try to use the least amount of glue as possible. I lay a piece of panel about the same size as the piece on top after the backer and fretwork are mated and then I place small sand bags about 1or 2 pounds each on top of that. After 5 to 10 minutes I check for squeeze out and clean off any before it sets and becomes solid. I replace the bags until the glue is dried. Wow, I talk too much. That is what the kids say too.
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: Danny on May 05, 2014, 04:52:54 pm
I use ALEENS Clear dry.  Found if I snip the end of the spout so ONLY a Real, real small dab comes out I can just tap it where glue is needed with no extra puddle build up.  Drys CLEAR and with a piece of wood on top and some weight for a while all is Great afterwards.  Danny  :+}
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: jscott2 on May 08, 2014, 09:00:16 am
I find that old scroll saw blades are great as glue applicators - always have lots on hand.  I can get a very small drop of glue on the end of a blade for exact placement.  Turned sideways, it also spreads the glue well.

Jim
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: vanderrt on May 16, 2014, 08:37:07 am
Scrollgirl how the heck do you keep Gorilla Glue from drying up. I quit buying it because I used it one day and a week later all I have is a brick no matter how well I seal it. It's worse than super glue.
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: scrollgirl on May 16, 2014, 09:06:35 am
I didn't meant the amber/clear Gorilla Glue.  Mine also dried up all the time and turned into bricks. Plus - it had a mind of its own. Grew by leaps and bounds!  It DID have holding power though so I suppose for non-decorative gluing it was good. 

I used the WHITE Gorilla WOOD GLUE.  They came out with it a couple of years ago.  Really good holding  power and I have had mine for over a year and it is fine. I keep a small Glu-bot bottle with it and add to it as needed. That way I don't have to open the larger bottle all the time.  It's good stuff. :)

But any clear-drying white wood glue would probably work well.

:)  Sheila
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: vanderrt on May 16, 2014, 09:23:56 am
Thanks Scrollgirl I didn't know about the white gorilla glue I'll give it a try.
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: scrollgirl on May 16, 2014, 09:33:08 am
Yes - it is VERY different. Does not GROW! :)

Sheila
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: slowcutter on May 16, 2014, 12:03:35 pm
Blot it on a clean peace of paper then put on backer.
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: phantom scroller on May 16, 2014, 03:40:14 pm
I use my digit and then wipe the excess off with a tissue. Am I BORING OR WHAT. Roly
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: ChuckD on May 16, 2014, 08:37:24 pm
How about "OR WHAT?"  There's good looking, intelligent, stylist, etc.  Take your pick
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: pddesertrat on May 17, 2014, 10:41:41 am
Richard the other day I wanted to glue the backer on a fret cut and as with you the glue squeeze out is a nightmare, so I thought I wood try the spray glue.
It seems to work so far no problems and no squeeze out.
Just spray the back of the fret NOT the backer.

***Merlin***

I'm new here a know very little but what Merlin wrote is what I thought of when I started reading this thread.  I use #M Super 77 Multipurpose Adhesive a lot in my woodworking.  Mostly to attach patterns to things I am cutting, but it really holds well and I'm sure it would hold a backer.  The other good thing about it is, if you get some where you don't want it you can wipe it off with Mineral Spirits.  It only takes a light mist to hold something. 
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: justsomeguy on May 22, 2014, 02:16:03 pm
a trick I learned from a friend in K.C. Mo. wax paper spread glue on it as thin as possible with a plastic card an old credit card works well, get it thin as possible then put fret work on it then on backer works well and little to no squeeze out

I would really really like to THANK YOU for this tip...i've always used small dabs of glue or try to spread it on the back of my fret piece with a sponge brush or tooth pick and have always gotten squeeze out and it take forever to apply to the piece and by the time i finish i have to go back over the piece real quick because the first area i did would start to dry up...the squeeze out is something i've always just delt with but with a painted backer board i really find it a huge PITA because the painted backer board shows like a grease spot once the glue squeeze out is removed and finish is applied....i used this method the other day spreading the glue with a small foam roller that had a little bottle attached to it that i just filled with my gorilla glue. once i spent a whole 79 seconds to spread the glue on the wax paper and put the fret work piece on lol..after applying the fret to the backer board i had very little to no squeeze out......your little tip has made this part of the job sooo much easier for me !!!!!! clean up was a breeze, simply throw away the wax paper and rinse the foam roller, put the cap on the little bottle that came with it and then your all ready for the next time !!
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: EIEIO on May 22, 2014, 03:50:16 pm
I agree that less glue and more pressure are the trick. Wood glue works best when the wood pieces are forced together. It is weak when the squeeze is not put to it and a thickness of glue is between the wood pieces. And the 5-minute clean-up and re-press step is important.

I do similar when gluing up baskets - light glue at the intersections, clamp for 5 minutes, open and clean up the inside, then re-clamp for 30 minutes or more.
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: RangerJay on May 22, 2014, 11:12:42 pm
I've taken to saving and recycling used blades as one-time glue applicators for fretwork - the flat ends of the smaller blades can hold a small and manageable drop of glue that, with a bit of practice, becomes fairly easy to track a narrow glue trail along the more delicate parts of the fretwork.  After drying, if there is a protruding piece that needs more to secure it then I spread a small drop of CA gap filling glue on the corner of a piece of paper, slide it underneath, then remove the paper and secure the piece.


Jay
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: thumbs on May 23, 2014, 06:46:28 am
wow!!!!! when I started this post, I had no idea as to how many great ideas would be posted--I thank each and everyone of you for your input--Richard ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: Woodchuck on May 24, 2014, 12:04:17 pm
This is a topic I have struggled with. Today I use the small acid brushes you get from Harbor Freight and titebond glue. Then I use a piece of melamine board over the top to clamp too. The melamine prevents glue from sticking. After about 5-10 minutes I check for any squeeze out and clean up with a knife or a new acid brush, then I reclamp for the 30 minutes. There is usually very little squeeze out.
Title: Re: Gluing fret work to backer
Post by: Merlin on May 24, 2014, 05:31:59 pm
There was a couple of people here about the Gorilla glue ending up like bricks so they tossed it.
Mine too, so I complained to the store and they got on to the rep and the answer is you squeeze, press the bottle and break the glue  and it up and it turns liquid again.
I also try to keep it warm I have even left it in the sun or sat it in hot water to liquidfy  (sp) again.

***Merlin***