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  • HIde glue and finish “rippling”

    Posted by Jonathan Stewart JM Stewart Guitars on January 3, 2025 at 2:58 pm

    Occasionally, when I use hide glue to glue a bridge, during the clean up process I start to notice what can only be described as a “rippling” of the finish around the bridge footprint, almost as if the water content of the glue, or in the rags I use to clean up is seeping in and causing the woodgrain to rise and cause some surface deformity. Any tips here?

  • 5 Replies
  • Yep, probably the moisture from the cleanup. That’s why I don’t “inlay” my bridges into the finish. I leave about a 2–3-millimeter rim of finish under the bridge. It acts as a gasket to prevent water from getting in. And with that little bit of finish left it usually crushes flat to the top.

    The ripples from water sometimes go away but it can take weeks or months. Sometimes they don’t. Hope my opinion helps.

    Also, if you let the hide glue squeeze out sit for several minutes (your mileage may vary) it will gel and you can get most of it to come off in one piece.

  • Ian Davlin The Looth Group

    Administrator
    January 3, 2025 at 5:09 pm

    What is your ratio on your hide glue?

  • Nicole Alosinac – Nicole Alosinac Luthiery

    Member
    January 3, 2025 at 7:35 pm

    Yes, the water from the hide glue is rippling the finish. Give it a few days to dry and then lightly sand and buff out the ripples.

    • Roger Sadowsky

      Member
      January 6, 2025 at 11:22 am

      Hi Nicole,

      Not easy to sand and buff once the bridge is glued on. I have seen this with Titebond as well.

      I think it is more from the moisture of clean up than the glue itself.

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