martin 2-way truss rod installation advice requested

[peter havriluk]

I have a Martin 2-way truss rod to install in my current project neck. This is a rod encased in what looks to be a heat-shrink tube of some kind of black plastic. So far, so good. The rod is a tight fit in its slot. So, when installing this hunk of metal, do I need to be wary of getting any glue on the rod itself? Anywhere? Do I need to glue it all? I think I will be shimming the rod a wee bit to fully occupy the slot vertically, and then sanding the shim flush with the top of the neck. Does the shim get glued to the top of the truss rod? Epoxy? C/A? Does it matter? Just glue the sides? No glue at all? When I install the fingerboard, do I leave a void down the middle of the fingerboard with no glue there?

Besides all this, I'm sure I have installing the truss rod under control.

Thanks, and I will be grateful for comments, observations, advice.

[John Parchem]

I generally use a couple of dabs of silicone chalk to make sure the does not rattle. No problem if you need to use a shim to fill the slot. I generally use one thick enough that makes it easy to work with. I apply glue to the sides of the shim and press it in place. For me the fit is tight enough that I do not use clamps, but you can. As you suggest I plane the shim flat to the neck. After that I give it no further consideration as I move on.

I often have the rod flush with the top of the slot. (it can not be even a .001" proud). When I do this I am care full not to slop glue on the truss rod, but it is not a big deal.

[Herman]

To prevent rattles I put some drops of photo glue under the rod. When glueing the fingerboard, I put a 1/2" masking tape over the rod. glue on the exposed wood, and take the tape off. The fingerboard clamping forced the glue about just up to the rod. No glue on the rod, It could be jammed in the furure.
just 2 cts
Herman

[peter havriluk]

Thanks, folks. Moving right along...

[peter havriluk]

My curiosity has gotten the best of me. What's 'photo glue'?

[Herman]

The gummy stuff you glue photo paper in an album with.
Does not penatrate paper and stays elastic.

[peter havriluk]

Herman, thanks for helping me with a new idea. I found a whole lot of different glues meant for mounting photos...I'd love to have the wording off a label, or a picture of the glue tube.

And, does this adhesive flow as a liquid, or some sort of gel?

Thanks!