Acoustic Guitar Construction

I joined my top last night and it's still curing but while I was
doing it I noticed that placing glue in the joint was kind of
messy. I applied the glue right from the Titebond bottle but
it was like all over the place.

What can I do to keep the application process cleaner? This will help
when I join the back plates next.....

Hey Mark,
It doesn't take alot of glue to join the plates. You want the edges of both plates coated, but it doesn't have to be dripping off. What most builders do is spread a bead along the edge of one plate, then rub the two edges together to spread the glue evenly along both surfaces, then join. You want to have a release agent; wax paper or clear packaging tape works too, under the joint so it doesn't stick to your surface underneath. On the top, once the joint is clamped an you are getting some squeeze out, use a lightly damp rag and wipe off the excess glue before you put your clamping bar on WITH a release agent on it over the joint for clamping it down. You will have some glue to clean off the bottom of the joint, but should have very little to clean off the top when it is all dry.

Kevin

Cut a channel in the clamping caul -- it should not even get in contact with the glue, plus cover it and the board with plastic packaging, My two joining fixtures/boards have had the same tape/release for about six years now. And if you are making a mess, as Kevin mentioned, you are likely using too much glue. Last, the excess glue is no big deal, knock it off with a scraper before running it through the sander which will easily take care of the rest.

Thank you Kevin and Ken,

After reading both your posts I realize that I made at least 2 mistakes.
One was not having a damp rag ready (I was using dry paper towels).
The second was that I used too much glue. I was scared to
have a joint with not enough glue so I over compensated.
When I join the back plates I will use much less glue.

Anyway, I sanded the dried glue off and the top now
looks good....

Thanks again!

I find sometimes that using a small paint brush or machinists chip brush to apply glue does a better job. I can control how much I apply better with the brush than I can with the squeeze control of the glue bottle. Brush washes easily with warm water. Less squeeze out, less cleanup later.