Acoustic Guitar Construction

West System is great epoxy, but too expensive and is also really finicky in its mixing properties.

I need an epoxy with at least a 15 minute open time, and the Pacer products I've seen set up way too fast.

Anyone have suggestions? I prefer the lowest possible water content as I will be using this for laminating once I use up my meager supply of West Systems.

If there is a way to split the cost of some West epoxy/hardener, I would be willing to do that.

Howard Klepper uses Dap Weldwood Plastic Resin Glue for his laminated sides, but the water content is too high for my method.

I wrote Klepper and Joe the Woodworker about adhesives.
Howard (Klepper) uses the Weldwood and has no trouble with cupping or wrinkling, but does not use a vacuum setup so cannot speak definitively to my question.

OTOH, Joe on his site compares the pros and cons of a number of adhesives suitable for different kinds of lamination so he answered affirmatively about the product he recommends called Ultra-Cat (read about it on his site)

The relevant parts of the email exchange:

Hello Joe: First, thanks for the site and all the info, I've depended on it a lot.

I have been laminating acoustic guitar sides with West Systems Epoxy and a vacuum bag. A sandwich of outer wood, for example rosewood, with a middle layer of mahogany, and an inner layer of rosewood. But
The epoxy is good stuff, has an easy 30 minute open time, and does not introduce water into the sandwich, but is really expensive and a bit touchy to work with.
Would the ultra-cat work for this purpose? The price is certainly more attractive, and your online evaluation gives me hope.

Hi Dave,

The UCAT does have water in it but it dries incredibly rigid so I think it would work fine. In fact, I'm positive that I have customers using it for the exact same purpose.

Hope this helps!
Joe

I been using products made by these guys for many years -- very good stuff indeed. Perhaps they would have a recommendation for you

http://www.bsi-inc.com/Pages/hobby/epoxies.html

Thanks Ken - I dropped them a line asking for recommendations out of their product line.

I think, unless BSI has a better suggestion, the ultracat from Joe Woodworker will be worth a try.

ABSOLUTELY NO WAY will I pay $23 for a good product and then pay $15 for shipping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe is the only one who sells the ultra-cat, but that shipping price is WAY beyond the financial realities of life.

I'll wait to hear from BSI and then choose between it and the West Systems.

Several Amazon vendors have the 12oz Zpoxy for $20 including shipping

Good tip.

I'd just sent in an order for the stuff Howard Klepper swears by - the DAP Weldowood plastic resin glue - I'll test that out - Amazon for $6 for a l lb.

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