Official Luthiers Forum!

Im a top loader when it comes to glueing in frets, meaning that I use a curved tip plastic syringe to inject glue into the slot from above, before hammering the fretwire in.

However, Ive read about another way which sounds a lot faster...injecting glue from the SIDE after all the frets are already in. This would be faster because you could do them all at once.

Except it would require a real metal hypodermic needle small enough to insert in the tiny space just under the tang.

Everything available at Lee Valley or Stewmac is too big to fit in there Im guessing.

Anyone use this technique?

Hi John,

Though I haven't glue in frets, if you're in the Toronto area URL=http://www.theplasticstore.com/menusystem/]Warehoused Plastic Sales Inc[/URL] have the hypodermic needles with very fine metal points which would do the job. They'll ship if needed.

_________________
Michael Lloyd

“I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties ...
I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka

Here's the needle and other glue bottle they offer. The needle fits the fret slot easily and in the image is in the slot about 1-1/2 inches.

Warehoused Plastic Sales Inc

_________________
Michael Lloyd

“I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties ...
I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka

Hey thats great Michael!

I know drug stores sell em, but I think you problably have to be a certified diabetic or something similiar to just walk in and buy needles over the counter.

[QUOTE=Telfer] Hey thats great Michael!

I know drug stores sell em, but I think you problably have to be a certified
diabetic or something similiar to just walk in and buy needles over the
counter.[/QUOTE]

It depends on your state law. A while back I got stuck in NY and needed
insulin syringes and I could not buy them over the counter. However, if I
were an I.V. drug user they would have exchanged my used syringes for
clean ones free of charge. Go figure!

Louis

_________________
- Louis Freilicher

Oh No! Not another learning experience!

Also check McMaster-Carr, they have dispensing bottles with 27 gauge
(0.016" OD x 0.008" ID) tips.

Search for dispensing bottles.

Louis

_________________
- Louis Freilicher

Oh No! Not another learning experience!

[QUOTE=Louis4052]
It depends on your state law. A while back I got stuck in NY and needed insulin syringes and I could not buy them over the counter.
[/QUOTE]
Right...come to think of it, one of my customers is diabetic, so maybe I can buy a few needles off him.

[QUOTE=Louis4052][QUOTE=Telfer] Hey thats great Michael!



I know drug stores sell em, but I think you problably have to be a certified

diabetic or something similiar to just walk in and buy needles over the

counter.[/QUOTE]



It depends on your state law. A while back I got stuck in NY and needed

insulin syringes and I could not buy them over the counter. However, if I

were an I.V. drug user they would have exchanged my used syringes for

clean ones free of charge. Go figure!



Louis

[/QUOTE]

Sad... give the 'dopers' clean ones while you go into a diabetic coma. I'm diabetic too but haven't had any trouble getting them right over the counter in Washington.
Honestly that might be the cheapest way to go if you can get 'em.

_________________
Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

your idea of side injection could work if it is an unbound board, otherwise...

whilst i recognize that it is a fairly common procedure, i've don't think i've ever felt the need to glue every fret when refretting, much less with a new board. spot use of ca has always been suffient. i have to admit i did try don teter's method back in the 70's on a few, but saw no advantages and dropped it.

and as far as refrets go, if it is a board where glue has been extensively used i add an upcharge starting at $50, which should really be higher. cleaning out the slots when glue has been extensively used is a real drag, particularly on bound boards.

As a Doc, the 27g needle is very small. The pict above is light blue so it is
typically a 25g needle. I would think most drug stores would sell them
without the need for a prescription.
Personally I cannot utilize this technique since I always use bound fretboards

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

I like a little Titebond in the fret slots prior to fretting because it lubricates the fret entry during pressing and I think it helps to lock the fret into place. Works on bound or unbound boards.

[QUOTE=BarryDaniels] I like a little Titebond in the fret slots prior to fretting because it lubricates the fret entry during pressing and I think it helps to lock the fret into place. Works on bound or unbound boards.[/QUOTE]

Me, too. A very small bead, wiped in with a damp rag (or finger) before the fret squeezes in, does it for me. Clean up with a wet toothbrush.

BTW, pushing undiluted Titebond through a small-bore needle will be slow and tiresome if you are trying to fill the void in a fret slot. And, the glue will probably not get between the tang and the wood much anyway. If you are going to use this idea, probably a drop of CA wicked in would be more effective, though it's a bit tricky if there is finish nearby.

John

John,

     Your top fill approch for your glue in the fret slots is the one you
should continue to use. It allows the fret make immediate contact with
the glue and the glue to be dragged in along withe the fet tang to provide
a glue joint between the tang and slot sides along the entire length of the
fret.

    The squeeze out also provides a joint between the under side of the
crown and the top surface of the fingerboard, providing a seamless
interface between them. Clean up is quick and easy, too.

    You will be hard pressed to force undilluted Titebond through a
hypodermic needle of such a smal guage. I believe you'll also find that the
needle insertion method will eat up more time....not to mention is only
applicable on unbound fingerboards.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

[QUOTE=azimmer1]As a Doc, the 27g needle is very small. The pict above is light blue so it is
typically a 25g needle. I would think most drug stores would sell them without the need for a prescription.
[/QUOTE]
A doctor in the house...this forums got everything!

Yes I bought a 27 gauge syringe today (30 cents at the drug store) and it fits nicely. A 25 gauge would problably just barely fit.

I tried it with cyano glue on a test board, not titebond. It has the viscosity of water and flowed right through no problem.

Sets very quick, and I couldnt pull the frets out so Im happy. I like this system!

I don't think an insulin needle will pass the glue. I have to do a bi-weekly deep muscle injection using a 20ga. needle. That is a fairly big needle. Even it is a bit stubborn with CA except for the water thin stuff. And you have to work fast. While the body of the syringe doesn't get stuck, the metal and CA like each other. In Iowa an Rx is required,mt