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I am about halfway through making some custom herringbone purfling (normal chevron pattern, just with different woods from the standard stuff). I'm mostly following John Bogdanovich's instructions contained in his book on classical guitar making. Things are going well, and I think I am going to wind up with some nice stuff.

My question:

Might there be a better adhesive to use for the building of custom purfling than regular Titebond? That is the adhesive recommended by Bogdanovich's book. Despite my preference for hot hide glue everywhere else on a guitar, I have used Titebond for this project. Like I said, things are going fine, but Titebond has its shortcomings. I will keep using it this time, but for the next time I do this, I would be open to using something else.

For instance, is it possible that some of the things we don't like about urea-laced hot hide glue (like that it never quite gets hard) might be ideal for the gluing together of thin strips of wood that will need to be bent into curves at some point? I have some Old Brown Glue (which is just urea-laced HHG) that I bought for experimentation. Maybe this would be a good place to try it out.

Your thoughts on better glues for the creation of custom purflings would be much appreciated. Thanks.

In a previous thread someone mentioned TB III for gluing purfling to bindings.
Its waterproof properties notionally prevent it from softening and moving during bending.
I have used TB III for my last 3 sets of purfling to bindings and it worked brilliantly.
Switched from fish glue for that reason.

Also, when bending a number of bindings together - they don't glue themselves together as the TB III stays stable under heat and moisture.

I used bogs methods, T reg. but have switched to fish glue works better for me. Try test samples on your binding/purf setup .On his dvd bog used titebond white on the gtr an Treg for inlays /laminating bindings/purfs.. I use urea brn glue mixed ,for laminating 2 pieces then resawing /See what works best for you!!

I've always used Titebond III also. I keep them clamped up 2 flat pieces or either wood or aluminum for a couple of days minimum as the water content tends to make the veneers curl.

+1 T III