Glue for bamboo osage

[Lee Lobbestael]

Is titebond 3 a fine glue to use for a bamboo backed osage? Or is there a reason I shouldn't be using wood glue?

[Dances with squirrels]

Which glue I choose depends partly on how the gluing surfaces will be prepped. Since I grind the osage with 40 grit paper in the thickness sander, and work the bamboo down to final thickness with a toothing plane, I want a glue with gap filling properties. I use Smooth On EA40 epoxy, but Unibond 800 works just as well.

If your surfaces are smooth, you'd be better off with Titebond. And when I use it, I size the surfaces with Titebond, give it a few minutes to soak in, then apply it again before fitting it together.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Ok great thanks

[aaron]

I did a BBI with TB3 and it worked fine. I tried to degrease the Ipe with acetone , soapy water, and then rinsed it well. I also size with tb3.

[Springbuck]

TB III is awfully strong if you use it properly.

Two tips.  As mentioned, it does not fill gaps well, so do a dry run clamping your lam and backing together and make sure everything fits perfectly, that you have enough clamps, etc.  Also, keep your workspace really clean when gluing, because even a little wood crumb can cause you little problems.

Secondly, I like to leave bows glued with TB III on the form for several days.  IT dries pretty well overnight, but does contain water, and might be dry, but not fully dry or something. At leasty I have noticed a little "creep" off the form if I rushed the bow, started bending it for floor tiller, etc. too soon.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Ok I was planning to use ace bandages as clamps. Has anyone tried this?

[DC]

Ok I was planning to use ace bandages as clamps. Has anyone tried this?

I've never done it but it just doesn't seem like enough pressure to me. I use 3/4" strips of bicycle tube.

[bubby]

You can use stretch wrap, you have to get 3-4 wraps before you move but if the glue is moving it should be tight enough. If it isn't a flatbow you need the innertube clamps

[Lee Lobbestael]

What about electrical tape? I will be bending it into a r/d but plan to use blocks on the ends and middle and c clamps in the middle of each limb. Well inner tubes shirk with this type of glue up?

[bigcountry]

You know electrical tape, would work.  You better buy like 5 rolls of it.  Only issue, is it wouldn't breath at all. 

[Lee Lobbestael]

I could leave small gaps between the wraps? That was my concern with plastic wrap

[DC]

That's one of my reasons for using epoxy. No water worries of any kind.

[PatM]

If it takes any sort of effort to bend your lams to shape just use inner tubes and do it right.

[bubby]

Elec tape won't work it stretches

[ty_in_ND]

What about electrical tape? I will be bending it into a r/d but plan to use blocks on the ends and middle and c clamps in the middle of each limb. Well inner tubes shirk with this type of glue up?

Go with inner tubes.  They do not shrink.

Also, while TB II and III will do the job, I would lean towards using an epoxy (a couple good ones were mentioned earlier) if you're gluing a bamboo backing on.  With wood glue, you need to have a perfect fit for it to be a strong bond.  With epoxy, since it fills gaps, you have a little added insurance if everything isn't 100% perfect.