i am replacing disintegrating binding on a pre Kay production mid 1920 Stromberg Clarion and would appreciate input on glue. i am unsure if this instrument had a varnish or nitro finish. the replacement binding is a generic ABS. i have a wide range of glues from guitar work including CA, super thin viscosity CA, Duco, titebond standard and titebond II, but i have never worked with a finish this old so any input would be greatly appreciated.
i have prep'd the channels, and have masked all adjacent surfaces to prevent as much adhesive squeeze out during taping up.
I'm very pleased with the results of StewMac's "Bind-All" glue.
I used "Canopy Glue" on my Fender Thinline. It worked very well and seems to be holding up a year later. It is water-based and shouldn't react with old finishes.
I've been using Duco Cement for years and had no problems with it.
Getting the right amount of glue in the binding channel and keeping it there is finicky. It doesn't hurt to tape (low tack) around the edges of the binding channel. Tape over old finish is also tricky. Low tack tape and pull it off slowly and at an acute angle are important strategies. I tested four different types of glue years ago by just gluing pieces to a board. No evidence that one was better than the other. I have a bottle of Canopy Glue on the bench but have not had an excuse to use it just yet.
I use hide glue on vintage instruments. Available off-the-shelf in an applicator bottle:
Edited by - EEB on 10/30/2026 11:42:29
thanks to all you responded to this question. i did a 'mock up' with the radius of an 11" and tried each of the glues in my inventory and for me the Duco worked best. i will post a photo of the resonator after i finish it out.
thanks again.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)
Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.
