Ozbow

Hey Guys,

Well I glued up my first spotted gum/bamboo stave this morning with titebond 3. Got a little impatient and peeled off the wrapping just now and realised I've stuffed it. :roll. Not through my impatience mind you, my mistake was the sequence in which I glued the two 36" bamboo laminations to my 72" spotted gum stave. A few lessons instantly have been learned , which I will happily apply to the existing materials if I can unstick them and re-dress the gluing surfaces for another attempt.

Has anyone successfully unstuck tb3? I've got a feeling that the heatgun may come in handy, but not sure if I'll singe my bamboo laminations in the process (and would this be the end of the world?) If I had a bandsaw and beltsander etc I'm sure the best course of action would be to start again with fresh materials, but having arrived at my current stage with a rasp and 40 grit sandpaper (cost- 1x re-aggravated old shoulder injury!) I'm kinda keen to try and resurrect my existing components.

Thanks in advance!

Can we get some photos of the problem you're having mate. Will help to make suggestions on where to go.

Tb3 can be tough to remove once the glue has set, it doesn't release easily with heat like regular PVA. I have used a heat gun to remove glued on riser blocks at the handle that have started to lift at the fades . A combination of heat and a lot of prying with spatula and renovators pry bar eventually gets the job done. Not a job to be rushed.
I then scrape the surface clean with single edge safety razor. Re sand then re glue.

I don't envy you having to do the length of a bow. If you have extra materials I would start from fresh.
Hamish.

What Hamish said...