What glue is best ?

[Stevieray64]

Hi guys , what glue do you find best for rigging and block tying ?, I've tried with superglue thin and to be honest I find it either goes everywhere or goes chunky and white ? Am I doing something wrong ? All comments great fully received

 

[GIG1810]

Hey Steve,

there can be various factors why the second glue turns white.

I would only use thinned wood glue for ropes and rigging. This does not turn white, but remains transparent. But as I said, you have to be careful with superglue.

Best regards
Günther

 

[rtwpsom2]

I use clear PVA. I am uncertain of it's longevity, though.

 

[Roger Pellett]

Nitrocellulose based clear nail polish. It comes in a little bottle with a brush in the top.

 

[AllanKP69]

I have had good success with white PVA thinned down. It takes a few minutes to dry, but works well and has bit more give with no staining like CA. Have not tried clear PVA as suggested above but will look into it as well.
Allan

 

[Bob Cleek]

Nitrocellulose based clear nail polish. It comes in a little bottle with a brush in the top.

Like a lot of materials that used to work reliably well, but are now on the "environmentalists' hit list," nitrocellulose lacquer is becoming more difficult to source outside of specialty retailers. The flammability of nitrocellulose is such that OSHA regulations now impose a host of expensive regulations on its commercial manufacture and handling. Nitrocellulose nail polish is still available, AFAIK, but is expensive and the out-of-the-bottle consistency of the nail polish is thicker than I prefer for fastening rigging knots. It is also high-gloss, so if a blob sits on the surface without soaking into the fibers, you end up with a shiny knot. When I used it, I would thin the nail polish by adding a bit of acetone to the nail polish bottle. At present, of my wife's reports are any indication, the trend in nail polish is away from the nitrocellulose-based lacquers and towards acrylics and what they call "UV-curing gels." Duco cement is still real nitrocellulose adhesive (nitrocellulose dissolved in acetone,) but It has to be thinned for brushing onto knots and isn't cheap anymore, either.

If it's real nitrocellulose lacquer that you are about, the luthiers still use a lot of it due to its tonal qualities. There are several brands, all of which can be sourced through lutherie suppliers, and some is even "satin" finish.



See: https://www.amazon.com/Solo-Guitars-Oxford-Nitrocellulose-Lacquer/dp/B0BZX1J1FM/ref=sr_1_17?adgrpid=1345802799182654&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wxy1aZ2g9zDJC9oMW2TOLhl7v7G6eRLFi3HrYWYbaf-uuKmDVKI1ALvJfqagPBUAL-txpdZxCgD3nygjdx--BOp9FZ7km_8VxmMS0l9P5F09RDvRJamg3gK2RRuDwESlkXH35-TMNx6autWJMokFp07qlGfpt8OSA4htW3oJZAsJNi0wllrY0XSZ4WqU1rZ7.c2N6sPB2v5QG90o3zobbWLMjIfvJANacnTfgA-ivhh8&dib_tag=se&hvadid=84112998031788&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=88716&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-84113025843009:loc-190&hydadcr=29646_14610018&keywords=nitrocellulose+polish&mcid=d050ee12575a31219025d2540f562b1b&msclkid=91c0551276f918de037e3d7cc9e7c325&qid=1752088477&sr=8-17

Nitrocellulose has the advantage of being more or less easily dissolved with acetone, so, if necessary, knots secured with it can be untied. The only other material I know of that can reliably be dissolved easily is shellac. (In theory, PVA can be dissolved with isopropyl alcohol, but, in my experience, not that easily.) Since I use canned clear shellac extensively as a sealer, I have gone to using it for fastening rigging knots as well, primarily because it's handy and dirt cheap, but also because it soaks into the fibers readily, dries invisibly, is less noxious, being alcohol-based, and dissolves easier than anything else I know of.

 

[Steef66]

That depends on the rope you use. Cotton likes diluted white wood glue. And polyester rope responds best to thin superglue. I have a fine sewing needle to apply the glue. I inserted the needle with the pointed tip into a wooden rod to create a handle and I cut the eye in half. So that this becomes a tiny fork that I use to pick up the glue. This way I can dose very precisely on the knot. The excess glue I remove immediately with the fingers FAST. This immediately removes any shine. You don't need much glue, just enough to keep the knot in shape.



This is the largest eye needle, I have ones that are even smaller and I use them more often.