# Best glue/method for reattaching binding to acoustic guitar? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 16, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-glue-method-for-reattaching-binding-to-acoustic-guitar/774879 "2016-12-16T19:26:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-glue-method-for-reattaching-binding-to-acoustic-guitar/774879/1 "2016-12-16T19:26:41Z")
The binding is coming off my beloved Guild D6 in places. It seems like it would be a pretty straightforward thing to google what glue is best to use to reattach it, but I see a number of different opinions online. Somebody says to use Durabond, someone else says that can ruin the finish-- use Titebond III instead. Titebond is more of a wood glue I think, but apparently it works because the binding typically has wood fibers still adhering to it- so it’s kind of a safe, compromise solution I guess. But it seems like a glue that depends on still-adhered wood fibers is not going to be the best fix or last terribly long. I know a lot of dopers play guitar-- what have you guys used? Thanks! EDIT: Urgh, I see I misspelled the word “binding” in the title. I’m sure people will get the general idea, but if a kindly mod happens by and wants to fix it, I would be grateful ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-glue-method-for-reattaching-binding-to-acoustic-guitar/774879/2 "2016-12-16T19:36:15Z")
I can’t recommend a type of glue but if this is a \*beloved \*guitar then I would go to a reputable luthier and they probably won’t charge much. It could well be a DIY job but if you’ve never done this before there is a chance you could end up in worse shape if you make a mistake in either selecting the right adhesive or applying it. Also–where do you live? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-glue-method-for-reattaching-binding-to-acoustic-guitar/774879/3 "2016-12-16T20:35:11Z")
My wife is the fiddlemaker, not me. If this is something you may wish to remove at any future point - say for repairs, you’ll want to consider hide glue. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-glue-method-for-reattaching-binding-to-acoustic-guitar/774879/4 "2016-12-16T20:51:26Z")
Another LOUD vote for a professional luthier. This is one of those things that ANY “ooops” will be the first thing a person sees. Any time you have a line, the eye follows it around. If there is a break - even a tiny one, it will scream “Screwed Up”. It is too nice of a guitar to risk it. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-glue-method-for-reattaching-binding-to-acoustic-guitar/774879/5 "2016-12-16T20:53:21Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I can’t recommend a type of glue but if this is a \*beloved \*guitar then I would go to a reputable luthier and they probably won’t charge much. It could well be a DIY job but if you’ve never done this before there is a chance you could end up in worse shape if you make a mistake in either selecting the right adhesive or applying it. > > Also–where do you live? Thanks CWG, I thought of going to a luthier, but I had a luthier fix another problem a few years ago and he was so backed up he had my guitar for a month or more. I don’t want to be apart for that long. Also, it doesn’t seem like it would be all that difficult, as long as I knew the best glue to use. But maybe I will look up local luthiers and call a few just to see what it would take. Metro Detroit area, West Bloomfield MI specifically. EDIT: I see usedtobe chimed in with another vote for luthier while I was typing. OK thanks, I will definitely make some calls. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-glue-method-for-reattaching-binding-to-acoustic-guitar/774879/6 "2016-12-16T22:20:12Z")
The only guitars I’ve done any DIY work on were guitars I wouldn’t have minded accidentally destroying all that much. It might seem like a quick dab of glue should do the trick, but I’d consult a professional first. Or at least practice my gluing and clamping technique on a junk guitar beforehand. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-glue-method-for-reattaching-binding-to-acoustic-guitar/774879/7 "2016-12-16T22:45:26Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@solost](#): > > Urgh, I see I misspelled the word “binding” in the title. I’m sure people will get the general idea, but if a kindly mod happens by and wants to fix it, I would be grateful Fixed. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-glue-method-for-reattaching-binding-to-acoustic-guitar/774879/8 "2016-12-16T22:53:45Z")
Thanks engineer comp geek! You’re one of the good robots. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-glue-method-for-reattaching-binding-to-acoustic-guitar/774879/9 "2016-12-16T23:34:28Z")
Call **Elderly Music** and ask them what their turnaround time would be. ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-glue-method-for-reattaching-binding-to-acoustic-guitar/774879/10 "2016-12-17T01:44:21Z")
If you do it yourself. Use one of the plain wood glues, that is water soluble till it dries. You want a good bond. So you will likely have some glue squeeze out when you press in the strip. Have a slightly damp cloth ready to completely wipe off the excess. Any of the more exotic adhesives may have chemicals that could react with the finish. Plan out your method for clamping the piece in place during drying time. Don’t glue the clamping device on by accident. Try and keep the area accessible in case you need to wipe any more seepage away.