hammer-shank glue joint

[Ron Nossaman]

>  >...what glue was used to install the hammers? I somehow suspect it 
> wasn't hot hide...
> 
> I just reset about 75 notes on a grand which had new hammers
> installed with hot hide glue about 7 years ago.  I reglued them
> with Bolduc's Wood Glue which I use exclusively now for hammers
> since I have experienced hot hide failure when using distilled or tap
> water and premium glue crystals.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Jon Page

The only time I've seen hot hide glue fail is when the 
installer scraped it off of the shank with the sharp edge of 
the hammer bore hole. Countersink the hole edge before 
installing, and glue is funneled into the joint instead of 
being squeegeed off. Do this on a reasonably close fitting 
joint, apply glue to both surfaces, leave a decent glue 
collar, and you don't get glue failures.

Ron N