[ Rich Ingram wrote in 110104 MMDigest:

> The idea behind using hide glue on deck boards (and other wood-to-wood
> joints) is that the part is easier removed for repair or rebuilding.
> Any other glue makes it next to impossible to separate the part without
> breaking it.

I have also believed this for many years but have just learned that this
statement is actually not really correct, at least in this case.

I was astounded at how easily the pneumatics that were originally(!)
attached with the modern glue (which I was told could be PPCo plastic
glue) could be removed.  It was an absolute pleasure to remove them,
compared to hide glue.  The pneumatics just peeled off the deck
carefully, and there was absolutely no damage.

The same was true for the xylophone and drum beaters, brackets and
other attachments -- everything separated and came apart very nicely.
The glue itself actually separated and remaining glue layers could be
scraped and sanded off.

Whatever glue was used here, it is definitely not a PVA type wood
glue.  It seems to form a plastic or rubber layer sort of like silicone
but it is _not_ silicone.  From the replies I got here, the glue was
possibly PVC-E glue but I am not able to verify this at the present
time since I don't have any.

I also had no trouble rebuilding the instrument with hide glue since,
but it is a real shame to glue the pneumatics to the deck knowing that
they will have to be chiseled off by the next rebuilder.

Don't get me wrong here, I also advocate hide glue for just about
everything.  However, if I were to build a new instrument, I wouldn't
hesitate to use the modern glue, at least to attach the pneumatics to
the decks.

Kind regards,
Bernt Damm
Sydney