Acetone on lams. To be or not to be.

[barley40]

Binghams says not. Brush off with a stiff brush. However I've noticed many bowyers do wipe them with it before glue up. What say you?

[jsweka]

I don't and never had a problem.  However, I did use cocobola for a longbow riser rencently and I did wipe that well with acetone prior to glue up.  In a wood like cocobola, you can actually feel the oils of the wood on the surface.  If you're working with oily woods, it can't hurt.

[jess stuart]

I have done it both ways with success.  It seems the opinions kind of swing back and forth.  I still keep the acetone around but only use it on things that are really dirty.  I feel a fresh sanded surface and a good stiff brush is the best.

[Living_waters]

Grit and oil make adhesion a problem, any oily wood I wipe down for sure and sometimes wipe everything. Acetone has no adverse effects with urac or smooth on don't know about anything else.

[eflanders]

I use it on oily woods only.

[Moen]

Remember, folks. Acetone CAN bring more oil to the surface. Fresh sanded is the best  

[Bob Sarrels]

I don't apply acetone to any surface to be glued with smooth on.  Just sand prior to glueup.

[Sixby]

I agree with the fresh sanding. When doing oily riser or oily veneers I sand close and then I can hit them once taking them to final diminsion immediately before layup. I also believe that acetone will actually bring oil to the surface. I have never had a delamination with the immediate sanding procedure. I did have a bocate veneer delaminate that I had wiped with acetone. Whether or not the acetone was the culprit I don't know. I do know that I do not like to use any of the oily woods as veneers unless I grind them fresh with a fairly rough grit and grind them pretty thin. Like .020 or less.

God bless you all, Steve

[Hootsbow]

grind,brush and glue. I do just like Mr. Sixby, oily lams. .020 and under and grind with 40 grit

[Cambow]

I am an acetone believer... I use it. Better safe than sorry..

[Crooked Stic]

Same here on oily woods heavy grit fresh sand brush and blow off with compressed air and glue.

[Walt Francis]

I rarely use acetone, instead I use denatured alcohol for most  my cleaning because the fumes are not as toxic,  I used the denatured alcohol on about half the laminated bows I have  built without any problems.  However, I have only built 22 laminated bows, so  my experience is much less then others.

[Apex Predator]

I've always used acetone on every lam.  Haven't had a delam yet! Knock on wood!