Glue for regluing pad to wooden shoulder rest?

April 30, 2023, 1:50 AM · For the last two years or so, I've been using a Viva La Musica Professional shoulder rest, which is a wooden shoulder rest with a foam pad. Lately the pad has started to come loose at one end. Is there any particular glue I should use to reglue it? There doesn't seem to be any advice on the company website (even though they sell replacement pads), so far Google has not been very forthcoming with answers for wooden shoulder rests, and the advice I've seen for gluing foam to wood in general seems to depend on the type of foam involved.

Replies (12)

Stan Yates

Edited: April 30, 2023, 10:01 AM · This isn't an answer but I wonder if the replacement pads they sell have a built-in adhesive layer with a peel-off paper cover, with the idea that once it starts coming off you replace it (after gently cleaning the remaining old adhesive with something like alcohol).

Adrian Heath

April 30, 2023, 11:26 AM · Neoprene.

Christian Lesniak

April 30, 2023, 12:03 PM · I forget if I tried some kind of adhesive, but I just threw some rubber bands around mine, and eventually it just stuck back together. Maybe not the most helpful...

Scott Cole

April 30, 2023, 12:26 PM · TiteBond Quick & Thick is excellent for gluing soft materials like felt etc to wood.

Luther Perkins

April 30, 2023, 6:29 PM · TiteBond is a great all purpose glue.I was going to use it on my VLM Pro when the pad came loose but used contact cement instead which was a mistake unless you enjoy a whiff of decaying organic material while you play. Musta been a reaction with the foam. After three months it still has a pong about it. I also considered the old fashioned rubber cement.

Don Noon

May 1, 2023, 7:46 AM · Titebond does not recommend their Quck and Thick glue for for applications where there is moisture. So if you sweat, maybe it isn't good.

I would try the clear non-foaming Gorilla Glue. It's waterproof and no offensive odors like contact cement. I see Gorilla also has "Clear Grip" glue which might work, but I have never used it.

A W

May 1, 2023, 8:23 AM · Super glue worked fine for mine.

Jim Heiman

Edited: May 1, 2023, 9:18 AM · A word of caution about using Gorilla glue as Don suggested. I've used it on many different projects, but be very careful not to get it on your fingers. I did once and couldn't get it off with lighter fluid, alcohol, nail polish remover, nothing worked. I sent a quick note to the manufacturer and their response was "sorry, we don't know of anything that will remove our glue from skin. It just has to wear off." So, if you get it on the tips of your fingers, you may be playing more sharps and flats than you intend to!

Paul Deck

Edited: May 1, 2023, 9:58 AM · Gorilla Glue is a urethane adhesive. Once cured, it isn't soluble in anything that I know of, except perhaps concentrated sulfuric acid, which is NOT a recommended solvent for cleaning something off your skin! The cure would be worse than the disease.

There is a aerosol spray version of the same type of adhesive* called "Super 77" made by 3M. Also you cannot get that on your fingers, in your eyes, etc. Use with great care, and obviously not near your violin. Super 77 is an excellent product. 3M claims that there is enough time with Super 77 to reposition and adjust parts that are to be bonded, but in my experience it depends greatly on the area of the bonded surface. Gluing paper to wood you would have very little repositioning ability.

*Both Gorilla Glue and Super 77 are urethanes -- that's as far as I know. I'm sure there are enough variations in urethane adhesives to justify a full-length textbook on the subject.

Don Noon

May 1, 2023, 6:29 PM · Original Gorilla Glue IS a polyurethane glue, and is advertised as such. The clear non-foaming Gorilla Glue is not advertised as polyurethane, and I don't see any urethane in the ingredients. It might be some vinyl-related glue, and is flexible and rubbery as opposed to the rigid polyurethane version.

Paul Deck

May 2, 2023, 8:20 AM · Ann, I have a closet interest in adhesion so I appreciate the -- cough -- recommendation. :)

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Glue for regluing pad to wooden shoulder rest?

Replies (12)

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