I guess I have been lucky with my use of the titebond products for backings, so far. I generally get my surfaces as flat as I can with 40 or 50 grit sandpaper and glue them up which is the same way I do with epoxy. Actually, the first few I made I glued up straight from the band saw with no other prep. The only failures I have had, so far, is with starved glue areas where I tried to clamp in a bend except for one splinter that did not appear to be related to the glue line. I have noticed some creep at the fades when using the TB products for belly lams and prefer the unibond 800 for them, now, and for kerfing in reflexed tips. I have noticed that letting the TB set for more than just the 24 hrs that it recommends is best. Sometimes I may not touch a glued up stave for a week.