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I’ve always been too concerned about Cocobolo’s reputation as a sensitizer to ever use it, but beyond the glue type it’s often recommended to join the pieces immediately after prepping. The idea is to get them joined before the wood’s natural oils can rise to the surface and interfere with the glue.
I don't use cocobolo except as the occasional binding work. I did build one coco guitar and it made me sick. Making a bridge out of coco makes me get watery ichy eyes and bad runny nose. Bindings are not so bad. Not everyone is effected by it, but I've heard some horror stories of allergic reaction to that stuff. It's too bad because I like the color, Ive never used with it enough to get a feel for how it works.
I haven't made a guitar from cocobolo, but I made a jointer plane from it. I use yellow (Titebond) glue, but I find that joints are apt to open up unless the surfaces to be glued are wiped with an organic-solvent-soaked rag, and allowed to dry, before gluing. The solvent I found most effective is toluene, but I think mineral spirits (paint thinner) would work well too.
If we're talking about glue issues due to oily wood, it needs to be glued the same day it's cut. the wiping with alcohol or other solvent doesn't necessarily improve the bond. the idea is that the wood is glued after cutting before the oils creep to the surface. this info I found during work with snakewood.
I actually joined two pieces of cocobolo for a headplate veneer with CA glue, about a week after the pieces were cut. I never used it and it's been rolling around the bottom of my tool bag for shim stock lol. Still holding!
I've only used cocobolo to trim a couple of instruements, but I've glued it with fish glue, hide glue and CA glue. I prep it by wiping it with everclear (95% grain alcohol) and try to glue soon as it flashes off. Don't know if this actually does anything but superstition makes me rub oily things with alcohol. Also, these guitars have only been in the wild for a couple of years so take my experience with a healthy serving of salt.
I currently have a bluegrass cannon going with a cocobolo fb and bridge, its a fun look but who the hell knows how it will sound when it's done. I'll hide glue those when the time comes.
As to the allergies, my previous life as a boatbuilder helped me develop a healthy sensitivity to those oily tropical hardwoods so I wear as much PPE as I have around whenever I have to mess with them: gloves, glasses, mask, long sleeves... the whole tuxedo.
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