Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey guys,

I had a recent issue where I had to pull my X braces because I had a bad glue
joint and during the process I knicked my top a few times and even in some
cases where the X brace will be glued. My question is is there a way to fill
those gaps so I don't have a bad glue joint again. Can I use spruce dust and
CA glue to fill those? Thanks guys. Again I really appreciate your help.

blessings,

Ross

I am thinking your top is off and all other braces are glued up and your talking what will be inside of box, is that right? If so, level the X brace areas with a sanding block if you can. Main concern is having a good glueing surface for the X glue up. The rest of the stuff is cosmetic and sand out the best you can and leave it since not easily visible from sound hole. If can get them all great, but don't chase them to deep and get areas to thin, which probably won't happen anyway if around .125 thick +/- a few thou. If knicks are outsid of top, several options. You can steam out and sand most of the time.

Hey Stan,

Thanks for responding. Yeah the top is off and I do have most of my other
braces glued on already. My concern is that I have few gouges under where
my X braces will be contacting the top. Is it necessary to fill those and if so
how. Thanks.

Ross

Ross, just for safety sake, I'd fill them with dust/ca and then make sure they are flat as a, well, board so that they don't cause the opposite problem and make voids on either side of the fill.

Sounds good Paul. Will do. Thanks.

Ross