Official Luthiers Forum!

I just cracked a backplate on this set while moving it around and I am considering what to do with it now....the crack is nearly in the middle of a back plate for 1/2 of the length....not repairable in my books...I know this is a long shot, but does anyone have an orphan back to match the sides?




Thanks,

Laurie

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Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

For discussion, Why do you feel the crack in not repairable? If the crack was clean and no wood segments are missing a hot hide glue repair done well would be pretty much invisible and stronger than it was in the original state. but a picture would help. My guess it happened along the boundry of the spalt at the lower bout. that could be an issue but don't know.

Michael - I was considering it unrepairable because it won't go back together very well. I would have no issues glueing it, but it is far too noticable for me. Besides, the set had some warping issues, which I think explains the visible line when forced back together...it just doesn't fit right.

Here are some pics of the crack - I would still like to use this set if I could, so I'm open to suggestions...





Thanks,

Laurie

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Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

In my inexperienced opinion..... I think that it is repairable. The crack is relatively with the grain so even though it is hard for you to push it together by hand it could possibly be salvaged and under finish not be noticed.

If you used a flat table with waxed paper beneath the side and another on top with a weight to keep the sides in the same plane. Then wedge the side together (similar to the taped method of joining back or top pieces) just after applying some medium viscosity CA. Put the top wax paper on, another flat board and the weight and let it set. You should still be able to bend it after cleanup. Even if it separated some after bending you may be able to clamp it back together.

Hopefully some of the more experienced will chime in!

Good luck!

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Steve Walden
Aspiring Builder,
Bartlesville, OK

I notice you have both a cut-out and standard body shape drawn on there. If your using the cut-out shape, you can run a saw kerf up the crack where it is touching outside your outline and that will give you room to close up the crack where it is within the body shape.

Steve

Or make a 3 piece back, with a large central darker brown wedge?

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Build log

Sure looks like it should close up fine and if glued with HHG would not show much if at all if properly closed but I don't have it in hand so can't say for sure.

Laurie,

I think Steven made an excellent observation, that the crack would be fighting much less wood to be able to be be glued tightly if the cutaway segment was removed.

It's worth a shot, anyway.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia