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I have bent and blocked the sides, installed the linings and contoured to rims. I was getting ready to start on the back braces and noticed theses cracks on the back. They do not go to the end grain, but look unsightly. The back is around .100" thick. I resawed these about 7-8mo ago. Do I scrap this project or continue?

Thanks
Richard

I would say flood it with CA, cleat the inside, cross your fingers and let it sit for a little while to see what else it does. Been there done that, part of "Mexican crack wood". When its all done it sure will be pretty, worth the extra effort!
Good luck,
Mikey

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Yes, i also think flooding with CA is the best, and probably the only way to save this back. In my opinion, after resawing this back you should have let it dry and settle much longer then 7-8 month, more like 7-8 years!!!!!

best regards, alex

If this guitar is for you I would say continue. Do fill with CA and cleat or even use reinforcement strips. The finish might make the the cracks less visible. If the guitar is for someone else I would look for an orphan back and set the project up for awhile. Ziricote is prone to cracking but much more so if the wood is flat sawn as yours is. If you look for another back set make sure it is mostly quarter sawn or at least the flat sawn portion is only at the very outside of the lower bout. The problem with your piece is that the flat sawn portion has the entire length of the back to release its stresses.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Beautiful stuff - be a shame to scrap it. I'm with the others. Flood it wit CA and see what happens. IF you take care to line it up properly it might just be totally invisible, once it's under finish.

Heck NO!

do not scrap that. I just bound 2 ziricote boxes, and I think they have FINALLY stopped cracking. It seemed like every other day, I would go to the shop and find another crack, with humidity changes of no more than 42 - 47%. What I did was take the guitars to work, where the humidity is about 36%, and let them crack their final amounts...I took them home back to 42%, and wiped in a thick CA over the backs and have not had a problem since.

Beautiful wood, you just have to work with it....

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

I definitely think you should scrap it and send it to me. Please let me know where to send my address.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

thanks Nick at least I know I don't have to use it for kindling, it will always have a good home.

This guitar is not for anyone particular just what I call one of the "1st 10" learners. I will give flooding a try. If I understand correctly I use thin CA and a CC to apply to the front and back surfaces. Do you perform this process once or repeat? I assume you sand back to the wood then brace as usual?

Thanks
Richard

Take care of the crack first, then flood the whole surface, if that's what you decide.
Use clamps to be sure you hold both sides of the cracked surface in line while the
CA cures. After you get this crack stabilized, you can go for the whole surface. Be
sure to have ventilation- a window fan or similar. CA gives off very nasty fumes-you
don't want to breathe them or get them in your eyes.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

This CA is the best for this fix. There may be cracks that you don't see. The thin CA will wick itself into those as well . The CA'd crack will actually be stronger than the wood itself.

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