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Week before last I got back from Nebraska to find the shelf that held my stickered stack of side on the floor of my shop. Fortunately I only lost three sides. One was a quilted Sapele, and the other two were curly Nara. Both were beautiful sets I got from the Zoot man. The Sapele broke across the grain in 3 places total loss. One of the Nara sides broke full length with the grain as did the other pluse a 8” section across the grain.

After crying in my beer for the last two weeks, this weekend I took the pieces of the Nara and CA’d the section that broke with the grain back together and bent it, not figuring it would stay together during the bend, but to my surprise it did. Then I cleaned up the broke edge of the other and bent it. It left me with just enough to bend to the apex of the upper bout. I pipe bent the 8” broken drop on pipe. I was able to assemble the rim into a sharp point cutaway OM. It is not pretty though. I will have visible crack lines where I repaired it. But I just could mot trash it till I tried. This will not be for sale, but we will see it holds up. I think I will add some bias tape on the in side of cutaway return to give it some extra strength as well as along the full length crack on the non cutaway side. I twill look like dung but at least it is not $150 firewood

Time for a dark sunburst! Or some dark transparent finish to just cover up the blunder

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I have been thinking the same thing. I hate that cause it is some beautiful cul in the sides but after profiling the back shape into the sides the crack should fall close enough to the edge thta that will work. A good project to practice sun bust on.

It is amazing what CA will do. I had a walnut side crack 18 in. starting at the lower bout when I was bending. I was very sad because the customer had selected this set. So I figured I had might as well try the CA. I glued it up and was able to finish the bend. I showed it to the customer and explained what had happened. He could not find the crack and said he would still take it. That was the set he wanted and a repaired crack didn't bother him a bit, especially when he couldn't find it. I finished up the instrument and it tuned out beautiful.

CA is amazing stuff.

Josh

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Josh House

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With the grain most of the crack will be mostly invisible. Where it went a bit counter to the grain I think you will be able to tell. I am glad I tried this repair. I started to trash the sides but figured nothing ventured nothing gained.

Michael, could you use the saple for head stocks and tail grafts at least?

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Yes I have already cut it up for such.

Michael...

Short pieces: Side braces; Inlay; Headstock sandwich; End graft; Tools & jigs

Long pieces: Binding/purfling; Lining

NEVER firewood (though it looks like you were kidding--I hope!)!

Nice move on the repair, though. Good thinking!

[QUOTE=Josh H] It is amazing what CA will do.
CA is amazing stuff.

Josh[/QUOTE]

I have had students completely break sides in half during the bending process and still repair them with CA.

fear not, I would not have thrown in the fire if pieces are biger that 2" square. Besides I don't have a fire place a working one anyway

I don't know Michael sounds more to me like a case of defective wood -- I'd seek out the vendor and ask for a replacement

Seriously good on you as I would have continued to cry in my beer!Anthony Z38691.6723958333

[QUOTE=MichaelP] fear not, I would not have thrown in the fire if pieces are biger that 2" square. Besides I don't have a fire place a working one anyway[/QUOTE]

Whew! Glad to hear it! Although...2" square = clamping pad. I'm not picking on you; it's just that, being wood-poor, I've been shocked at what people actually DO throw into the fire! Quality hardwood can almost always be used for something, even if it's just a pad, shim or decoration. Save the butt-ugly stuff for the fire!