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As I was pressing a pearl inlay in place, it cracked a couple of places and the black CA soaked into the cracks (pic attached). Can it be fixed, or at least improved? Can I scrape out some of the black CA and fill with clear CA and pearl dust maybe? Any ideas? Thanks for looking!

Sondre

I would doubt you will get the black CA out to any degree, such that filling the crevace left would be acceptable - IMO .. route it out and start over. Nothing can replace the look of solid pearl - dust or CA will be dull.

Dont route it so tight - leave a small gap to get it in - it will fill just fine.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Sorry I am not familiar if this is a special logo. If not, you might want to consider intricate engraving. If you do not like the result, you can still route it and start over.

Thanks for the advice. I will probably try to scrape and fill the crevaces with something opaque first. If it turns out worse than it is now, I'll put it out of its misery and do it over again.

Thanks, and keep it coming.

Don't waste your time routing and trying to fill it. It will only make it look MUCH worse. With something that simple just route it out and re-do it. Give yourself a .05MM rout gap next time around it. It will look invisible when done.

Craig L

www.handcraftinlay.com

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Ok....Just an artist thought here. Scratch in a few more lines in different directions (in a no rhyme or reason pattern) near where the cracks are and graduate more scratch lines closer together towards the tail ends of the design. Important not to make the lines uniform to each other in any way and try not to crisscross the lines. Us the same black drop fill... sand down and see what you think. It will look a bit organic ....but will look on purpose. Might be worth the small amount of effort before routing out and starting all over.

Kent

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Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

Live with it or do it all over. Scratch and fill will make it worse.

I can tell you that it does not stand out as a mistake. It looms large to you now, but it really isn't a big deal, and will fade as soon as you make your next mistake.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

What Howard said...plus two. Personally, I think one can always use a little more inlay practice. A good thing to get good at.

Michael

I'd re do it but first I'd try and heat it up with a heat gun or heat lamp and see if you can't get the inlay to out. Heating it up will loosen the CA sometimes. I had pieces come out on fretboards before when heating the tongue with a heat lamp for a neck reset. You might try using a dental pick that Harbor Freight sales to help it out of the pocket or maybe a sewing pin . It just depends on how tight it is in the pocket. If you get it out you might be able to get the black off the crack with acetone or soak them in acetone and see what happens. If it comes out and off you can re use it and use clear CA this time. The crack will be noticeable but not all that bad if you don't want to make a new one.
Worth a shot before routing. Just a thought.
If you try the heat make sure you shield the surrounding area with cardboard or something.

Kent, I actually considered that. It remains an option..


Glad to hear that you have faith in me I guess that irregular center seam on your avatar loomed large to you when you first discovered it too

On a serious note, though, I think you are very right. Maybe I'll just leave it for now and do it better next time instead. Luckily, I am the mistake-making type, so this mistake should fade pretty quickly

Thanks again!
Sondre

possibly break it in couple of more places...that way it will look its part of the inlay???? just a thought , like abalone the more breaks the better so it seems??

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MK5acoustics.com

I think that is a good suggestion, at least the only viable one for saving that piece. As others have said I presume from experience like mine you will never ever be able to fix that. I have no patience for pearl because of stuff like that. Good luck.