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1930 Gibson L-00 repair
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=35903		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Tai Fu [ Mon Mar 26, 2012 5:36 am ]
Post subject:  1930 Gibson L-00 repair
I have a 1930 (I don't remember the year, the FON number begins with 7 and is 3 digits), with a loose bridge... here are some photos:

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First, I need to remove the through cut saddle, so I soak the joint with water and apply a wet cloth and soldering iron to slowly steam it out:

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Then protect the finish with aluminum foil so that the heat does not damage the finish:

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15 minutes later, the bridge is off. I need to let the bridge cool for about a day before going any further since the heat will have warped the bridge:

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More to come...
Author:  Chris Pile [ Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
Good so far... keep us informed.
Great pix, too!
Author:  jfmckenna [ Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
I bet that guitar has a story or two to tell.
Author:  Jeff Highland [ Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
The foil didn't really protect the finish did it?
Judging by the spot in front of the bridge it just conducted the heat thru
Author:  WilliamS [ Mon Mar 26, 2012 5:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
When I've used the heat lamp method I've used thick poster board under several layers of foil to avoid that.
Author:  Tai Fu [ Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
Jeff Highland wrote:
The foil didn't really protect the finish did it?
Judging by the spot in front of the bridge it just conducted the heat thru


Yea, I'll have to do a little finish repair there... but the spot was fading away because I think a little bit of moisture was somehow introduced into the area and as the moisture evaporated, the spot was going away. Luckily since the finish was already in such a bad shape, I can blend it in.

I've never managed to heat a bridge off without some kind of finish damage around the bridge... when I tried the cardboard shield the heat still managed to conduct through the foil and cardboard, and I found the key is to make sure the iron does not touch anything besides the bridge, but given the height of the bridge, there isn't much I can use to shield the guitar without making it higher than the bridge.

I haven't managed to find any heat lamp since incandescent lights are difficult to find in Taiwan, the only thing I can think of at the moment is those 500w halogen lights but I'll need some time to rig them to safely work with guitars. I was thinking of getting some heating blankets for repairs but noticed LMI no longer carried them! Don't tell me they're discontinued like the Wagner Safe T Planer...
Author:  jfmckenna [ Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
I use some sort of cloth fire retardant material available at a local hardware store. You can cut it with scissors to fit what ever application as necessary.
Author:  Mike Lindstrom [ Mon Mar 26, 2012 11:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
Tai Fu wrote:
[
... I was thinking of getting some heating blankets for repairs but noticed LMI no longer carried them! Don't tell me they're discontinued like the Wagner Safe T Planer...


I was just looking at them the other day but didn't get one yet. I've had good luck with both the iron or the halogen lamp. Double layer of cardboard covered with foil. Last bridge, insulated with a wadded up bath towel. I put a wet paper towel under the iron to keep it from scorching the bridge. Steamed it off in a matter of seconds.

Looks like they're in stock now. Maybe there was a glitch in their site? Check for SPBL1

Mike
Author:  Tai Fu [ Mon Mar 26, 2012 11:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
Mike Lindstrom wrote:
Tai Fu wrote:
[
... I was thinking of getting some heating blankets for repairs but noticed LMI no longer carried them! Don't tell me they're discontinued like the Wagner Safe T Planer...


I was just looking at them the other day but didn't get one yet. I've had good luck with both the iron or the halogen lamp. Double layer of cardboard covered with foil. Last bridge, insulated with a wadded up bath towel. I put a wet paper towel under the iron to keep it from scorching the bridge. Steamed it off in a matter of seconds.

Looks like they're in stock now. Maybe there was a glitch in their site? Check for SPBL1

Mike


Yea, I never did get one just because right now I barely have enough money to pay rent and bills, and needed what I have left to buy air conditioning units. I thought those heating blankets are better to heat bridges off since I can concentrate the heat only on the bridge rather than risk melting the finish around the bridge. I think next time I'll try wet towels on top of the bridge to see if I can heat it off faster with less damage...
Author:  Tai Fu [ Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
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Taped around the intended site of the bridge to create sort of a "dam" so I don't get lost in the liquid glue... then leveled the inside of the bridge and glued and clamped it up...
Author:  Colin North [ Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
What type of glue are you using?
Author:  nyazzip [ Tue Mar 27, 2012 3:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
an old wool sweater/shirt/sports jacket from a thrift shop would work great, with foil as an outer shell. cheap too. wool can't be beat as an insulator
Author:  Tai Fu [ Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
Colin North wrote:
What type of glue are you using?


Hide glue
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
nyazzip wrote:
. . . wool can't be beat as an insulator

Ewe got that right!
Author:  letseatpaste [ Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
Bryan Bear wrote:
nyazzip wrote:
. . . wool can't be beat as an insulator

Ewe got that right!


Shear genius.
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Tue Mar 27, 2012 4:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
letseatpaste wrote:
Bryan Bear wrote:
nyazzip wrote:
. . . wool can't be beat as an insulator

Ewe got that right!


Shear genius.

Poor Tai, his thread will be fleeced if we keep this up.
Author:  jfmckenna [ Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
Bryan Bear wrote:
Poor Tai, his thread will be fleeced if we keep this up.

Could these jokes get any worsted?
Author:  Alex Kleon [ Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
jfmckenna wrote:
Bryan Bear wrote:
Poor Tai, his thread will be fleeced if we keep this up.

Could these jokes get any worsted?
Time to give it the chop. beehive

Alex
Author:  Corky Long [ Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
letseatpaste wrote:
Bryan Bear wrote:
nyazzip wrote:
. . . wool can't be beat as an insulator

Ewe got that right!


Shear genius.


Udderly hysterical
Author:  Tai Fu [ Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
Can I like shave my cat, and then turn it into cat-wool so I can use it to insulate a guitar?

Or maybe I should buy a ton of aerogel.... I heard they are so good as an insulator that you can actually place a flower on it with a blowtorch flame right below it.
Author:  Tai Fu [ Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1930 Gibson L-00 repair
Ok the repair is finished...

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