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I have a guitar that needs a bridge graft. How deep to you usually make them, of what type of wood, and what is the grain orientation? And, are they considered permanent fixes, or is total future top fail likely? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks

Med do you mean a bridge plate?

Nope, I mean damage in the top from routing too deep for the bridge. I need to inlay a graft to bring the level of the wood up flush with the rest of the top.

So, are you saying that you cleared off finish (or something) in the bridge area to attach the bridge and went too deep with the router and you want to build up material? If so, I think you scrapped the top. IMO, whatever you do to salvage this situation will be a band-aid fix at best and the guitar will never be quite right.

In theory, you could glue a well fit spruce patch into the void and then attach the bridge. How deep did you go?

.040 precisely. I feel no need to scrap the top as it's a guitar for my own use. I see little difference in having done it by accident (note, it's a good idea to use the same material thickness when making similar jigs, I can prove it!)...and having done it intentionally to repair damage from a torn off/poorly removed bridge. I'm just wondering what the ratio should be. Stop where it is? Go deeper so it's 50/50? 60/40? Which way to orient the grain?I would imagine lengthwise, but that may be wrong.

If did it and not say or even sure I would without seeing it, I would work with what have and for sure not go deeper. Would get a cutoff of the top and use that is same grain direction and use hhg, or leave it alone and put bridge on it, pretty thin though particularly with neck and string tension. But like said, I am not sure would even do and after cussiing do another top. Up to you, works great, not a lesson. Guess you got the 9-11 thou of finish off. I know this is rude, but why did you have it set so deep to begin with? Another reason I tape the bridge area off so don't have to mess with it.

Nah, it's not rude, it's funny. I have different jigs for different bridges made out of material of different thicknesses and I set the depth for one and forgot to reset it for the other. Oops. That's OK, if it falls off in five years I'll stick it back on somehow. It's a homekeeper and not a for saler so sad but oh well. I just need to know which way to orient the grain of the patch, if there is consensus.

Since its for you I'd just glue in a patch with hhg and put the bridge on. If it doesn't work out you can always retop it. Just my opinion as I'm certainly no expert in bridge repairs.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"