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Stop it...

What is the best way to glue up a top crack like this?? Or... does anyone have any 1948 era Martin sitka tops hanging around?





thanks.

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

Chris,

If it were me I'd try humidifying the top to close the crack, then I'd use HHG to glue. Just put the top in a clear plastic bag with a couple of damp sponges, and when it closes up, well you know the rest.

Cal

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Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!

One farmer says to the other farmer - I have the meanest animal in the world in my swamp....

The other farmer wants to see it so off they go to the first farmer's swamp.

Upon reaching the animal the second farmer says - Oh my... it's got the head of an alligator at one end and the head of a crocodile at the other end - amazing! After a short period of admiring the weird creature the second farmer asks "but how does it poop?"

The first farmer replies "it can't - that's why it's so mean....."

Sorry to hear about your crack Chris.

It looks like this may be the center seam where the top was joined but I can't tell for sure from your pics. Rehumidifing to close the crack and hopefully nothing is in the way of it closing completely either - I see it moving into rosette territory. Hopefully if it closes completely you can wick in some HHG and the great thing about HHG is if the original HHG is present in the opened seam that too should reactivate with the addition of some nice, hot, runny new HHG.

Once that's done no need to cleat in as much as the bridge plate and X-brace will be great cross-joint reinforcements.

Chris bro I love seeing old geetars brought back so please be sure to post more pics of what you are doing? Thanks.

Chris,

See what the repair people have to say here but it looks to me like it will need a spruce split of some sort in there. Try posting on the MIMF or looking through the archives there as there are lots of repair people that post on fixes like this one.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Thanks guys for advice and anecdotes which had me scouring for a big plastic bag while tears ran down my face thinking of the farmer's crack-less swamp lizard.

If all goes well, it will close up... good idea. If it doesn't work out, I'll hit the other watering holes. Dave, I didn't mention, it is along the center seam. Hopefully this will close without the need for a splint.

chris

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

Good luck but from the photos I think that "hopefully" is probably the right word to use.

_________________
Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Gold stars for Cal and Hesh... the moist paper towel worked like a charm. It swelled the spruce back together nice and tight. I added little hot hide glue from the inside and worked the edges against each other a little just to get the glue in and, "shazaam!", two pieces become one again.



Dave... there is always room for hope, thankfully this time it worked out.

_________________
Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

Chris,

Too true - I'm glad it closed up for you. Always travel hopefully

_________________
Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Way-to-go Chris - nice job!

It's amazing when properly employed what some wet towels, a large plastic bag, and time to re-humidify can do.... What can be our nemesis - dryness.... can also be used as a tool when we consider introducing either dryness or humidity into a repair situation.