Nasty side crack that was poorly glued

[Matt Haugen]

I have an old Framus Jumbo flea market find. The guitar is in poor condition and has had 1 very poor repair done. I am wondering what my options might be to repair a side crack that has dried glue in it. My idea is to focus steam in the area of the glue and try to clean it out with dental tools. I do fear that in an attempt to repair, I will end up with a lot of chipping and could essentially spend hours or days cleaning this mess only to end up with a repair that looks just as bad as the original hack job that was done. Please take a look at the pictures and let me know what you might try or do here. I also should note that the guitar cost $20.00, so I am not interested in putting a new side on, my goal is to keep it original.

[Matt Haugen]

Here is another pic.

[David Ballinger]

I personally would avoid steam if possible. You open the possibility of creating more cracks. Perhaps an infrared lamp providing you shield the rest of the guitar from the heat.

[Mark Pollock]

I don't see this being improved much after a huge amount of effort. You could just make sure that the sides are well reinforced, and then clean the cracks a bit with a chisel, and drop fill a lot of shellac to smooth it out a bit.

[Matt Haugen]

Hi Mark, I was thinking of just reinforcing, but my issue and what I should have mentioned earler is that there are areas of this crack that are glued with the top of the crack distending over 1/16th beyond the lower section of the crack. If it were at least glued evenly I could more easily live with the ugliness of the work done.

[Hesh Breakstone]

I agree with Mark.  Sometimes what makes our tasks even more difficult than they needed to be is that a non-servicable repair with non-servicable glues, etc. was done prior.  We frequently see lifted bridges that someone squirted CA in the void....  It's enough to ruin one's day I tell ya.... ;)

Also in agreement with Mark regarding the amount of effort required when the end results may not be much better.  It might be a good idea to check the neck angle as well - it could be that this puppy needs a neck reset and that repairing the side is just one of many dominoes that need to fall.

[Ned Knepp]

I can't see the whole guitar, Matt and it seems like I say this all the time but I would pull the back and see what was inside. If your going to heat the sides enough to clean out the old glue, I'd rather do that from  the inside anyway or I'd end up with a lot of bubbled up finish. 

[Matt Haugen]

Thanks for all of the input. To give more background on this guitar, I have previously removed the back. I had several loose braces, and a destroyed bridge plate. The neck is also cracked at the heel and a neck reset is most certainly in order. I know the guitar is a basket case, but I am an amateur and consider this guitar another lesson on skill building. I don't mind putting in all the time knowing I would not be able to recoup my costs time wise. It is a beauty though and IMO most certainly worth bringing back to life. I will post some pictures of the outside of the guitar tonight assuming anyone cares to take a look. It is a beauty with a really lovely aged sunburst finish and an arched back. The lower bout measures 18". I haven't seen a Framus like this one before, I doesn't have the metal coverings on the bridge ( a real tone killer I assume), based on my experiences, I would think this was once the top of the line acoustics made by them.

[Matt Haugen]

Here are soe more pics.

[Ned Knepp]

Cool guitar, Matt. I completely understand about bring back an old guitar even if you won't make anything for your time. That's why it's a hobby.

[John]

Looks a bit like this one

http://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/patching-a-side?id=2177249%3A...

[Kerry Krishna]

Matt, you must truly love this axe to be doing all this work to it, and that IS quite the list already. I'll point out now, that the best time to fix this would have been while the back was off. Things are much more complicated because you did not. I am with the other folks here. Get some magnets and look at the ways to use them for this repair, cut some reinforcement strips/diamonds, and put them in leaving all the rest of it. 

[Matt Haugen]

Hi Kerry and thanks for the post. Sorry if I wasn't clear, but I do have the back removed. No plans to put it back on for quite a while. I don't know that I have so much a love for this guitar, but a love for bringing the ones back to life that are really far gone. I have been repairing guitars for almost 10 years now and the repairs that really excite me are the ones with the longest list of issues. Popping the back off of an old guitar is better than opening a Christmas present. I have yet to find a signature or anything significant, but I feel like it bonds me in way to the gent who sealed it up all those years ago. Like I have said, I am just an amature, but I always do my research and treat these old guitars as if they were vintage Martins. Now I assure you I have put many hours in on guitars that have been a big disappointment in the end, but I am sure most on here can relate to that feeling that comes when the last work day has arrived and the stings go on and final set-up happens. What a thrill to play some notes.... Anywho, I have decided to attach the crack/glue with an exacto. I made some mahogany side strips, so once I clean out the mess, I will reinforce the sides and then thiink about splicing some new wood in if need be. It will be a great oppertunity to work on my blending skills.