D-18 side patch

[Bob Gaddis]

I'm working on a 1972 D-18 that has a small hole punched in the lower treble bout. Bumped against a cast-iron fish cooker. I salvaged the piece but couldn't get it back into the hole because of the torn grain. So I'm patching. I have an old D-18 side from the 1833 shop that I will use for the transplant. The only thing I can't decide on is the shape of the patch. I can cut a patch the same shape as the existing hole, or cut a football-shape patch, or a hexagon patch or a diamond patch or a rectangular patch. Decisions, decisions. How do y'all vote? The guitar has been neglected and I've already patched the divots in the fingerboard and am using a new Martin "saddle-back" bridge to cover up the damage from a previous bad bridge-gluing the previous owner did. The finish is checked some, but the top has turned a nice orange-y color. The neck has some capo scars and a large rub from a cheap case, which I'm currently filling and leveling. SO, it's not pristine, just a decent player.

[Tim Mace]

I knocked a hole in my '55 D-28 30 something years ago about .25in by 2in and opted for a like size fix. I still have trouble
locating it. Looking at yours I think I'd match the grain and size and slap it in. Mahogany isn't it? Very easy to
work with if you can match the color/grain.

[Ron Frazier]

I would use the piece as it will reflect the same as the rest of the wood. Glue in what pieces you have then nail hole patch the gaps . You will have several small holes this way.

Ron

[William F.Eden]

I had i guy bring me a D-18 one day when I was down in Florida for a holiday and it had a hole just like that on the top bout .I just took a piece of Mahogany wood a close match and shaped it like the conture of the bout and reached in side of the guitar held it over the hole and traced the shap of the hole with an xato blade. Then I removed about an 1\8" of the wood leving the shap of the hole proud like a releaf carving.Then sanded the back side down thin glued it all up stuck it in the hole . After it dried I sanded it outside,And refinished the sides,When he came to pick it up he could not find the repair, [P.S I don't know if he was disapointed that he could'nt see it or not?] Bill:::::::

[Bob Gaddis]

Well, I had to cut the splinters out so I'm left with a patch. the original piece is too small to be much good. I know how to fix it, just trying to decide which patch shape will be less noticeable. I dry-fit a couple of test patches but I need to cut a piece that's a;ready bent or bend a flat piece. I think I'll opt for the original shape. If I can't make it work, I'll go for a symmetric patch.