Side Crack Gap Filling?

[Jeff Perkins]

I have a Martin OM in the shop right now with a side crack. I've already aligned and glued the crack together, and it's come together nice and flush. But, there's a gap in a couple of places. I'm curious what you guys do when you have a cracked side that lines up nicely, but there's still a small gap along the crack, about .015" - .050" wide. What do you use to fill in the crack before finish work? I've tried everything from using sawdust and superglue then scraping to trying to inlay thin mahogany laminate and cut it off flush, and everything in between. I've had pretty good results with different methods, but was curious what you guys do in this situation. I usually use crack alignment jigs to get it flush while gluing reinforcements inside. I have just bought some vintage amber superglue, but haven't used it yet. I wondered how that would turnout if i put tape on the inside of the crack and filled in the gap with this tinted superglue?  And, this is a repair that will be requiring refinish touchup after words, by the client. He wants it as invisible as possible. Below are some close ups of the crack. Just hoping to hear some good ideas!!!

[William F.Eden]

jeff   If it were me fixing it I would take a three corner file and file the crack open clean of splinters then I would find a piece of Mahogany and cut some small three corner splints two or three inches long and glue them in one at a time with supper glue tapering the ends so that each piece over laps the one I just guled in all proud of the sides then sand it all down flush.You will be able to fill the fine cracks with super- glue. Then I take some water base rosewood stain and rub it into the repair .once it is refinshed you will not see the repair. P.S  I would rather do the whole repair as by the time you have it fixed you have done all the work any way .Just my way of doing things as I have had pepole  come to have an Intrument refinished but want me to do all the work of striping it and then want to put the finish on there self.      no no Bill..............

[Ned Knepp]

I'm with Bill on this.  Those gaps look like wood fiber loss to me and I would fill them with a splint rather than glue. 

[Kerry Krishna]

 Jeff, what William wrote above, as about the only option I can see for you. There HAS to be wood filling the gap, and that is a pretty darn big gap!  Dig out that ol' triangle file and go to work there Bucko!  Send us some pics of the work in progress too if you can, We like to live vicariously on this Forum... 

[Tim Mace]

Judging by the length ..wouldn't a reenforcement(linen patch) along the inside help check future spreading?Along w/ other suggestions btw...

[Jeff Perkins]

I will put up pics as I go, just for you Kerry. :)

[Jeff Perkins]

Thanks guys, that's exactly what I thought I should do. Just wanted a unanimous decision, and it looks like I got one.

[Jeff Perkins]

Here are a couple of pics showing where I am. I've just inlaid splints in two places, and finished gluing / lining up the point of impact crack with my alignment jig.  

[Jeff Perkins]

Here is a pic of the splints installed and sanded almost flush. Still have more work to do, but Kerry wanted pics as I go along.

[William F.Eden]

It's coming right along Jeff looking good don't forget to seal the new piece befor the shade coulor.Good luck Bill.............

[Jeff Perkins]

Not to sound stupid, but could you elaborate on what you would use to seal it? And you talk about adding color after the sealer. How does the color "stick" to the sealed area. I say this because I've had bad results trying to get color to stick to a superglued area. Could you just give me a rundown of the whole process you would use. Thanks!

[William F.Eden]

I just use lacquer to seal the new wood then I brush on the stain and rub it in were i want it let dry and shade in the rest of the lacquer with the sprayer. I find that the tobacco brown or vintage amber lacquer mix is about the right color for that guitar. Please don't think you are stupid just because you ask a question . we all are in a learning mode and if you are not  you have a problem. I am not a very good speller but that don't stop me from trying to explian my self.   If i do a touch up spray i will come back about an hour latter and rub off the over spray . ..good luck .Bill.........

[Jeff Perkins]

Thanks BIll. That's exactly what I would normally do anyway. I was just curious if you were using a different method than me. I appreciate your help! :)