Top separation

[Christian Johnson]

Gibson Hummingbird took a top bash.  Top separated from the lining on center bass bout for about 6 inches.  A few cracks in lining as well.  The black and white purfling is still attached to the top, but top has separated from the binding.  I can push it back down with minimal pressure.  I'm thinking work titebond down into  the crack with fingers, plexiglass caul and clamp.  Top wound is a whole other problem.  Spruce is crushed and deformed, and stain is chipping/missing. but still holding to lining and binding.

Other ideas?

[Russell Vance]

Hi Christian,

Nope, the titebond is good for the compromised wood substrate and does an ok job on the plastic binding and allows a detailed cleanup after the glue has gone off with little risk to the surrounding surface and finish.   These days I usually drizzel a little thin CA on the "inside the box" side of the repair area after the Titebond has set - this stabilises and glues the area we can't see all that well,  it'll also witness cracks that still exit on the outside so tape up the outside with some brown plastic packing tape before doing this (I let gravity flow the CA and locate the exact position to apply the CA with a magnet on my fingertip and an out-side magnet to align it.).  Have a good one and C.U. in 2013.

Rusty.

[Christian Johnson]

Are you saying you use the magnets to find voids in the titebond joints?  Can you clarify a little more?  Thanks.

[Russell Vance]

Sorri Christian,

No I  use the magnets to locate where to put the glue nozzel inside the box - ie right at the site of the crack (I don't use an endoscope when i have my arm in the box) so I just locate the magnet outside with the magnet stuck to my fingertip inside so I know the CA held in the same hand is going in exactly the right place.   I also use the same process to map out internal brace locations for reglueing so to enable accurate clamping etc.  A-3 paper on top of guitar and the trace along the magnet path with a soft tip pen (so as to not dent the soundboard).  The little 1/8th rare earth magnets work a treat.   R.

[Christian Johnson]

Oh,yeah.  I've done the same to trace brace location/patterns.  I don't think I can get my arm down that far.