endgrain on mandolin headstock

[Lee Gendvilas]

I am looking for advice on how to deal with the endgrain on the mandolin headstock in the picture. The plan is to replace the wood in the cavity. I've read some of the discussions on how to deal with endgrain - what glues are suggested to use - but I'm not confident that the approach I'm thinking of doing is sound. I was thinking of using wood dust and CA to fill the voids and Titebond Extend to glue in the plug for the cavity.

Looking forward to your replies.

[charley erck]

Lee, could you elucidate a little ont his headstock? Is it a plate covered back like this old SSStewart?

[charley erck]

This one

[Lee Gendvilas]

Hi Charley, thank-you for your reply. Yes, it is a plate covered back.

[Lee Gendvilas]

Here's a pic.

[Frank Ford]

I'd mix up some epoxy to mayo consistency and glue in the plugs all in one operation.  It should give plenty of support at the end grain areas, and fill them at the same time.  (I presume the goal is to fill everything level so some standard surface-mounted gears can be fitted.)  Epoxy has terrific cohesive strength, and gap filling capability, where Titebond does not.

[Kerry Krishna]

 Lee, I have often wondered at what it looked like under one of those plates! I hope someone here steps in a gives you the answer yopu are looking for. Speaking for myself, I would just be finding the same wood, and starting to match up all the geometry if each individual side and glueing it in.

 I am not sure why the end grain is any kind of a problem though. Once the wood is glued in, if you do a good enough job with the fitting, the headstock should act/function exactly as it should. 

 You should do a backstrap veneer over the whole thing too, which would involve sanding a small amount off the entire back of the headstock. 

Whatever you do, please take pics and post them here for us. 

I am sorry we were fascinated with the holes instead of giving answers....