Tear Out

[Diane Kauffmds]

I have a small area of about 1/2" long x 1/8" wide, that tore out on the upper bout of the side, when I was routing for the binding. It's only as thick as an extremely thin veneer and the piece disintegrated. It's large enough that it would be noticed. How do I fill it and have it look right?

Thank you

[johnnparchem]

You maybe able to use a bit of the cut off (if you still have it) to make a small patch to glue on. Using a cutout you can get a piece very close to what tore out. I make an oversize patch and work it so that I can glue it on cleanly. I have even cut more of the top to be cleanly on a grain line. After the glue cures I work the oversize patch close to the right size and clean up with the router in the binding jig set for cutting the binding channel.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Bummer Diane, what type of wood is your side?

[Diane Kauffmds]

Thanks johnnparchem. I've already collected pieces that were left over and I can make a patch. Kevin, the wood is cherry. It's not as bad as the photo suggests. The photo is extremely magnified. However, I want to make it disappear. Lol

[Kevin Sjostrand]

I would think a small patch will work pretty well, it can be difficult to disguise the glue lines though. I would think a Titebond type glue would be best and try and make the patch line look like the grain. Practice on a piece of scrap and see how it looks first.

[Diane Kauffmds]

Well guys, this is the best that I could do. I've never patched a piece of wood. The repair is only about 3/8" long by 1/8" wide. It still needs to be sanded; I hope it's not too noticeable when I finish the guitar. Thanks for all of your help.

[MaineGeezer]

I found with my several patch jobs that using a piece of the same wood with the same grain orientation is really important. It's done now, for better or worse (better, we hope!), but if you used a piece of scrap left from trimming that side, that would be good. If you used a piece from a completely different board...probably not so good.
Even if it appears horribly obvious to you when it's finished, in practice I suspect nobody will notice.

[Diane Kauffmds]

I used the same board. The color is different because of the oxidation on the sides; they've been exposed to the light; the scrap hasn't.

[BradHall]

Pretty nice repair Diane. I'd be curious to see how it looks after finishing.

[Diane Kauffmds]

Pretty nice repair Diane. I'd be curious to see how it looks after finishing.

Thank you. I ended up scrapping this build. Problems started piling up and I called it quits before wasting the neck and fingerboard that I extensively inlaid.. Take a look at the new blog, or under the Show it Off forum for the results of my Guitar 2 1/2 build. It has the wildest curly cherry I've ever seen. Lol