Re: Undoing Awful Repairs on a 1954 Martin D-18
Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 6:06 pm
This guitar just keeps on giving.
It has multiple cracks on each side, probably from being dropped on end. 2 of the cracks on the right side were 18" long.
I made 2 acrylic culls to stabilize the sides, while I glued the cracks. I used titebond glue, watered down a bit, applied outside of the sides, then blown into the cracks via a compressed air tool with a suction cup tip. The glue penetrated the cracks, without adhering to the sides. It did not go beyond the cracks on the inside. It stabilized the sides enough to allow me to strip the back and sides.
I have no idea what they used for finish. After 5 coats of a safe stripper, some of the finish persisted. I moved outside where I could use the caustic stuff safely. After 3 coats of the nasty stuff, the guitar is finally stripped. The finish has the consistency of a hard gooey stuff. It was not polyurethane.
I inlaid the rosette and have rough cut the wood for the eventual braces. The owner has specified forward shifted and scalloped.
It has multiple cracks on each side, probably from being dropped on end. 2 of the cracks on the right side were 18" long.
I made 2 acrylic culls to stabilize the sides, while I glued the cracks. I used titebond glue, watered down a bit, applied outside of the sides, then blown into the cracks via a compressed air tool with a suction cup tip. The glue penetrated the cracks, without adhering to the sides. It did not go beyond the cracks on the inside. It stabilized the sides enough to allow me to strip the back and sides.
I have no idea what they used for finish. After 5 coats of a safe stripper, some of the finish persisted. I moved outside where I could use the caustic stuff safely. After 3 coats of the nasty stuff, the guitar is finally stripped. The finish has the consistency of a hard gooey stuff. It was not polyurethane.
I inlaid the rosette and have rough cut the wood for the eventual braces. The owner has specified forward shifted and scalloped.