Top cracked?

Even if it ain't broke you can still fix it.
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Fly_by
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2016 5:16 pm

Top cracked?

Post by Fly_by »

I am building a 000 StewMac - sloooowwly - been at it for years. I have been gluing the top braces and the other day I saw a crack in the top. It is torrefied spruce.
I've attached a picture but had to crop it drastically to fit dimension restrictions for an attachment.
Can somebody tell me what I should do? Any help is appreciated.
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Last edited by Fly_by on Sat Nov 21, 2020 2:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
tippie53
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Location: Hegins, Pa
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Re: Top cracked?

Post by tippie53 »

your pics didn't attach

most likely your rh dropped and the shrinkage popped the crack.
if you can't post the pics send them to me at tippie@epix.net and I can post them for you
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
tippie53
Posts: 7011
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
Contact:

Re: Top cracked?

Post by tippie53 »

now they are in there
contact Stew Mac they do have good customer service
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
MaineGeezer
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Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 12:14 pm

Re: Top cracked?

Post by MaineGeezer »

I think I'd remove any braces that go across the crack, then work some glue into the crack and pull it tight. Maybe put a couple of cleats across it. Then remove all the old glue from where the braces were, and from the braces, and reglue, assuming you did remove some braces. If you used hot hide glue you don't need to do the glue removal step.
Don't believe everything you know.
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Diane Kauffmds
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Re: Top cracked?

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

Remove any braces that cross the crack. The crack is an open crack; odds are that it's a problem with humidity. I'd close that top on a garbage bag, along with a plastic container with a top, in which holes have been made. Put a wet sponge into the plastic container. Make it very wet, but not dripping. Put the plastic container with wet sponge into the garbage bag, along with your top.

Check that the sponge is wet, daily; the top will suck up the moisture. Leave it in the bag until the crack closes. Then you can cleat the crack and reglue any braces.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
Fly_by
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2016 5:16 pm

Re: Top cracked?

Post by Fly_by »

Diane Kauffmds wrote:Remove any braces that cross the crack. The crack is an open crack; odds are that it's a problem with humidity. I'd close that top on a garbage bag, along with a plastic container with a top, in which holes have been made. Put a wet sponge into the plastic container. Make it very wet, but not dripping. Put the plastic container with wet sponge into the garbage bag, along with your top.

Check that the sponge is wet, daily; the top will suck up the moisture. Leave it in the bag until the crack closes. Then you can cleat the crack and reglue any braces.
-----------------------------

Got in touch w/ StewMac and this is very similar to their advice. Thanks - for some reason I didn't think to contact them until it was suggested. They were very responsive.

Thanks to all who responded.
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