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I have a really nice sitka top for a D cutaway that was assembled at the Martin Factory (Or so I was told) I have no idea what that means as far a s humidity goes.
I'm trying to control my humidity, but here in Colorado it gets pretty darn low and 25-27% is about the best it gets, my shop is heated with a small electric heater I leave on all the time and it is about 65 degrees year round.
Anyway, I've had the parts for over a year and no problems, I've been sick and unable to assemble the guitar but I got it out the other day to start and found the braced top potato chipped...looking from either end the sides (Edges) sweep up about a 1/4" from the center.
I have other tops that are unbraced and they are fine, so are the backs and sides.
Anyway to save this top? If not, I'll buy another but I don't have the physical ability to work 4 days straight on this thing to brace the top and back a close the box (IF a newbee could do it in 4 days) so what's my answer? I'm pretty discouraged at this point. The Top by the way is the new bracing system and neck block Martin is now using.
Thanks for your help..

Ray (:>)8>

Martin has been using that design for about 20 years . That is the A frame . I think if you count them all they have about 5 or 6 patterns that are in production. Hope you feel better soon . You can pull the braces and redo.

Tony_in_NYC wrote: Someone once posted a trick using KY jelly and vinegar to remove the braces.

I tried that and it worked like a charm on the titebond I used. I'm pretty sure that John Hall posted that trick.

Deglue-goo is acetic acid (vinegar is acetic acid) suspended in a gel (Methyl Cellulose).

Thanks for the help!

Ray (:>)8>

Thanks for the ideas, no...I'm thinkin' that's not going to happen, The other kit was also a mess and it not only wasn't fixed but it cost me $35 in shipping on top of that, I hardly think it would be any different with this....and I'm a long way from finding out.
It's OK, I'll figure it out....I hunted (I can't because I can't walk) but my Daughter looked all day today in Colorado Springs for Deglue Goo and all she got was that "Deer in the headlights" look...so go figure....yeah, I know about that KY jelly and all...but I worked with a Redneck Iron Worker one time who told me he used it on his chickens and I can't quite get that picture out of my mind or bring myself to use it on ANYTHING much less an nice guitar top...
I'll shop around on line and see if I can find it somewhere.
Thanks a LOT for the offer, I really like the look of the top and I would like to save it and see if I can learn something from the experience..I've already learned a couple of lessons and revisited a favorite saying my Dad used to have, "Get me once, shame on YOU...get me TWICE, shame on ME!"
If I can't come up with something maybe I'll send it to you and see if you can pop the bracing off of it w/o screwing it up like I may do...I'll just play it cool and see how it goes.
Anyway, thanks again for your kind offer Bud.

Ray (:>)8>