No. 4 - my attempt at a mahogany/sitka folk size

[nkwak]

How about using an inlay powder in epoxy like these https://www.amazon.com/Inlay-Powder/s?k=Inlay+Powder. I've done that on some knife handles with my grandkid"s names.

I tried that by sanding off some material off an ebony bridge blank and attempted to scrape it into partly re-excavated channels but I neglected to use a pipette and made a mess of it. I've since re-routed the channels and installed new purfling. I've been able to clean off a lot of the mess but there's still some that won't sand away:

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Hey Neil
Can you show us an up close pic of what you've got now with your rosette? If it's still not a great result perhaps we can help you through better with a fix.

Kevin

[Stray Feathers]

I have dealt with this before, and it is worth trying to cut out and replace the bad purfling rings with something slightly wider. First step is to keep the soundhole uncut until you are happy with your repair. I made that mistake but was able to work around even that when I botched a ukulele rosette:

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=9247

You are already in better shape because you don't have to clean out your herringbone ring, which looks great. Bruce W.

[nkwak]

Hey Neil
Can you show us an up close pic of what you've got now with your rosette? If it's still not a great result perhaps we can help you through better with a fix.

Kevin

Here it is, Kevin. I'm hoping that when I cut out the soundhole and sand it more that some of that disappears. I'm more concerned about the coloring difference of the piece that fell off and I reglued with CA.



I admit to several mistakes:
1: not using the right type of router bit
2: not routing deep enough the first time
3: trying to fudge something with ebony dust and CA when I should've just rerouted the channels then and there
4: being incredibly sloppy with the ebony dust and the CA glue. There were literally chunks of crystallized CA stuck to the top outside of the channels.
5: pulling off some improperly glued/seemingly loose purfling which took some of the top with it
6: not cleaning the top of ebony before regluing the removed section with CA glue (but I did put more shellac on the top - just not the removed piece)

Like I said, I hope to salvage the top. I need to do a finish test around the affected area and put it under my old black light.

[carld05]

It looks like the problem area is on the bottom edge of the soundhole. Recently I sanded through the bottom edge of a rosette and covered it with a pickguard cut to fit the rosettes edge and following the guitar's contour. You might have to get closer to the soundhole edge and cover up some of that pretty herringbone but keep movin'' on.....

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Neil
O have seen rosettes that went to the edge of the sound hole. Perhaps you could come up with something that would encompass that filler piece and if needed make your sound hole a tad bigger like a 16th oversize. I can't tell how much area your dealing with there but I'd try to figure out a scheme that would remove that patch. And I'd still route away the black rings and inlay a tad wider purfling.
Allow your creative juices to start flowing. I know it's a bummer but I know you can fix it to satisfaction.

That ebony dust can get everywhere. Also trying to put dust in the groove and wick CA on top of it doesn't work very well, it just sort of floats on the top......right?


You still have that center hole so you can keep routing as needed.

My very first guitar was a kit from LMI, a Dred and the rosette they installed for me was similar to a classical rosette just a bit narrower. You could do something like that and remove everything you have there. You can even make your own from some nice figured wood.

I've made a few rosette from wood. It's easy to do.
I wish you well friend!

[Stray Feathers]

It might also be possible to rout out the inner purfling ring, right to the soundhole, and inlay a "ring" of spruce top material, then recut your inner purfling ring. You can also bind the soundhole but I'm not sure that will buy you the width you need. Might have to be ebony to complement your herringbone. Bruce W.

[nkwak]

I opted to just make a larger sound hole and bevel from the rim to the inner rosette ring. The blown out section wasn’t very deep into the top surface. Granted, there is still some work to be done but I’m be very cautious. I can always reinforce the sound hole from beneath with some veneer or scrap spruce. I also still have the original BWB purfling ring which could serve as a rim if need be, but I think it will be fine. The top is not too thin at all. I’m just glad I didn’t blow through the herringbone like I did on the last one.

[nkwak]

PS: I measured the thickness of the top. In that area it’s about .15” so I have a little room to work with.

[nkwak]

I've neglected this thread, but the work has continued. I've since braced the back and notched the rims to position it.