Bubinga side cracked during bending

[Barryo]

OK guys I need some direction please! During the bending process I managed to 'crack' one of the sides at the 'apex' of the upper bout. The crack is actually more of a 'check' like you see with outdoor lumber that has weathered too long without any treatment. It runs with the grain, is about 1/2" wide, and has lifted. Can anyone give me some suggestions on how to effectively make this repair?

Thanks!

[tippie53]

you can try taping the pieces together and using CA to wick into the crack.

[David L]

Hey Barryo, welcome to the forum, Bubinga can be some beautiful wood, I have used it on several projects but not on a guitar (or anything else requiring it to be bent). The reports I read say that it's a diffucult wood to bend, but that it is supposed to have tonal qualities that rival some of the rosewoods (just repeating what I read). Is the crack in whitish colored sapwood or the red heartwood? BTW, whatcha building? and pictures will help when someone is trying to give suggestions for solicited help? Did I ask whatcha building?

David L

[Barryo]

Thanks for the prompt replies to start things off for my return to the forum! David I will see if I can get my son to show me how to upload some pix. The project is a dread using the Bubinga with a spruce top. This is actually my first complete build, in the past I've done extensive modification and customization work. I do a lot of mission work and our team has gotten in the habit of finding a guitar at a yard sale or some other such place and then I customize it (art work, sound ports, etc.), set it up and we use it for our services and sing alongs each night. At the end of the week each of our team members signs it and then we hang it on the wall before we head home. The guitars stay behind for the next team that comes in so they can have music for their crews.

[David L]

That's really cool, have you checked out the thread on this forum titled "project ideas needed"? It's posted under "anything else"

David L

[Barryo]

Hey David, I'll check that out. I noticed you're from Slidell - most of those project guitars are in the Gulf States area from all the trips post-Katrina! What actually happened was I realized so many churches no longer had pianos, organs or even guitars to help lead music for their services after the storms, so I started a 'foundation' accepting donated guitars and began customizing them and putting them into various churches to help lead music for worship. One thing lead to another...

[David L]

There was a huge response in this area after Katrina from people such as yourself wanting to help out in whatever way they could and it was very much appreciated by the community. We had a lot of needs as Katrina slapped us pretty hard, gave me a whole new perspective on what it is like to help others that are less fortunate (and vice-versa).

David L