Brendans PB-4

[Brendan]

Back to the issue at hand. Latest photo - Titebond applied to the crack - hard to get it into the crack as it was at best a hairline one - but opened it a couple of times with excess glue on the crack and worked it in as best possible - will test it tomorrow.

[Brendan]

Crack hasn't improved - obviously I didn't get enough glue into the crack - the Titebond is quite thick and the crack is a hairline one even when pulled apart. Was thinking the next option is a small dowel to go across the crack from the cavity into the heel of the guitar. The crack seems to run largely with the grain of the wood, so I think its do able. That said it will stop the wood from separating - doesn't fix the problem.

Any ideas?

[glenno3228]

Bummer. If it were me I'd consider these options:

1) Wait for Gav or DB to come up with yet another pearl of wisdom
2) consider getting a very small syringe and very thin good quality super glue if there is enough room to get said small syringe into the crack. If the crack is too small for this,maybe drill a couple of tiny holes into the wider parts of the crack to open up it up a little more and get the glue in this way. Take care not to glue the syringe into the crack as this can create its own problems and when your guitar meets other guitars they'll be judging it and it will never truly fit in.
3) refer to option 1).

Cheers
Glenno

[dingobass]

I think your dowel idea is the way to go, especially if you can go in from the cavity.
It will only need to be a 5mm dowel.

Drill it, squirt a generous amount of titebond in the hole and drive the dowel in.

[Brendan]

Thanks Glenno, no panic involved ... yet. Will go with option 1. Off to the "B" shop today for some thin dowel. Thanks for the support DB.

[WeirdBits]

You could also try thinning the Titebond a bit and see if that helps it to penetrate the crack. According to the Titebond FAQ their water-based glues can be thinned by water up to 5% by weight/volume without affecting bond strength. Maybe that combined with a syringe and dowel would enable the most complete and robust fix.

[Brendan]

Underway again
The multi talented DB has come in and saved the day (again) - the Deep Bass has arrived and following DB's advice, when I was tired of sanding, I got someone else to sand for me (pic 1).
Then tonight - first coat of Deep Bass...
Gut feeling - colour is better in this application than my first previously - maybe the lower temperature has helped (no idea how Wudtone will go in Perth's summer...). Anyway, all's right in the world - at least for tonight.. Looking forward to the next coat in a couple of days.

[Gavin1393]

Hey Brendan! Sorry mate, i seemed to have missed much of the last few days of your building dilemma, but it seems DB and others have pointed you in the right direction. To stop the wood splitting further on down the line the small 5mm dowel will certainly do the trick and possibly serve as a constant reminded never to drop a guitar again....until the next time it happens!
Perhaps you should leave the building to those skilled little hands in the above photo, at least they haven't dropped it yet!

Alternatively, attempt to open the crack (with a knife or similar) as much as you can without further damaging the surface of the guitar, wick some Stewmac 10 (or similar very thin super glue) to fix the wood fibres so that further cracking is prevented. This is really at the deepest level of the crack. Then use the Titebond and fill the remaining area of the crack. Remove said knife or similar and now use several clamps to clamp the crack closed. In two hours remove everything and there should be no more evidence of your accident!

[Brendan]

No worries - thanks for the tip - in the end the dowel worked out well for me and was able to get a coat on tonight!

[dingobass]

Great stuff Brendan!
So good to see the red beast underway again.