Hairline cracks like that are one of the indications for hot hide glue, which penetrates very well without needing a syringe to get it deep inside the crack which wont be very deep anyway, can be pushed into the crack by literally smearing it with your fingers, does not add any thickness unlike any other glue besides cyanoacrylate, does. There are a couple of cracks in the thick plasticy finish. Repairing hairline crack in poly finish telecaster guitar forum. The finish cracks along the binding or fretboard edge where it meets the neck. Waterthin, its great for fast minor dropfill repairs on guitar finishes, too. Or if it is, you probably would never bring that stuff anywhere near a bass guitar when repairing it. The thin stuff penetrates deep into small cracks, making some repairs possible that couldnt be done without it. I have a balladeer and a custom balladeer, both from the 80s, that have the typical cracks. Crimsons cyanoacrylate adhesive superglue crimson guitars. How different glues are used to repair and assemble acoustic guitars. The gap filler cyanoacrylate glue fills large voids and gaps.
If they are hairline cracks to the top, i usually address them by humidifying the guitar so they close and then wicking in thin cyanoacrylate to seal them. Once again this is closely related to the subject of ca crack repairs on clarinets but is more of a general nature. In contrast, lacquer repairs are less evident upon completion but there is a trade off with finishes as the poly finish is far more durable and less prone to checking. The trick is building it up in layers to slightly higher than the surrounding finish, and carefully polishing it out with extremely fine polish. I do know how to work on my guitars, and when im stumped i. Well, this one was made in 1997 this is the guitar i cut blue country heart. Nevertheless, some guitar makers do finish the inside.
Cyanoacrylate or ca in shorthand is the fastest setting of all adhesives. Neither the color nor pattern makes sense for a finish only issue, especially with polyurethane. Im assuming my best bet is to remove the finish to eliminate the cracks. Ca is also frequently used to fill small chips in lacquer, polyurethane, and polyester finishes.
I was wondering if anyone can help me figure out why so many older ovation guitars develop cracks in the finish on the soundboard. The pickups, bridge, neck wood, neck thickness, nut material, body wood, body shape, string gauge and the. There is nothing worse than a nasty chip, ding or crack in your favorite guitar. Someone more knowledgeable can chime in, or you can ask over on the ovationfanclub dot com forum. Remove all the lumps, crevices, cracks and whatnots, so the lacquer can be sprayed evenly. How to repair a guitar with satellite city ca glue and ncf. Easy guitar neck crack repair with super glue jonah guitar. Aliphatic resin is amongst the most popular woodworkers glue used in instrument building and repair today. It is almost always a finish crack in that location and is very common, moreso on guitars with very tight neckpocket fit. A crack in a guitar newer than about 15 years old i would be very cautious about. First of all i want to apologise for asking this question that has close relation to repairing wood cracks with cyanoacrylate ca on clarinets but it is not solely about clarinets. Cyanoacrylate glue is the industrial name for what is commonly known as crazy glue or super glue.
If you strip the finish, youll really need to also remove the bridge and neck to do the job right, otherwise your repair will look worse than a few finish cracks. It works incredibly well, but the area must be prepared first by. Here we have a pretty nasty crack, more than likely due to the instrument drying out. The best kept secret in bass guitar repair is superglue. Of course, there is wide disagreement on whether finish on the inside helps or hurts the tone of the guitar, though the fact that so few are finished inside should tell you. Safety like many finishes, ca glues give off strong fumes so good ventilation is a must. Always faithfully fills pores and gaps and vanquishes cracks, dings and dents. The epoxy is improperly mixed so a great deal of it never hardens. In an effort to avoid a repeat, and keep the new adhesive from pulling up wood fibers if removed again, this bare area of wood beneath the guitar is usually sealed with finish. It makes me wonder if its better for some woods than others based on how much it soaks in. It is an extremely strong and fastsetting adhesive available in three viscosities. Ive done it two different ways, the first way is pretty much what stacy said and is my preferred method, depending on the wood, i actually start the first flood at 120 grit, then sand, flood again, sand 180, flood, sand 220, etc, etc.
As far as wood stability goes, interior finish may not be necessary, but it certainly will not cause wood to crack. Forgive me and if the moderator will be generous enough to keep my thread alive i appreciate it. To repair these cracks the stress must be eliminated by removing the pickguard and reattaching or replacing it. How to repair a guitar with satellite city ca glue and ncf quick the video below was made by doug peyton of rock city in camarillo, ca and vindicated productions. Here, michael greenfield, one of the best builders of acoustic guitars, explains how he approaches sanding the guitar. By applying several coats, sanding, and then polishing, the heavy thin ca creates a waterproof seal. The solvents in cyanoacrylate and those needed to clean up cyanoacrylate and epoxy are destructive to traditional lacquer, varnish and shellac finishes, making these glues poor choices for many applications. Another dangerous but wonderful use for super glue is finish chip repair on some of the. Thick super glue can take up to five minutes to dry. The use of oil, such as boiled linseed oil, may be used to control the rate at which the cyanoacrylate cures.
In fact, the term cyanoacrylate glue generally describes quickbonding super glues. Jan 29, 2015 when i do a high gloss finish i will sand the guitar up to grit 600. Cures in 35 seconds, for a strong moistureresistant joint. Starbond em40 heavy thin ca super glue for wood finish. A lacquer finish would require the same amount of work but would require lacquer fill instead of cyanoacrylate. Can you do this same type of repair to an assembled guitar that has cracks on the top sound board. Thinner glues have faster set times, while thicker versions have better gapfilling. Cyanoacrylate glue, or ca for short, is commonly known by trade names such as super glue and krazy glue.
Turners and luthiers fill cracks and small voids in raw wood by filling them with sanding dust, then. Repairing hairline crack in poly finish telecaster. The tru oil blends all of these and you really cant even tell that its not one finish. At our shop, we use it in dozens of ways, but unless you understand its properties and know how to handle it safely, you can wind up in trouble in a matter of seconds. High gloss finishes on our guitars posted on january 29, 2015 by orpheo a while ago i was asked about different types of lacquer and how luthiers are able to get their guitars. Easy guitar neck crack repair with super glue jonah. If its used, it plays well, and you got a good deal on it, id definetly keep it by common on teles he must mean common on all bolt on neck guitars, they crack right about there from the screws stress.
We also use it to repair chips in polyurethane or uvcured finishes. One guy told me it is because ovation uses thin finish on the tops of its guitars, and it cracks easily. Super glue plays an important role in many types of guitar repair. Using the right product to repair these issues is very important to a good end result. On the other hand, you can glue to a finished surface, something few adhesives will do. Sep 07, 2010 the switch in finish to the thinner modern version was in the 90s i think. But if youre into plastic surgery, id think some very thin cyanoacrylate super. Repairing cracks in acoustic guitars examples of cracks.
Using ca glue to repair or stabilize wood woodturner and artisan, mark damron, explains how he uses ca cyanoacrylate glue to repair cracks, inclusions, voids, and knots during the turning process. Cyanoacrylate glue is also used in combination with sawdust from a saw or sanding to. Finish repairs are generally done by dropfilling with thin cyanoacrylate followed by scraping with a blade edge used like a cabinet scraper. Most standard cyanoacrylate adhesives do not bond well with smooth glass, although they can be used as a quick, temporary bond prior to application of an epoxy or cyanoacrylate specifically formulated for use on glass. Cyanoacrylate will stick to finish, but applying paste wax will block the glue.
If they are just finish cracks, id leave them alone because they add character. How it works unlike traditional adhesives which are waterbased, cyanoacrylate glue is composed of an acrylic resin. The wood glue expands, filling cracks and crevices, firmly attaching the length of the. Also i tried pushing both side of the crack but apparently nothing moves. Is it because the back is not wood and does not allow the top to exspand. Customer refinish of gibson flying v using bar top epoxy as a finish. I had the same issue with a hohner years ago when our house got flooded. Our super glues are first choice in guitar shops, thanks to fast, incredible bonding strength for repair work and instrument making. I usually apply two or three coats for a gloss finish and four and five coats for a satin finish. No great shakes here its a turn of the century italian mandolin that has a few cracks and finish problems.
Easy guitar neck crack repair with super glue jonah guitar part 2, final duration. My david flammang j35 will get the call to serve tonight although i will have two old friends on stage with me for inspirations. Superglue is not advised for use on nitrocellulose finishes because superglue and nitro generally do not mix. Bonds dissimilar materials ideal for inlays, builds and repairs this is a medium viscosity grade cyanoacrylate adhesive ideal for use on non and porous materials, simply apply a little medbond adhesive to one surface and assemble for a strong. It will stick to old glue, so its ideal for repair work. Ca cyanoacrylate starts curing as soon as it hits moisture in the air. Similar to the thinner cas, the em150 is also used as a finish by applying several coats, sanding, and then polishing to a high gloss. In other words, the blend will not result in the desired effect. Should i have the cracks in my vintage guitars top repaired. Overspraying spraying over the existing finish is an option if you just cant live with the cosmetic imperfection of a crack, but it should be avoided on any vintage guitar. You will see my 1958 j35 the guitar that my musical identity sprung from and my 1936 gibson advanced jumbo. They can be used to combine anything from metal to plastic and even human skin. If anyone has a good touchup method for such a crack, especially in white, i would be very interested.
Starbond em2000 starbond thick is a thick viscosity ca glue. Fixing crack in the lacquer the steel guitar forum. Use as a base coat during drop fills and as a top coat after fill n finish pro formula. The real truth is that the finish on an electric guitar will only play a very small role in the overall tone. There are three or four different types of glue on your acoustic guitar right now, and one of them is super glue. Instant glue is safe on polyurethane finishes, but you should always check for finish type before attempting to repair dings and cracks with ca glue. Are you using the best glue for your guitar building. Ive also had at least two axis guitars with cracks.
I have been talking to john suhr about this recently and his take on it is was also that it almost always happens during shipping, and that its due to very rough handling the guitar stops abruptly when its thrown and then lands. There is no need to remove finish which will leave an ugly scar or to inject glue with a hypodermic. The cracks may be loosely spaced or very tight, and can appear on any part of the guitar. Once the finish is applied, rub it out to achieve either a wet look or a finish as matte as bare wood. My first thought was actually to embrace the fact that your beloved guitar is aging. Finishing with ca glue canadian woodworking magazine.
Feb 05, 2010 cyanoacrylate sighannoackrillate when cyanoacrylates first burst onto the scene with distinctive trade names like crazy glue, super glue and hot stuff, they brought unimagined speed to the field of adhesives. Titebond original wood glue is quite common unlike hide glue, it is ready to use straight from the bottle. Sooner or later, you will discover that your beloved favorite acoustic guitar has small tiny cracks or gaps on the sound board. Glues used in guitar repair fret not guitar repair located. Use of starbond accelerator is advised when saturation of a porous object is unwanted. For example, when touching up the finish on a guitar, make sure that area of the guitar is level. If youre searching for a finish thats easy to apply, looks. Fill n finish thin formula is a noncreeping, water clear, nonbrittle and flexible pro formula top coat, finish, and repair solution. Starbond em40 heavy thin ca glue has become popular for high gloss wood finish applications. Right now the crack is pretty small, but im concerned because my first v developed cracks running along both sides of the neck, pretty much from nut to heel. Although im not an expert knife maker, ive used ca finishes quite a bit on other hobbies.
Dont try this at home, but with cracks caused by low humidity, we always start by putting a trash bag over the entire body and adding humidity inside the bag for a. The wood expanded and contracted as it dried out and caused the finish cracks. Thin cyanoacrylate glue has application in woodworking. Like water, super glueespecially the thin formulaswill accumulate at the lowest elevation, so always position the guitar to prevent the glue from moving away from where you apply it. I used cyanoacrylate superglue on my poly finish guitars. However, ca glue is fine on other areas of the instrument, just not when mixed with nitrocellulose finish. Neither the color nor pattern makes sense for a finishonly issue, especially with polyurethane. Ca glue is marketed under a variety of names including krazy glue and super glue.
Jun 09, 2018 very short, very easy neck crack repair. I have an applause ae28 electricacoustic guitar that plays pretty well, but doesnt look so great. We repair small, shallow dents and dings in our urethane finish with cyanoacrylate super glue. Sep 30, 2017 finish repairs are generally done by dropfilling with thin cyanoacrylate followed by scraping with a blade edge used like a cabinet scraper. Cyanoacrylate glue is also used in the finishing of pen blanks wooden blanks for turning pens that have been turned on a lathe by applying multiple thin layers to build up a hard, clear finish that can then be sanded and polished to a glossy finish. The foam will shred as it begins sticking to the wood. And i even put a strong torchlight in a dark room to see if the light went through the guitar from the inside out but it didnt. Nearlynutfirst fret fretboardneck paint crack, how to. There was also a crack in the bowl along one of the seams its really not even all that valuable, but the customer wanted it restored because it belonged to dear old granddad and wanted to keep it for sentimental reasons. Finish cracks are extraordinarily difficult to make disappear. In my case i had to sand off the finish and refinish when it stabilised. It doesnt seem like there are any cracks in the wood itself, just the clear finish. Like i said, i didnt notice it when i opened the guitar and played around with it. Superglue can be buffed and polished, and makes for an excellent filler material to fill in minor finish cracks.
Knowing how to evaluate the seriousness of a crack will allow you to determine whether to call a repair person immediately or whether it might be ok to leave it alone for a. Finish checking, or weather checking as it is also known, refers to the pattern of small cracks, usually comprising a series of parallel lines, but sometimes loosely checkered, that can appear on certain guitars with nitrocellulose finishes. The nominal thickness of most guitar finish is on the order of five or six thousandths of an inch, so its not surprising to have pieces sticking up enough so the finish gets sanded off when the area is leveled for retouching. How to repair cracks in your acoustic guitar if you own an acoustic guitar long enough, chances are good that youll have to deal with the repair of a crack in the wood. If im content with a satin gloss or a soft glow finish, ill go as far as 320. May 31, 2012 heres my 10 wtf moments in my guitar repairbuilding experience. Blues creek guitars quick tips fixing a crack with super glue. About all i know to do is wick a tiny flow of water thin ca glue into the finish crack to help stop it from expanding. Two possible solutions to suction cup problems on guitar. Buy starbond em02 super fast thin, premium instant ca cyanoacrylate adhesive super glue plus extra cap and microtips, 2 oz.
The switch in finish to the thinner modern version was in the 90s i think. Superglue as guitar finish 1 chimingbell 2 years ago came across this. Modern polybased guitar finishes are hard plastic, and when theyre damaged, pieces fall off. Like so many things in the art of lutherie, there is no one best wood, or best finish, or best glue, its about finding which one is the best for you, your guitars, and your style of building. How to repair cracks in your acoustic guitar guitar alliance. Dec 20, 2012 cyanoacrylate, which you commonly know as superglue, is something that probably isnt in your tool kit. Discussion in guitars in general started by jman, jun 21, 2015. Starbond em40 heavy thin is a high performance ethyl cyanoacrylate ca glue used in woodturning and pen making. Photos by chris wong cyanoacrylate glue, or ca for short, is commonly known by trade names such as super glue and krazy glue. It seems that many older ovations have a crack more than finish from the bridge to the rim, near the middle. While your acoustic guitar is a piece of woodworking mastery, and luthiers used refined techniques and a host of tools. Dealing with a guitar finish repair using gluboost products. All of the studs for the tail piece were left in and covered with epoxy.
Fill n finish flexible repair and finishing finally, a flexible, water clear wood finish,pore filler, and repair product thats both fast and easy to use. However, if its a new guitar, bought and paid for as new, id take it back, no reason to even be asking questions. The main problem is chatoyance the reflection of light. Finish cracks in acoustic guitar tops ask the hfc experts. Blog repairing acoustic guitars with superglue starbond. Ditto on the thin superglue, ive used it to fix some pretty big dents in guitars. Glue properties for traditional acoustic guitar repair frets. The direct link to the video on youtube is after the video, scroll down for written instructions also by doug peyton. Ideal for all your wood finishing, builds, repairs, top coating, inlay work, marquetry, and wood. After working some glue into the crack and clamping a spruce cleat on the inside, the crack is gently squeezed shut with a large bar clamp and cauls to fit the lower bout of the guitar. The hybrid thinmedium formula is perfect for creating high gloss wooden finishes, specifically on pens. Use it on two surfaces that are already pressed together.
Two possible solutions to suction cup problems on guitar supports posted by bradford werner november 22, 20 just a quick thought regarding the biggest problem of our world today. Unlike hide glue, it is ready to use straight from the bottle. Guitar specialist guitar repair and restoration services. Itll fill the crack and make the finish blend with the rest of the guitar. Woodworkers glue is water soluble, has longer working times than hide glue and is very strong. With maple necks, i roll the fingerboard edges by sanding, so im going from a full fingerboard finish to edge wood to back of the neck thin poly. The new finish just doesnt crack like the old finish. It may have taken a hit to the headstock during shipping.
I find that if this is done you rarely need to cleat. Cyanoacrylate adhesives free delivery possible on eligible purchases. But honestly that does not look like a finish crack. With zero to minimal witness lines, all fill n finish formulas are truly game changers. Physically removing the epoxy, installing new studs and refinishing.
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