Old top colour matching

[Clancy]

Hi gang,

Found myself having to install a splint on an old maton top. (no Kim, the crack did stay glued but split along a new grain line 2 days later )

The splint went well but I'm wondering how to blend the new wood in.
I have limited resources here at the moment.
The owner doesn't care how the guitar looks, but I do.

Thanks

080220122095 (Small).jpg (48.7 KiB) Viewed 7318 times

(Oh, and Kim, the other cracks have blended in really well after a rub with hot water & left to dry - cheers mate!)

[Kim]

If you have limited resources Craig perhaps you could try staining the spruce to get it close with tea??? Work on a scrap to get dilution about right..I would normally recommend Tetleys or Amgoori but that light colour most definitely calls for a Twinnings Earl Grey I reckon.

Cheers

Kim

[Clancy]

Good idea Kim.

I was gonna raid the kid's textas, but I'll raid the pantry instead.
Let's see...
Billy - no, way to dark. That stuff's like diesel oil.
Chai - uh uh, smell of cinnamon might distract player & listeners
Dilmah - hmmm, not upmarket but not 'bushels smoko room' stuff either. Might just be the go.

Will run some tests & let you'se know.
Will be sealing it with a few swipes of Hard Shellac which, unfortunately in this case, doesn't add any colour.

[Clancy]

Just to add to this.
Here's where all the cleats & stuff went to re-enforce the repaired cracks.
(The masking tape marks where the braces are, which had also popped off, & were located using magnets)

070220122089 (Small).jpg (42.76 KiB) Viewed 7299 times

[simso]

Why did you terminate the splint in the body top area and not take it all the way to the edge.

Lot harder to hide a splint that stops part way.

[Clancy]

That's where the crack stopped.
In hindsight I probably should have extended to the binding.
Next time.

[simso]

Yep extend to the edge, it makes colour matching easier

[Clancy]

Thanks Steve, this is how we learn

[auscab]

Sealing it first for a touch up with the right colour should do,shellac, or a glue size can be good too.
Another thing to try on a test bit is Caustic soda, I know it turns a bright new white Baltic pine to a greyish almost green look . just the right strength could be a start. Looks like a spruce top? is it ? And it would just be a clear finish with the oxidised wood ?