Check out my crack...

[Steve]

Was just preparing some linings to fit to these sides on an O-18 & discovered this crack. The sides are silver ash, about 2.2 mm thick, the crack's about 6cm long (& although it's not conspicuous on the outside, there's definitely a bit of a divot). ...I guess that I kind of already know that this is bad news, but I thought that I would check with you guys first with the slim hope that someone can work a Lazarus...

P1070349.jpg (54.04 KiB) Viewed 19566 times

I'm kind of thinking that I may need to go a bit thicker with the next set of sides - anyone used silver ash before? Certainly bent easily.

Steve

[J.F. Custom]

Hi Steve.

It is difficult to assess from a picture but...

You could try wicking some CA into the crack to rejoin and seal it up - clamping it flat as you do. Then glue a side reinforcing patch or vertical finger or two over it to prevent it splitting further. If the sides are prone to splitting, you may benefit from adding these fingers periodically around the whole rims. Once this is all done, the extra reinforcement should leave you the ability to carefully scrape the outside to remove any 'divot' that the clamping/gluing flat repair did not.

I'd say it could be done.

Good luck.

Jeremy.

[Allen]

What Jeremy said.

I looks like you haven't done any side reinforcements. It's a good practice to include them. Either bias tape soaked in HHG or PVA, or use popsicle stick type of spruce etc.

[Puff]

I would be looking at getting some HHG in there and clamping it across.
If the kerfings aren't a fixture yet I would be looking at some fabric - gauze, silk, fine linen - soaked in HHG and rolled onto the inner surface. Medical gauze bandage is pretty strong and I use a nylon roller.
My take would be that if it has split there this soon there will be more splits thinking about coming.
The humidity here is hell for thin wood and I use some dodgy stuff to start with so splitting is always in the offing if fabric is not used.

[Steve]

Thanks fellas, that gives me a glimmer of hope - I had thought that this one may have been toast. I already had plans for some side-reinforcement, but had hoped that it would be on before any cracking.

Steve

[duh Padma]

Aw just shove in what ever persuasion of glue you cater too, few clamping culls to flatten her out and get on with the sucker.

As mentioned, rib cross reinforcement is cheap insurance. I prefer to install mine before doing the linings as you never know were that rib might decide to pull the Grand Canyon act on ya.

Regarding yer crack...here...check this out


blessings
duh
Padma

[P Bill]

I'm a big fan of Silver Ash. A pal of mine always combines it with Rose Mahogany and Ebony when making small exhibicion pieces.

[matthew]

yep, fixing it will take half an hour, but not fixing it throws away all the time you've spent so far! I'd use HHG and use thin plexiglass cauls either side for a non-stick smooth result. then a thin veneer over the crack and side reinforcement as required. IMO Linen is the best repair material stability-wise becaue proven over 100s of years; cotton is not as strong long-term. Silk is OK too I think. Or timber strips. Just be careful not to align any straight patch edges with the grain because you'll end up with a potential crack-starter later on.

[Puff]

I would be applying the fabric over the full length and breadth of the side/rib. Otherwise it would simply put the action/force that created the first split on another set of fibres adjacent (in the height of the rib). If that line of grain was ready to let go there it is probably not far off the same disposition elsewhere (along the length of the rib).

[rocket]

I'm sure i'm not the first to tell ya Steve, but that's a nice crack ya have there bro!!!

[Steve]

Thanks again guys. A lot of really good suggestions - glad I put my crack on line

Steve

[matthew]

get off the computer, go and have a crack at it .

[rocket]

Better get cracking hey !!

[Matt Bach]

You guys crack me up.

[matthew]

[rocket]

Did ya stand in front of the mirror to take that shot Mathew or was there an assistant available??

[matthew]

it's a cracker isn't it?

[Lillian]

[Puff]

I guess that makes Mr Fudd a crack shot?

[matthew]

a CWACK shot indeed

[duh Padma]

Is just what me likes about you dudes down under...a good healthy sense of humour. Non of
that anal retentive, nose out of joint stuff you find on some of the more "Official" Luthiers sites.

Blessings
duh
Padma

[Puff]

Hey I is still anal retentive overnight -but sometimes I do have to hurry in the morning

[Steve]

Non of
that anal retentive, nose out of joint stuff you find on some of the more "Official" Luthiers sites.

Blessings
duh
Padma

Whoa, Padma, trust me - you don't want your nose anywhere near this joint.