Archtop Back Plate Crack

[ozziebluesman]

Since Christmas I have been working away at an archtop build using the Bendetto book and dvds. The neck is built and the past few days I have been carving the back. The back is now almost a uniform 6mm thick. The wood is some old Queensland Maple and when I cut the shape out on the bandsaw I knew there was a crack and it was going to be an issue in the future.

I can get the crack seperated enough to glue up no problems. Due to no back braces on these guitars do I need to patch the crack on the inside? Also would hide glue be a better choice than titebond to repair the crack?

Here are two pictures


Thanks for your attention
Cheers
Alan

[matthew]

I think, if you can glue that up with good hide glue and clamp so that the crack is all but invisible, then you will need to do nothing more.

You might need to tack on some clamping turrets either side of the crack to pull the crack closed. But perhaps you have a better clamping method. Mine is below:



yeah that's PVC pipe with a bolt through it. puts the clamping pressure right where you need it.

[Bruce McC]

Alan
The heretics solution would be to clamp the back to close the
crack then use a thin super glue.

[Kim]

I agree completely with Matthew on this repair. HHG is perfect in this this application, stronger than the wood itself and if clamped well its transparent nature means that the joint will all but disappear.

Cheers

Kim

[ozziebluesman]

Thanks Bruce for your thoughts but I agree with Mathew and Kim the HHG is the way to go. I will endevour to glue this crack up tomorrow and will post a picture.

Cheers

Alan

[vandenboom]

I think, if you can glue that up with good hide glue and clamp so that the crack is all but invisible, then you will need to do nothing more.

You might need to tack on some clamping turrets either side of the crack to pull the crack closed. But perhaps you have a better clamping method. Mine is below:



yeah that's PVC pipe with a bolt through it. puts the clamping pressure right where you need it.

Thanks Matthew, techniques like this are just priceless additions to the list of skills of a mug woodworker!!
Not just the clamps, but the gluing of temporary blocks to enable clamping -- I just love it.
Frank

[matthew]

Not just the clamps, but the gluing of temporary blocks to enable clamping -- I just love it.
Frank

And if you want to be REALLY clever, you cut lil wedges to slide between the paired turrets in order to correct the angle of clamping ...

[ozziebluesman]

Very simple, well thought out clamping method alright! Thanks Mathew.

Job done with the HHG and some Stew Mac, nice strong sticky tape.

Thanks for your interest.

Cheers
Alan

[Clancy]

Nice one Alan!

[Kim]

Job done with the HHG and some Stew Mac, nice strong sticky tape.

Cheers
Alan

What job?

[Bruce McC]

Great job Alan, must try this new HHG stuff one day

[Nick]

Nice catch Alan
You'd almost never know except you've told us .

Great job Alan, must try this new HHG stuff one day

Baa humbug, new fangled technology, it'll never catch on.

[liam_fnq]

Simple fix with perfect results. well done.

[kiwigeo]

What job?

Yay.....he filled his crack with hide glue!

[Nick]

This isn't a commisioned build for a plumber is it Alan?

[ozziebluesman]

Sorry Nick, I won't be trying to repair that one but you know my crack repair was absolutely painless!



Cheers

Alan