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My soundboard is Carpathian spruce and was in a kit I bought from John Hall (nice kit BTW). I haven't yet glued the bracing to the top but the top is joined and has the rosette installed and the the soundhole cut out.

Today I lunch I grabbed the sounboard to move it and my placed my thumb right on the seam line at the end of the lower bout. The braces were on top of the soundboard so it had a little weight on it. Anyhow, the seam popped for a couple of inches right where my thumb was positioned. It was of course stupid of me to pick it up like that......but since I can't do anything about that now, how do I repair this?

It would be a simple repair with thin CA.......but how would I prevent the soundboard from staining? Could I coat the top of the soundboard with shellac then use thin CA on the bottom of the soundboard......or will the top turn yellow underneath the shellac? Also, will it affect anything to put a coat of shellac on the soundboard before it's braced?

I'm concerned if I use most anything beside thin CA that I will have problems getting the seam apart to get glue in the joint.......or at least doing this without splitting the seam further.

Appreciate your input!

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

I'm thinking it is a good thing it failed now. If it poped that easy it was bound to open up at some point. Just to bad the rosette is in.

CA is likely to leave a dark line.

I'd wait for a knowlegable person to come along and advise you.



Good Luck,
Joe

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Not that I'm very knowlegable but I would worry about CA as well. You could blow some glue into the seam with compressed air.

My first thought would to be to ask John. Seems he might have your answer. I bet he's run into it before.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Your right, I'll bet he has a good suggestion.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

any hints on how to use compressed air to force glue into the seam?

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

You don't need compressed air.......flex the top slightly to open the crack and while flexed apply a bead of Titebond along the seam then press it in with your fingers, repeat on the other side to make sure the glue is in all the way.
Wash your hands before doing this to prevent working any dirt into the crack.
Wipe off the excess with a damp cloth and lightly clamp or weight down on a flat surface with a small piece of waxed paper under to prevent it sticking.

Thanks for that response David.

I don't want to open the seam up to far for fear I will elarge the split. I'm a little afraid a small area won't get any glue. I'm guessing this is the best I can do and hopefully it will be good enough.

Thanks again.

Oh BTW, I do think was caused by the way I picked the board up.....not the way it was glued. I won't be careless trying to quickly move things out of the way from now on.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......