Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi all,

I installed my first two rosettes this morning and I have to say that the Bishop Cochran dremel router base is everything it is claimed to be and more!

That being said, I have what I hope is a minor problem. The first rosette went in beautifully but the second, on cedar, has a slight gap one parts. I noticed this when I dry fitted the rosetteand as it turns out, it is NOT my routing job, it is variations in the width of the rosette.

So, after defending myself my question is, "What can I do about the albeit slight gap." It is a long and very thin crescent shape. Do I flood with gap-filling CA?

If necessary, I can post pics.

Thanks, Steve

How slight is slight?

If you are talking about very very small gaps and you have wood purflings in there you might try the dent steaming trick. I have used that before to expand the wood fibers before gluing....

but it only works on VERY small gaps.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Like Brock says for minor stuff. If it's a bit bigger you might want to try taking a slight 'sliver' of cedar (exacto knifes come in handy here) and fit it to the hole. Glue in with HG. Don't try CA on softwood! It might cause blotches when you try to finish. CA absorbs in softwoods. Hope this helps.

_________________
I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

I just read you message again. I wanted to ask what kind of Rosette is it? Herringbone, classical, or solid wood? If it's the rosette that's not constant, you would be better to try and emulate the rosette to fill in the hole if you want it to look seamless. However, depending on the material of the rosette, this is easier said than done. Pics could help, I guess. Regards,

Alain

_________________
I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Thanks for the replies. The gap is/was VERY slight. I went ahead and glued it assuming I would correct the problem after the rosette was installed. Well, wonder of wonders, the gap pretty much closed up by the time the glue dried! Yeh!

I don't know, maybe I was being overly critical to begin with. Fortunately, any gap that remains butts up against black purfling so is vry dark due to the color of the cedar. I'll assess after I smooth the top tomorrow.

BTw, it is a classical rosette.

Thanks again, Steve

Sometimes water based glues will help with an imperfect fit... however, they are unpredictable.

I am glad it worked out for you. One more nail biting moment behind you.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

If you are not happy with the results just rout a small groove around the perimeter and install a thin purfling strip.

_________________
tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

[QUOTE=sfbrown] Thanks for the replies. The gap is/was VERY slight. I went ahead and glued it assuming I would correct the problem after the rosette was installed. Well, wonder of wonders, the gap pretty much closed up by the time the glue dried! Yeh!

[/QUOTE]

Steve, if Im gluing in a rosette using AR glue then I tend to make a slight allowance in channel width for expansion of the rosette as it soaks up glue.

Glad to hear things turned out ok with the rosette.

Cheers Martin

Happy for ya Steve!

Here is a tip for future problems with rosettes being out of round. Cut you channel a bit undersized and then use a chisel blade or other hard surface to rub along the wall of the channel in the areas where you need to expand the circle slightly to make it fit. You will be pressing the wood fibers of the wall. Make sure you are pulling your chisel out of the grain instead of into it.

Thanks guys, these are all good ideas.

Tim, I'm going to take a long hard look at the top tonight before I thickness it and see how happy I am.

Robbie, you have something to add in the second edition now! Time to get out my can 'o whoop#@$.

Regards, Steve