Brace repair/gluing advice needed
Hi folks,
I need help with a repair job. I would like to do the repairs myself rather than send it out.
Specifically, I am looking for some guidance on applying pressure to the end of a top brace that has come away from the top, about an inch from the bass side of the lower bout...it seems that the glu has dried out, or was not applied to proper saturation at the brace endpoint. I would like to fix this problem and restore the uke back to proper integrity and playability.
I've known about the Scissor Jack ($98) from StewMac:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9YN3B8AG2A
Product page: http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Clamps/Scissor_Jack.html
I was hoping to find a less expensive, alternative tool, or other method than setting a post against the brace, similar to how violin luthiers set the soundpost, which I've done successfully on another, similar repair (1950s Harmony Baritone), but it was tricky, fiddly and very time consuming to get a dowel rod cut to just the right length, positioned so it would not fall out, and nevermind apply glue without making a runny mess inside.
It's like the 'ship in a bottle' problem as you cannot get your hands inside the soundhole, so everything has to be done via some kind of extension.
Yes, I have removed the pickup jack and via that hole, when I shine a bright light on the top and into the soundhole, I can see the brace move away from the top when I press on the top above the brace, and the uke has lost nearly all bass frequencies, has little volume and sounds pretty dead. The strings are completely floppy so as to apply no tension to the bridge as of now.
If the common wisdom, is just to buy the right tools, and hope for the best, then I will resign myself to doing that, but keep in mind that I have zero intentions of doing this kind of thing for other than to maintain my own instruments. I do not plan to go into business for instrument repair. (maybe for some of you, those were famous last words)
Please advise as to the above. I am open to all suggestions.
Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.
Hi folks,
I need help with a repair job. I would like to do the repairs myself rather than send it out.
Specifically, I am looking for some guidance on applying pressure to the end of a top brace that has come away from the top, about an inch from the bass side of the lower bout...it seems that the glu has dried out, or was not applied to proper saturation at the brace endpoint. I would like to fix this problem and restore the uke back to proper integrity and playability.
I've known about the Scissor Jack ($98) from StewMac:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9YN3B8AG2A
Product page: http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Clamps/Scissor_Jack.html
I was hoping to find a less expensive, alternative tool, or other method than setting a post against the brace, similar to how violin luthiers set the soundpost, which I've done successfully on another, similar repair (1950s Harmony Baritone), but it was tricky, fiddly and very time consuming to get a dowel rod cut to just the right length, positioned so it would not fall out, and nevermind apply glue without making a runny mess inside.
It's like the 'ship in a bottle' problem as you cannot get your hands inside the soundhole, so everything has to be done via some kind of extension.
Yes, I have removed the pickup jack and via that hole, when I shine a bright light on the top and into the soundhole, I can see the brace move away from the top when I press on the top above the brace, and the uke has lost nearly all bass frequencies, has little volume and sounds pretty dead. The strings are completely floppy so as to apply no tension to the bridge as of now.
If the common wisdom, is just to buy the right tools, and hope for the best, then I will resign myself to doing that, but keep in mind that I have zero intentions of doing this kind of thing for other than to maintain my own instruments. I do not plan to go into business for instrument repair. (maybe for some of you, those were famous last words)
Please advise as to the above. I am open to all suggestions.
Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.
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