How To Repair Splits In Top Of Antique Mandolin

Mandolin Repair

Cleft Repair

The best time to repair a scissure is correct away! Cracks tin spread and create even more damage over time. And, once a scissure has had the chance to accrue dirt, it rarely goes dorsum together without a noticeable line. If you are in the habit of cleaning your instrument on a regular basis and notice a scissure, avoid contaminating it with wax, smoothen or other cleaners. When applicable, small patches of woods are used as "butterfly bandages" to secure the scissure from the inside. Information technology is vitally important for yous to empathize the office the furnishings humidity has on your musical instrument as repaired cracks can easily reopen if the musical instrument becomes dry. Read more than well-nigh humidity and intendance.

Damage

Cracks that are too wide to simply exist glued back together tin can exist filled with a splint or very thin slice of wood that matches the surface area being repaired. It's important that the patch be made of the same forest, as dissimilar species of wood shrink and swell differently.

Gibson A-4 with cracked neck heel/cake and top. Repair photo.

Likewise, if the damaged area is missing woods or the forest is too severely damaged to exist repaired, a patch of wood tin can be used to fill the hole.

Broken Pegheads

Yes, I meet quite a scrap of these unfortunately. Just the damage is non always fatal. Many peghead breaks can be repaired.
The method I utilize depends on the location and length of the break.
Some breaks can render a very solid repair simply by gluing them back together, while others may dictate the need for reinforcement or replacement. I am always happy to inspect an instrument and advise yous on the method I would consider advisable but it is impossible to advise without first seeing the pause.

Seam (Glue Joint) Separation

A seam is where separate panels meet and are glued together. Back to sides, top to sides, fingerboard to cervix etc. When repairing loose seams it'southward important to remove every bit much of the old gum every bit possible to provide a clean gluing surface for the repair.

I see quite a few older mandolins open where the back joins the sides at the tailpiece (end block). If you lot notice your instrument opening at a seam, information technology's advisable to remove string tension as continued stress to the area can cause the console warp or open further. The sooner you lot have an open seam repaired the less likely the repair is to be detectable.

Unfortunately some older instruments accept dried out then severely that the dorsum tin really shrink, creating a real challenge to bring them all back together over again. I often describe the dilemma as trying to put a minor lid on a large trash can.

As you tin see below, I made a jig that enables me to place pressure level effectually the sides of the entire mandolin. It should be said however that only then much pressure can exist practical in an attempt to "push button" the side back into alignment. More than moderate pressure usually results in opening seams at other points as the instrument tries to save pressure.

Gluing jig places pressure evenly effectually the sides.