Simple hacks

[hat]

Maybe we start a thread of simple hacks or tools/methods that just make repairs easier -
I find that toothpicks and cotton swabs are great for cleaning up glue squeezeout.

[Skarsaune]

Soda straws cut at an angle are great for glue cleanup. Hat tip to Trevor Gore for that one.

[redir]

A soft tooth brush dipped in water works well too.

I like the 'half pencil' trick for roughing a nut into shape also.

For crack repairs I embedded a magnet in a small flat piece of mahogany that I glue some 100 grit sand paper to. With a magnet on the opposite side over a soft cloth you can sand the glue residue and clean up the repair on the inside.

[HodgdonExtreme]

Blue UV light-activated dental cavity resin (light and resin both inexpensive and readily available on eBay) is awesome for repairing nut slots either worn or filed too deep. Very tough stuff, sets up in 20 seconds, able to be ordered in various shades of white which will match your nut perfectly, and it can be cleaned up BEFORE you cure it - so no worries about CA glue getting onto your guitars finish.

[Brucebubs]

My homemade bridge clamp - Looks like a nightmare, worked like a dream.

[Rudy4]

Originally Posted by hat

Maybe we start a thread of simple hacks or tools/methods that just make repairs easier -
I find that toothpicks and cotton swabs are great for cleaning up glue squeezeout.

There was a longish topic a while back that highlighted "simple tips".

[mtdmind]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

My homemade bridge clamp - Looks like a nightmare, worked like a dream.

Nice rig! Mine is similar.