|
|
#1
05-01-2020, 02:35 AM
|
|||
|
|||
Filling dents
Hi hepcats. I bought a knackered old 60’s harmony dread for £20 to learn some luthier skills. There are two areas of impact damage where there are depressed cracks but not holes. I have some pieces of veneer to glue inside to stabilise but the visible dints will need filling. Wood filler doesn’t sound right and I have heard that mixing sawdust with epoxy is a good filler. Any ideas would be helpful. I have no idea how to post pictures so you’ll have to guess 😄
__________________
Yairi FY84 1987 Guild D50 1967 Harmony arch top 1966 Gibson LG1 1985 dobro resonator Gretsch Jim Dandy Partscaster Tele. Cigar box Dulcimer 
|
|
#2
05-01-2020, 06:34 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
If the wood isn't cracked, but just dented, you may have success with heat + water (steam). Carefully use a wet cloth and an iron/soldering iron (depending on the precision you want). Careful, small steps (you don't want to get too much moisture into the wood).
Is the finish cracked at all? I assume so - you can drop fill, usually with CA, or if it's nitro then you'll need to take it to someone who can do nitro.
|
|
#3
05-01-2020, 06:34 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
The majority of luthiers would not use a filler except as a last resort. They would leave the dents as battle scars of honor...
__________________
Brian Evans Around 15 archtops, electrics, resonators, a lap steel, a uke, a mandolin, some I made, some I bought, some kinda showed up and wouldn't leave. Tatamagouche Nova Scotia.
|
|
#4
05-01-2020, 07:53 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
A thought --- opinion
Steaming out dents would be early on my list of fixes. And filler would never be on my list. For steaming to work, there needs to be a break in the surface, so moisture can get in to be heated and turn to steam.
Like any other cosmetic procedure, patience, a soft touch, and the Hippocratic Oath (first, do no harm) need to be consciously practiced. A little experience wouldn't hurt, either. Worst to worst, seal finish cracks and accept the signs of maturity.
|
|
#5
05-01-2020, 08:48 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
If the fibres of the wood are broken or cut, steaming won't help very much. If the fibres are compressed, steaming works well.
I agree that some form of wood filler wouldn't be something I'd consider. Filling can work well for gaps, but not dents: it will look worse than the dent. For a dent that won't steam out, CA glue is a common fix to fill the dent and level the finish. Note that some CA glues can yellow light-coloured spruce. One remedy to prevent the yellowing is to seal first with shellac.
|
|
#6
05-01-2020, 09:29 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
The wood is cracked but not punctured if that makes sense? So the consensus seems to be stabilise and touch up cosmetically.
__________________
Yairi FY84 1987 Guild D50 1967 Harmony arch top 1966 Gibson LG1 1985 dobro resonator Gretsch Jim Dandy Partscaster Tele. Cigar box Dulcimer
|
