Klarinet Archive - Posting 000093.txt from 2004/01

From: "DWH" <dhatfield@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] Cracks, cracks
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2004 21:39:33 -0500

From spending some time watching and talking with a professional
luthier/repairman who trained for four years at the Univ. of Indiana, and
who does work in our area. I believe the traditional method of repairing
cracks and other damage to a stringed instrument body, such as a violins, is
to use various forms of hide glue and if necessary reinforcing the area
inside the body with wooden cleats. Hide glue has been traditional because
it is water soluble and good for areas that may need to be disassembled and
redone for maintenance (necks, etc.). But in the case of permanent repairs,
the use of wood glues of different sorts, and especially Titebond and
Gorilla Glue, and our local gent has even used Acraglas, an epoxy made
specifically for wood, often used for gunstock repairs.

And as for 'stable cracks' with violins, it depends on whether the crack is
with or against the grain, and the use of wooden cleats I think would help
allow for the expansion/contraction. Remeber that a violin has to stand up
to the pressure exerted by the strings. Of course the type of woods used in
violin bodies - maple, spruce - are different in physical property than the
heavier and more dense wood in clarinets, and sensitive to humidity and
moisture in ways that builders and repairman have to allow for. I wonder if
violin repairmen use different materials depending on their area and
climate?

I'm gleaning some good new ideas on this subject, the reason I've hung
around listening to so many of you folks for some time. Thaks.

> Some interesting and good replies on this cracking subject. I still am
curious about the gluing of cracked stringed instruments though. Are there
less opposing forces at work? Is it a more stable crack on a violin? I
highly doubt it. Why have glues been used exclusively for this purpose? I
would think fixing a crack on a violin, when the crack is almost always
through the body completely would be more sensitive to
expansion/contraction. I never said gluing was the end all be all for
clarinet crack repair. If the crack gets bigger or open, I will surely get
it pinned.
>

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org