SEE A RESTORATION IN PROGRESS!

May 2008

Next we deal with some rib cracks.

This photo shows our clamping arrangement for gluing an open crack. First the crack is carefully cleaned: a c-clamp is used to align the crack flush, then the spool clamps draw the two sides of the crack together.

The following photos show the process and results of gluing thin maple veneer (cross-grain) over repaired cracks in order to provide reinforcement without adding unnecessary mass.

Now it’s time for reinforcing the top cracks with spruce cleats. First we select the appropriate size of the cleats, arrange them on the top where they will be located, then carefully fit and glue them.

Note their thickness:

Now Bryan thins and tapers the cleats so that they will have a minimum effect on the mass of wood in the top, but be strong enough to make the repair a strong as when the cello was new, made to last for the rest of the cello’s life. Even if that is 200 years.

See next

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