How do you fix a nasty crack in the sound board with magnets?
take a look, I think it is fixed and here is how I did it.
take a look, I think it is fixed and here is how I did it.
Here are the secret weapons. a set of extremely powerful magnets with a brass handle that attaches to either the large circular magnet, or the small one shown attached in this photo. I fortunately bought two of these sets.
By reaching into the sound hole and placing the large magnet in the open area to the side of the top and then placing the smaller magnet over it, the magnetic draw through the wood allowed me to move the magnets with the brass handle, over the crack. The crack immediately equalized and came together tightly. Mind you , the larger magnet is directly under the handle, held there by the small magnet on the handle.
Next, I sent a second magnet into the sound hole and moved it over the crack. Now the crack was held together really tightly and it was time for the next magic product.
Thin super glue is now applied over the crack. This stuff is as thin as water, and runs into cracks like this immediately. After a few minutes it sets up and I suspect that the crack is now joined more strongly than the natural grain binds the wood together. It did occur to me that the glue might run onto the magnet and attach it to the underside of the soundboard. I thought about putting scotch tape on the magnet.
Once the glue set up I was able to remove the left hand magnet with no problem, but the big magnet under the right hand handle was indeed stuck to the bottom of the soundboard. Now what do I do.
The solution was simple- I just attached the other large magnet to the handle, reached it in through the sound hole, under the stuck magnet, The bonded and I pulled the stuck magnet off. I think the fix is done. Look at the power of these little magnets expressed as pressure rings on the wood or finish of the sound board. I think this fix has been successful. I have put a bit more super glue in the crack where the the magnets were and will do a little refinishing, but I think with a set of new strings, my neighbor Samantha will be back in business. This tough old ukes has a few more years.
