fretboard delam

[Michael Dorman]

I'd normally check the library for this, but since it seems to be unavailable, are there any quick and dirty ways to fix a delaminating fretboard? It's coming apart at the nut end and it has traveled about two frets deep. It sounds great, but it's a beater, so i'm not too concerned about doing it "by the book." Thanks

[Greg Robinson]

I'd normally check the library for this, but since it seems to be unavailable, are there any quick and dirty ways to fix a delaminating fretboard? It's coming apart at the nut end and it has traveled about two frets deep. It sounds great, but it's a beater, so i'm not too concerned about doing it "by the book." Thanks

Hi "Not the man",
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Thanks.

[Barry Daniels]

Work some Titebond Original Woodworking glue down into the open joint as far as you can with a thin knife blade or putty knife. Then clamp it up. If you don't have clamps, a bunch of heavy rubber bands would work.

[Ron Belanger]

I would be reluctant to use Titebond on a joint that has been previously glued without cleaning the old glue out. Epoxy might work better.

[Michael Dorman]

Thanks for the replies. Epoxy is not the answer I wanted to hear, but I guess if it must be done, then so be it. Do you think that the joint will continue to separate or?

[Chuck Tweedy]

I agree with both Barry & Ron

Essentially, if the board is otherwise stuck on very well, then you really just need to stabilize this one corner and it should be fine (I might even suggest medium CA)

However, if the board is not "otherwise stuck on there very well", then these quick-and-dirty solutions might only forgo the inevitable.
So ... I would use a thinned pallet knife and work the crack to see if the board starts just letting go.
On these cheap Asian instruments, sometimes they don't put much clamping pressure on the board when it is glued on, and it is held on by a thin web of mystery-glue.
If it pops off, then you need to scrape it clean (both sides) and glue it back down ... There's more to it than I have time to type right now, so come back if this is the case.

By the way, loosen the truss rod before starting any of this.

[Michael Dorman]

Darn… I wasn't thinking about that. Well the guitar’s a seagull, so I’m hoping that Canadians apply glue with a little more TLC than Asians. If not, then now might be a good time to fix the cracked brace as well… woo...

haha thanks for the advice though

[Chuck Tweedy]

A Seagull!! That's not a bad guitar at all.
You should be able to glue that crack as described by Barry & Ron.

[Michael Dorman]

yeah it's a pretty sweet guitar. Too bad the previous owner didn't treat it like it was.