Repairing a cracked cello top

[Winterdune]

Hello everyone,

 

This is my first post here.  I am not a cellist at all - I'm a classical guitarist (and amateur luthier half way through my first classical guitar).  I have a second hand student cello (Stentor Student 2) which I purchased cheaply on ebay for my kids. Sadly it was sent in a soft case and with the bridge up, and it sustained very bad damage in transit - a two foot long crack on the top, running vertically.  The seller has refunded me and suggested I dispose of the instrument - he does not want it back.  

 

I'd like to have a go at the repair and assume I will need to remove the top.  My question is how I do this.  With a classical guitar, top removal is horrible because of the bindings and purfling, but from what I have seen on the internet removing a cello top is more straightforward, consisting of slow careful insertion of a knife to break the glue join.  I assume that my cello will not have used hide glue or anything which will loosen with heat?  

 

Could anyone advise a rank novice on whether to top will come of on this cello in the manner I describe?  

 

Thanks very much,
Sean

[FiddleDoug]

Depending on where the crack is, it may be beyound your capabilities to fix it. Don't assume that it isn't glued with hide glue. If it's a soundpost or bass bar crack, don't even try. These are not repairs for a rank amatuer, and require the right tools an considerable expertise. Consider that you'll need to get, or make clamps to glue a plain crack. You'll have to cleat the crack. You'll also need a whole bunch of clamps to glue the top back on (I use about 30 for a violin!). You may also need to fit a new soundpost, and a new bridge.

 

By the way, heat is not used to open hide glue joints. Excessive heat could also damage the finish of the instrument.

[Brad Dorsey]

...My question is how I do this... from what I have seen on the internet removing a cello top is more straightforward, consisting of slow careful insertion of a knife to break the glue join.  I assume that my cello will not have used hide glue or anything which will loosen with heat?...

 

Cello tops are normally removed with a knife in this fashion.  Many cello tops are glued on with hide glue, but not all are.  Using heat to remove the top is a bad idea.

[franciscus]

FWIW, I do not have any experience with cellos at all, but I have some experience with removal of the top of Stentor Student II violin and that one I've been working on has been assembled using hide glue. 

[Winterdune]

Thanks for the replies. I have quite a few spool clamps and am happy to make more.  What would be the best method of loosening the glue?  I have nothing to lose so might as well give it a go!

Sean

[Smith]

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[Jeff White]

Winterdune, need a pic of the crack showing it's relation in the top.  Good advice so far.  NO HEAT!!   I am a guitar restorer, so I get you thoughts on the top/back removal situation. Totally different.  The top was put on with a watered down concentration of hide glue....to come off easily.  You are going to basically "crack" (for lack of a better word)the hide glue itself, to give up it's bond.  Alcohol helps this as it will "dehydrate" the hide glue, making it easier to crumble as it looses it's bond.  A TINY alcohol, you should really not use it if your beginning, not that necessary.  Fiddledoug is right about certain types of cracks, but I see this as a no lose situation as it's already devalued to zero.     jeff