Cello edge not lining up

[Maxwell Morgan]

Hello Everyone,

I currently have a cello top on the bench and I have made several attempts at dry clamping in order to align this top crack, but when the crack appears to be leveled, the bottom edge still does not align properly. I personally have never seen something like this before and looking for ideas and advice on what to do. 

Thank you in advance 

[Brad Dorsey]

By "the crack appears to be leveled" do you mean that both sides of the crack are flush with each other along the entire length of the crack?

[Jerry Lynn]

Most likely the arch has relaxed on one side of the break (generally it’s a smaller piece that has broken off, or a flank split from end to F hole.).  You will need some means of pushing the ends into alignment.  A jig using small counter forms and wedges pushing against pins is useful for this. 

[ctanzio]

Cracked instruments that are strung at tension for an extended period of time can exhibit strange miss-alignments due do plate deformation caused by creep in highly stressed areas of the plate.

Sometimes placing the plate on a flat surface for a few days and gently clamping a few edges to get it to sit flush will reverse enough of the creep to correct the alignment issues. You can also try carefully heating the clamped plate with a hair dryer, or carefully moistening the underside before clamping. 

[jacobsaunders]

what does the other end of the crack look like?