Mat Roop Posted December 31, 2020 Report Share Posted December 31, 2020 A comment on a previous thread & something I've often thought about... before glueing a crack in a top or wherever, of course we should clean the crack first... but what if it is not fully accessible or when the top will not be removed? Some of old granpa's fiddles are incredibly dirty and if there is a crack that is not fully accessible, like a saddle crack, it would make sense to glue first before cleaning, otherwise dirt will get washed into the crack and be detrimental. Even on newer violins that appear to be clean, they may have been polished and cleaning will dissolve some of the polish & wash it into the crack. Thoughts?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiddleDoug Posted December 31, 2020 Report Share Posted December 31, 2020 We're talking about cleaning the crack, not the entire fiddle!! We're also not talking about spraying the whole thing down with detergent, and going after it with a washcloth. Cleaning cracks is a job for Q tips and the like. If you try to glue a dirty crack, you'll never get the dirt out, and it will leave you with a nasty dark crack that will be nearly impossible to retouch, and one that may not stay closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mat Roop Posted January 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 Thanks Doug... so cleaning is a careful superficial wipe cleaning of the area around the crack.... makes sense. But some of these inaccessible cracks are old and dirt has migrated into the crack... not to mention it may have been polished/wiped previously with some polish/ cleaner having migrated into the crack. Do you flush the crack in any way and if so how and what solution? ... ie what do you do to create a reasonable expectation that the glue will hold. ... Thanks, Mat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiddleDoug Posted January 4, 2021 Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 Going back ten years: https://maestronet.com/forum/index.php?/topic/322663-best-way-to-clean-out-old-cracks-before-repair/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mat Roop Posted January 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 Thanks Doug... I had forgotten about that thread... enjoyed reading it again!...I guess in the end it is a judgement call depending on the circumstances. I have glued some without cleaning where the crack has "appeared" to be reasonably clean on the assumption it is better to get the glue in before anything else.... so far so good! ....Mat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff White Posted January 4, 2021 Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 Matt, I will typically clean any area around the crack that the glue might allow the dirt to migrate into the crack, in the process of glueing, obviously being careful to push my strokes away from the crack. I then clean the whole top after knowing I won't be pushing glue into any open cracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.