Cracked Ovation back

[angelodp]

Just helping out a pal that has an Ovation 12 string with a couple of bad dings (cracked through- 2 inches in spots) in the back shell. The top, neck, bridge and tuners are all fine. This could be rescued. I have done guitar repair but not encountered one of these shell type guitars. I am thinking of a resin epoxy of some sort and sourcing some very thin sheets of fiberglass or the like to build a layer inside the guitar. A bit of careful filling and sanding and then paint should get this back to playable status. If you have any experience with such a repair I would love to hear any recommends on how you managed the rescue.

Best A

[xtian]

No experience, but I'd think JB Weld epoxy would be good--it's already dark grey in color.

[maxkracht]

Haven't tried it myself, but I bet CA glue would do the trick. Maybe even CA glue/baking soda if you need filler. Fiberglass/epoxy would definitely be more durable and closer to the original construction method, but you could probably get away with going an easier route.

[Phil_S]

Good quality epoxy like West System or Total Boat. Add black powder pigment. Don't use the stuff from the big box store. Painters tape on the outside will give good conformity to the body and will give a matte finish. Apply with a syringe and 18ga needle from the inside. Use 10ml or 5ml syringe. The needles are blunt and made for glue/epoxy. Drill a small hole (maybe 1/8") if there is no way to get the epoxy to flow from inside to outside. Wear gloves. Wipe up any mess on the inside and I don't think a little left behind will be a consideration.

Show us a picture. How bad is it?

[angelodp]

Hi, so I am proceeding with cyano glue, various viscosity and sanding back. I used a thin black cardboard on the interior worst area.... very small. That glued down very well and then I sanded that back on the edges and it's almost gone. I am filling in the cracks with the cyano and sanding. It's coming along pretty well. I am wondering about a paint type that might be in the ballpark for the spatter type pain Ovation uses. This is not a project that needs to be perfect, just playable. The sanded back areas will be smooth and follow the contours. I have a new nut coming in and will adjust the action. This is for my grandson at college.

Thanks for the suggestions. JB weld was a contender, but the cyano was also a quick method.

Here are the before pics, I'll post the after as soon as the sanding is done.

[Phil_S]

FWIW,I think CA glue will be OK for some of that. You think it will cover the big hole? The drawback of CA glue is that I think it is more brittle than the back material. Could be fine. Good luck with it.

[angelodp]

Yes, proceeding with a small black cardboard patch on the interior and then filling back with the cyano. It's coming in rock solid. I have sanded the interior cardboard patch so it is beveled and thin, also fully wetted with the cyano. Little by little the cyano is filling in and coming smooth. With the right speckled paint it will be a good recovery. I also plan on painting the interior areas with West epoxy, thin coat to make it all super tight.

[angelodp]

Nearly there.

[Phil_S]

Looking good and the price is right!

[angelodp]

Thanks Phil, she lives, and sounds ok. Good college guitar!!

[Colossal]

Nice work! That guitar took a shot. I could play a mean Closer To The Heart on that thing.

[angelodp]

Thanks Dave, love to bring these relics back to life.

[johnnyreece]

Nice save!