Bakelite repairs??

bulldog · Post by **bulldog** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 3:14 pm

I may have a chance to pick up a model b fairly cheap, because it has a cracked headstock which has been repaired. But, im not even sure if this is repairable material? I was told that it was repaired with epoxy and ebony dust. The crack was vertical down the headstock. So I guess im wondering what the experienced Rick folks think. thanks

rshatz · Post by **rshatz** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:18 am

There have been a few very good discussions of this problem on the Steel Guitar Forum.
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/007084.html
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/007137.html
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/007257.html

Hope you can do as well.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 7:04 am

Nice discussions Richard. Thanks for the links. May I take this opportunity to wish you all the best in the New Year. I have very much appreciated your comments in this topic area.

matz · Post by **matz** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:57 am

Robert, I have used West System epoxy for repairs. With cracks I used it fairly thin, but to rebuild areas of bakelite I thickening it to a stiff paste with coloidal silica called Cabosil. In this case the finish is the fiddly part because sanded epoxy does not look like sanded bakelite. I should add that I dyed the epoxy with a commercial black epoxy resin dye. Allowed to cure, the finish was quite a good match, but as soon as the surface was broken, one could see the difference. A broken headstock is more of a structural problem, but if you are practical, there is usually a way to fix anything.(That's my philosophy)You can always paint a repaired area with thin black epoxy for a shine and cut it back to the slightly duller finish of bakelite using a VERY mild abrasive like Brasso. Good Luck, David.