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Had a new problem today, I was trying to get the neck pocket routed to depth and then fitting the heel in there, well, it was so tight I was tapping it in with a hammer, and done it over and over again. Well, I was tapping it in and all of a sudden the joint got a little more loose.
You might have guessed it, neck pocket cracked. Nothing too terrible. So I seperated the wood and let some glue seep in there and clamped it for 30 min, then sanded it and decided to go ahead and glue the neck in there without the fretboard installed. I glued it with titebond instead of hide glue, because titebond has seeping properties to it. I figured it would be good to have the neck pocket crack fully dry and have the neck in there to dry with it, that way hopefully the titebond seeps in there and there are less expansion/shrinking worries in that joint in the future.

Don't know how you guys would have handed it, but that's what I chose.

Got the fretboard cut and mocked up with the nut on there, just gotta wait for the bridge to come in to finalize and glue it all up!

Yeah Yeah so I scarf joined thie neck.

I was building this for my father in law as a surprise. But unfortunately he was just recently diagnosed with End Stage Liver Disease. He has unfortunately taken a turn for the worst, and he probably wont last to next week.
I showed him the guitar and he was really happy with it, I wont be finishing it without out him. That way he always has something to look forward to. He'll always have a project to come home to.

I'm so sorry to hear the news about your father-in-law. Please accept my condolences, and know that I am praying for him, you and your family.

_________________
Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Jimmy I'm sorry for you troubles. I actually do know what this is like since my wife is battling cancer currently, which is what made me want to post this suggestion to you. Talk with your father in law and see if he wants you to leave the guitar unfinished. I know from my wife's opinion, she would want it finished and one of our grandsons playing it.

Not trying to interfer, but offering a suggestion that might help with the pain.

May God bless you and your family during this time.

Mike

Sorry Jimmy.
Tough to go through stuff like this.
Take care of yourself.
Alan

Well, I did manage to get something done for him. He had a Gibson Les Paul Recording Bass for years. He was cremated, so I made a stand to hold his urn and remains for the funeral. I started 2 days ago from scratch, and 1 day of that included gluing the boards together. I got his urn, recessed it into the body, and made a stand out of claro walnut. Top is some flame maple I was saving for a 59 les paul copy, and the back is african mahogany.
I put the poly finish on it today and am letting it sit in the sun and let if dry. I am getting the typical bubbles of a poly finish, so I will have to rub it out with steel wool tomorrow.

I know it looks crooked in those pictures, but it's just the way it is hanging along with the way I was holding the camera, it isn't crooked at all. I just noticed how crooked it looked.

Thank all of you for your kind words.

Sweet thing you did there,Jimmy.
Were you close with him?
Sad.

I was very close with him. I knew him for 15 years and miss him dearly.