StewMac Crack Repair Tools Demo

A cracked guitar side is a difficult fix, especially when the sides of the split are uneven. Dan Erlewine shows how to pull a crack together and glue it neatly and permanently with the StewMac Crack Repair Tools.
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[@DavidHughesPiano]

This is an EXTREMELY well produced and delivered video. This is my first encounter with Dan Erlewine. His delivery is perfect, and he is an engaging, competent presenter. I'd watch him explain anything. Thank you.

[@bellowphone]

Dan, I always learn something interesting and valuable from your videos.

[@RfJones]

Amazing. Best site on youtube. Thank you Dan for passing on your knowledge. Priceless.

[@sbigglesby]

I'm not worthy. Words of wisdom from a true master. Thanks Dan!

[@randolphpatterson5061]

I was just given a fixer-upper to experiment on and it has two cracks running the length of the top. Which of your videos will show me the best way to repair any loose braces after I fix the cracks? Thanks, Dan you are indeed a master!

[@VonBluesman]

Dan you are a guitar wizard, I always learn something watching your videos. I had a brand new Martin 000-28 Eric Clapton model that UPS damaged in shipment, it had a long crack in the rib, it was sickening to see. I sent it back to the dealer and he made me pay $350.00 to get a new replacement, needless to say, I will never buy another guitar from that guy, it was my second guitar to purchase from him that cost over $2500.

[@ktgood8192]

Martins are guaranteed for life. However, since the latest member of the Martin family took over, you can get repairs done, but it takes a lot of letter writing. Mine took a year. Then, the guitar had a big scratch on it, so I ttok it to their repair place in Hollywood, in person, and he sent t back to me and UPS mashed in the back.I finally got A$3.000 settlement on it, but ot took another 6 months. End of my Martin buing.

[@GM-zn2mz]

Dan is a true master of his craft!

[@CarlosCanalesNieto]

As always, great explanation and tutorial. thanks!

[@Jesse-B]

Awesome Uncle Dan.

[@johnsilver2039]

I would like to know how you would fix a guitar who's neck got bent out of shape a little bit forward. Actually cracked at the base as a result of an accidental drop. This causes the strings to be raised up a little making more difficult to play. The neck got out of place right where it meets the body at the base.Would you glue it and bend it back into place with clamps or something like that? I have a gibson SG electric that got damaged in this way. What do you think?

[@gdfggggg]

I love you yanks, your always really practical and come up with simple and effective ways to do stuff 🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@mrfester42]

Yeah, and then they charge an outrageous $31 for that Crack Clamp! StewMac is one of the uglier examples of free market greed. I'm American so I'm not saying this because I'm anti American. Actually I'm quite the opposite. StewMac charges exorbitant and absolutely ridiculous prices for many of the things they sell. Some items are 4 and 5 times the price found elsewhere.

[@FiddleSticks800]

@@mrfester42, two thoughts. 1) you don’t actually need anything in their system to use this approach. I have made all of these tools (except the plug cutter) for 10 fold less. Anyone attempting guitar repairs should have the skill to do that. This video has been valuable to me regardless of the price and free. 2) pro luthiers pay for these because their time is money. And SM can charge whatever they want. I don’t see anyone else selling the system. The alternative is that it isn’t available to anyone.

[@sclogse1]

Charlie Christians get those side cracks. I remember buying about 24 of the wood clamps for the sides for that op. I chose veneer for a patch...a long piece...and yes, it didn't run at a 45 degree angle. Good thing was..I sold it as is...and gave the clamps to woodworkers...

[@GuitarraLisboa1977]

That is a Simple but fantastic idea ... WOW !!! Awesome .. I would never taught something like that

[@violinpairsendejas]

Very good tips to use this tool congratulations

[@ScrapwoodCity]

Brilliant

[@MrTewhare]

Guru level Dan the man!!

[@gabe4u22]

I love how this man speaks.

[@surfa05]

Of course this is amazing!!!....but gluing little wood circles inside the guitar...if the crack its long dose not affect the sound...the resonance....just a doubt I have! Cheers.

[@soulfare333]

I have a small hairline crack on the neck near the headstock. How would I remedy that?

[@Satchmoeddie]

The water also swells the wood, or at least that was something I heard at the Martin repair seminar. I love the cleat cutters, but the Spanish Windlass (tiny winch) is easily made with a tuning machine and some scrap Delrin. I even made some with a concave bottom for working on sides, and convex bottoms for working inside the waist. Some thick neoprene works great on arch tops, which shouldn't crack, but they do, and it works on the curved sides too, so you easily make the Stewmac crack clamping winch work almost anywhere on any guitar. My latest custom tools are for gunsmithing, and I needed spring crab to fix a 130 year old English gentleman's side lock hunting shotgun. I made 16 crabs, kept two, and the other 14 are already spoken for, within 6 days. If you think these specialty tools are overpriced, make a small run of specialty tools, no one else makes, and see just how fast people buy them. Antique spring crabs from England sell for $350 each, and there is not much to them. The one I copied was £200 + VAT + shipping from England.

[@AgimLubonja]

Master!

[@stubbsmusic543]

Don’t you just love somebody that knows what they’re doing? How can I buy some of these tools (off of you)?

[@StevenChisham]

How do you fix a headstock that has been spit vertically so that just one tuning machine falls off on a jackson/ibanez/fender style headstock?

[@stewmac]

First, clean up the wood in the break using some Naphtha solvent to remove any oil, dirt or other residue. You should also remove any small splinters or wood fibers that are out of place and would interfere with gluing the headstock back together. Then, you will need to make a custom clamping caul that matches the contour of the sides of the headstock. We recommend using some dense foam insulation for this caul. Then, apply wood glue or hide glue to the glue joint and clamp the two pieces together. Clean up any squeeze out you can after tightening the clamps. Once the glue is completely dry, remove the clamps and cauls and sand/scrape away any remaining hardened glue. We recommend watching our video for Trade Secrets! Issue 224: Gluing a broken peghead. www.stewmac.com/How-To/Trade_Secrets/Gluing_a_broken_peghead.html

[@naschylobo]

When I saw the thumbnail, I thought Dan was working 'commando' in just the apron.

[@sanulsomfan1]

What guitar is that? love the flame maple top :)

[@stewmac]

This looks like an old Kay guitar, the ones that they spray painted the flame figuring onto. Dan loves those old Kays.

[@rikirex2162]

I stop following SMD as soon as I realized how much profit oriented the all thing become around the years 2000...I also gave them some great ideas but they ignored because it would have killed the sale of expensive (and clumsy ) tools from them invented...but anyway this great and passionate repairer did start my involvement into the trade with his articles on GPM. I also did to some extent in my career in different languages.

[@TheSickNeeds]

honestly I picked this video cus it was a short one compared to others on the same topic....in my mind i was being lazy....but i ended up with something clear, concise...just what I needed to convince me that I could handle this.

[@walt5797]

Hey Dan, Could you be my dentist too?

[@DS-yg4qs]

Andy Fairweather Low needs your skills. His Martin acustic is cracked like that.

[@alext9067]

Dan, could you be my dentist?

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Crack repair, but what about crystal meth? XD

[@BrandonDeft]

leeches