This is a student 1/2 size cello with a buldging soundpost crack. I needed to press it together without taking the top off. Here are the steps.

1. Mark the location of the crack and protect the top.
2. Form the mold.
3. Glue the crack and protect the mold with celephone wrap.
4. Put a clamping bar across the back so your clamp is aghenst the bar. This way there is no pressure on the back.
5. Remove the clamp and the mold.

IMG 20230816 154857 624 IMG 20230816 154857 624	IMG 20230816 160847 197 IMG 20230816 160847 197
IMG 20230816 160857 364 IMG 20230816 160857 364	IMG 20230817 112122 875 IMG 20230817 112122 875

Here is a violin with a minor sound post crack. It needed to be pressed in a little bit while glueing. I made a little mold so the shape would stay intact.

IMG 20230215 164638 129 IMG 20230215 164638 129

IMG 20230220 130344 994 IMG 20230220 130344 994

IMG 20230220 130404 212 IMG 20230220 130404 212

Another violin with a minor top sound post crack.

• Male a little mold.
• Attach the back span so the clamping pressure is not on the back
• Glue and let dry
• Fish in a small fiber cleat, by using a small clamp and the mold.

IMG 20230723 151729 056 IMG 20230723 151729 056	IMG 20230723 151806 223 IMG 20230723 151806 223	IMG 20230723 151836 096 IMG 20230723 151836 096
IMG 20230724 093302 484 IMG 20230724 093302 484	IMG 20230724 095358 089 IMG 20230724 095358 089	IMG 20230724 095605 240 IMG 20230724 095605 240

A violin that had a bad sound post crack.

IMG 20190315 155713 IMG 20190315 155713	IMG 20190413 164226 IMG 20190413 164226	IMG 20190413 164247 IMG 20190413 164247
IMG 20190606 170622 IMG 20190606 170622	IMG 20190606 172706 IMG 20190606 172706	IMG 20190607 140633 IMG 20190607 140633
IMG 20190612 120700 IMG 20190612 120700	IMG 20190617 105339 IMG 20190617 105339	IMG 20190715 100332 IMG 20190715 100332

Here is a viola where the top was cracked into two pieces, there was also a small crack from the f hole up near the bass bar. It must have taken quite an impact because the chinrest was cracked in half and the bridge was broken.

viola soundpost 20141025 155949 viola-soundpost 20141025 155949

viola soundpost 20150204 113812 viola-soundpost 20150204 113812

viola soundpost 20150211 140305 viola-soundpost 20150211 140305

Another sound post crack with lots of other cracks on the top. This instrument had lots of cracks a couple of them were only a couple millimeters apart. Also inscribed with pencil on he inside of the top is this:

Repaired By

Gaylord Marsh

March 1st 1911

Winsted Conn

A very old and

very good violin

IMG 20151214 112706 IMG 20151214 112706	IMG 20151214 113546 IMG 20151214 113546	IMG 20151214 115616 IMG 20151214 115616
IMG 20151214 121950 IMG 20151214 121950	IMG 20151214 124844 IMG 20151214 124844	IMG 20151216 104656 IMG 20151216 104656
IMG 20151216 105841 IMG 20151216 105841	IMG 20160112 112750 IMG 20160112 112750	IMG 20160421 161243 IMG 20160421 161243
IMG 20160428 170514 IMG 20160428 170514

I spent a lot of time cleaning out the cracks and then sealing them. When I did the final french polishing the varnish must have previously had some dark dye rubbed on top because, unfortunatly the polishing pad picked up the dye and spread it around. Some of the areas with the freshish varnish picked up this color.

Here is a 3/4 with a very odd sound post crack.

IMG 20180103 114905 IMG 20180103 114905	IMG 20180103 115111 IMG 20180103 115111	IMG 20180103 115335 IMG 20180103 115335
IMG 20180117 112434 IMG 20180117 112434	IMG 20180317 164819 IMG 20180317 164819	IMG 20180320 105941 IMG 20180320 105941