Unfortunate gappage

[Dave Bagwill]

One picture to show the challenge.
Suggestions for a 'like it never happened' fix?
This is Tom's guitar and he's done a great job, but we need to address this. I know it's been talked about before but in case there is a new approach....

[ken cierp]

Heat and tape

[John Parchem]

It looks like the waist so I would use heat and a quick grip bar clamp fitted with a waist matching caul. I use one as part of my normal binding glue up. PVA is actually thermoplastic so it will soften and re-cure.

[Dave Bagwill]

Sorry I was not clear - this is the rosette, and the filling of the gap is my concern - past reading leads me to believe that dust is not a solution? Or is dust mixed with shellac or lacquer a good way to go?

[ken cierp]

Gap filling light wood will still look like -- well, like it looks now not good, pulling it in tight is what I would try to do. And honesty if the did not work, this is such a focal point I'd have to redo.

[Dave Bagwill]

I cannot explain the gap, it was not apparent when we glued in the rosette, but now the body is about completed so I see no way to realistically start over.
Odd things do happen.

[ken cierp]

If the trim was made of wood or fiber perhaps the glue caused it to expand and when it dried a little shrinkage?

Anyway -- I have successfully pulled in binding and/or purfling gaps with little heat and tape.