Eddy Yates
Well-known member
Knocked my Tiger Combo off a low table today. Big crack that lets air escape.
What can be done?
What can be done?
Uh oh
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Dingo40
Been here for ages!
Eddy,
Firstly, my sympathies.
Second, I'm sure it can be repaired, as I had a similar crack in a child-sized Giuletti 42/120, and you couldn't tell ( 35+ years later).
Mind you, the repair ( glue, mostly) was carried out by a very experienced professional accordion repairer, but it just proves it can be done!
Firstly, my sympathies.
Second, I'm sure it can be repaired, as I had a similar crack in a child-sized Giuletti 42/120, and you couldn't tell ( 35+ years later).
Mind you, the repair ( glue, mostly) was carried out by a very experienced professional accordion repairer, but it just proves it can be done!
OOF!
i feel for you. I supposed that whole frame needs to be removed to glue that
i feel for you. I supposed that whole frame needs to be removed to glue that
Ouch!... That crack looks worse than it probably is. The corner is where two pieces of wood meet. When you open up the accordion (remove grille and remove bellow pins to be able to look at the damage from all sides) you can see where the wood joint is cracked or where the joint (glue) has failed. You need to pry open the crack a bit to insert glue. Don't use ordinary wood glue from the average hardware store but use Titebond (with green label). Keep the glued crack tightly clamped together for 24 hours. That should fix the failure that causes air to escape.
Then... the grille just has a dent and with any luck you can push it back. The hardest thing to fix is the celluloid, because you probably cannot find anyone with a supply of celluloid in that exact color. Celluloid is normally repaired by taking a piece of celluloid, soaking it in acetone for a few minutes and then "smearing it on". Let dry for 24 hours then sand with finer and finer grit and finallly polish to a nice shine. I have done this on a number of occasions, but only with black celluloid.
Then... the grille just has a dent and with any luck you can push it back. The hardest thing to fix is the celluloid, because you probably cannot find anyone with a supply of celluloid in that exact color. Celluloid is normally repaired by taking a piece of celluloid, soaking it in acetone for a few minutes and then "smearing it on". Let dry for 24 hours then sand with finer and finer grit and finallly polish to a nice shine. I have done this on a number of occasions, but only with black celluloid.
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Your Tiger was an accordion model made for the firm Ernest Deffner in the 60's. The model was made by PanCordion of Italy and can be found with the name Tiger and also the Titano Badge.
The separation can be repaired. You will first need to pull the pins, remove the bellows, remove the reed blocks, and remove the grill. In the course of your repair
fortunately you will not have any celluliod issues as these Tigers were made with painted bodies and grills. I've repaired a few of these Tigers in the past and the following is the procedure I've used. --
First the materials --
(1) A 20 to 30 min. Epoxy such as - https://www.amazon.com/Finish-cure-20min-epoxy-4-5oz-Smith/dp/B001NIC3VW
(2) A clamp with 6.in jaws that will open up to 12 in.
(3) A quantity of Isopropyl rubbing alcohol (to be used for removing excess epoxy before it cures).
(4) A proper length of bellows gasket to be used for replacement once the epoxy sets.
The procedure --
Remove the original bellows gasket. Mix the epoxy, force open the crack enough to accept the epoxy mix, apply the clamp and use the alcohol to remove the excess epoxy that is forced out of the separation ( the alcohol will not harm the painted finish)
Once the clamp is applied , set the treble section aside for 24 hrs. to let the epoxy to set completely.
Now as for the finish, as i've said earlier these Tigers came with painted bodies & grills and can be touched up with hobby paints.
I keep model paints in the shop such as -- https://www.testors.com/product-catalog/testors-brands/testors/enamel-paint/enamel-paint-sets/
and mix them for touch ups.
Let us know your results.
The separation can be repaired. You will first need to pull the pins, remove the bellows, remove the reed blocks, and remove the grill. In the course of your repair
fortunately you will not have any celluliod issues as these Tigers were made with painted bodies and grills. I've repaired a few of these Tigers in the past and the following is the procedure I've used. --
First the materials --
(1) A 20 to 30 min. Epoxy such as - https://www.amazon.com/Finish-cure-20min-epoxy-4-5oz-Smith/dp/B001NIC3VW
(2) A clamp with 6.in jaws that will open up to 12 in.
(3) A quantity of Isopropyl rubbing alcohol (to be used for removing excess epoxy before it cures).
(4) A proper length of bellows gasket to be used for replacement once the epoxy sets.
The procedure --
Remove the original bellows gasket. Mix the epoxy, force open the crack enough to accept the epoxy mix, apply the clamp and use the alcohol to remove the excess epoxy that is forced out of the separation ( the alcohol will not harm the painted finish)
Once the clamp is applied , set the treble section aside for 24 hrs. to let the epoxy to set completely.
Now as for the finish, as i've said earlier these Tigers came with painted bodies & grills and can be touched up with hobby paints.
I keep model paints in the shop such as -- https://www.testors.com/product-catalog/testors-brands/testors/enamel-paint/enamel-paint-sets/
and mix them for touch ups.
Let us know your results.
Last edited:
Eddy Yates
Well-known member
Thanks for the encouragement, all, and for the specifics Paul and Jim. I’ll have a go at it today and let you know. It’s a rough beast but I’ve grown very fond of it.
Some info here on repairing cracked wood:
HOW TO REPAIR ACCORDIONS 1
Check out http://accordionrevival.com! AccordionRevival.com How to repair accordions, make accordion repair tools, find and repair air leaks, change leathers, wax reeds, voice reeds, level keyboards.
www.accordionrevival.com
Eddy Yates
Well-known member
George Bachich is a great resource. His thoroughness in this link is above and beyond.
Just took the Tiger apart and while the crack itself doesn’t look as bad as I originally thought, it looks like the darker reinforcement frame has to be unglued to even get at the crack. Might be above my pay grade.
Just took the Tiger apart and while the crack itself doesn’t look as bad as I originally thought, it looks like the darker reinforcement frame has to be unglued to even get at the crack. Might be above my pay grade.
Eddy Yates
Well-known member
Here’s the crack opened as wide as I dare.
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
Knobby,
Great section on repairing cracks by George Bachich!
Eddy,
When it comes to clamping awkward rounded objects, like accordion bodies, I have found oversized rubber bands very handy: check them out (as George Bachich reccommends) before you start!
Great section on repairing cracks by George Bachich!
Eddy,
When it comes to clamping awkward rounded objects, like accordion bodies, I have found oversized rubber bands very handy: check them out (as George Bachich reccommends) before you start!
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The damage can be repaired but will take two glueing operations. first repair the interior separation and then tackle the outside crack.
If you are really doubtful of your ability to repair it contact a accordion tech if you can or contact a shop that does piano repair work as they
also repair wooden body separations.
If you are really doubtful of your ability to repair it contact a accordion tech if you can or contact a shop that does piano repair work as they
also repair wooden body separations.
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
Or a luthier?
good luck!
at least it's good to see the parts themselves are sort of intact
at least it's good to see the parts themselves are sort of intact
Eddy Yates
Well-known member
Thanks for the concern and support, all!
I live in Montana, and there is a pandemic going on, so none of this is as easy as walking down to my local luthier and getting the box repaired! The only guy in town who might be able to do this is a violin maker who insists on foisting his right-wing politics on anybody in earshot. I don't need it, and it might result in more damage to my accordion from hitting another hard object. (never said I was a saint). He also has an over-enlarged appreciation of his own ability and charges commensurately.
So.....I've determined that it's a bit beyond me, and I'm not willing to pay somebody more money to fix it than the accordion is worth, even adding in the value of my fondness for the instrument. I'm talking to a few friends who do woodworking, and think I can find somebody there. I'll help with removing the reed blocks, etc., so I think we can get this done. Will report when it's finished.
I'm pretty confident we can return it to playable condition.
I live in Montana, and there is a pandemic going on, so none of this is as easy as walking down to my local luthier and getting the box repaired! The only guy in town who might be able to do this is a violin maker who insists on foisting his right-wing politics on anybody in earshot. I don't need it, and it might result in more damage to my accordion from hitting another hard object. (never said I was a saint). He also has an over-enlarged appreciation of his own ability and charges commensurately.
So.....I've determined that it's a bit beyond me, and I'm not willing to pay somebody more money to fix it than the accordion is worth, even adding in the value of my fondness for the instrument. I'm talking to a few friends who do woodworking, and think I can find somebody there. I'll help with removing the reed blocks, etc., so I think we can get this done. Will report when it's finished.
I'm pretty confident we can return it to playable condition.
JeffJetton
Prolific poster
Good luck!
And there's nothing wrong with it winding up with a bit of a scar to commemorate your misadventure. Bicycle maker Grant Petersen coined the word "beausage" for this sort of thing--a combination of the words "beautiful" and "usage".
And there's nothing wrong with it winding up with a bit of a scar to commemorate your misadventure. Bicycle maker Grant Petersen coined the word "beausage" for this sort of thing--a combination of the words "beautiful" and "usage".
embers
Member
Sorry for the recovery work needed. The fall doesn't look serious, although an ouch. It'll all come together, and your TIger will purr again.
Eddy Yates
Well-known member
Thanks, Jeff and Embers! Very encouraging. No takers on helping me, so I’ll probably dive in and wear the scars proudly.
And the Tiger NEVER purred. It growled. So if it’ll do that again I’ll be thrilled.
Jeff, beausage is a very wonderful concept. I’m going to adopt it. Thanks.
It IS a little close to “sausage” for the part of me that is nervous about this field operation....
And the Tiger NEVER purred. It growled. So if it’ll do that again I’ll be thrilled.
Jeff, beausage is a very wonderful concept. I’m going to adopt it. Thanks.
It IS a little close to “sausage” for the part of me that is nervous about this field operation....
JeffJetton
Prolific poster
Beausage is also sort of like sausage in that it's probably better if you don't see how it's made.
Eddy Yates
Well-known member
I fished on the Missouri River today with a variety of beausage. I had a beautiful bamboo fly rod and one of my friends ordered one custom-made from the same rod maker. It takes quite a while to make a bamboo rod. Not as long as an accordion, but quite a while. My friend kept pushing the maker to get it done, so he finally got the rod in the mail. I asked him how it casts and he said, "Great! But I won't fish with it." I asked why. "The tip is a different color from the butt. I was fishing with another rod maker and he said he'd never let that out of the shop."
Me: "But it casts great?" Him: "Yeah. I won't use it." So I met him on the river and gave him mine and took the "bad" rod.
It casts great, and I'll keep it, even though the tip is a little lighter color, just to remind me of how goofy humans can be. I'm sure the maker, also a friend of mine, just got tired of being pushed and sent him the butt which was done and flamed to perfect color, and the tip, which probably wasn't ready to be flamed.
It casts great.
Me: "But it casts great?" Him: "Yeah. I won't use it." So I met him on the river and gave him mine and took the "bad" rod.
It casts great, and I'll keep it, even though the tip is a little lighter color, just to remind me of how goofy humans can be. I'm sure the maker, also a friend of mine, just got tired of being pushed and sent him the butt which was done and flamed to perfect color, and the tip, which probably wasn't ready to be flamed.
It casts great.
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