EKO 12 string repair, Guitar Chernobyl Part 2

I've managed to excavate most of the expanding foam filler that had been squirted into the guitar. It was just matter of slow and steady work with chisel, hacksaw blade and bare hands...followed by a careful use of acetone solvent (nail polish remover) applied with long handled radiator paintbrush.

The expanding foam seemed to have have contributed to the back becoming partially detached from the sides, so after cleaning all the residue of the foam, I glued and clamped the loose section of the back. The loose brace was completely detached from the top and embedded in the foam. Once I'd managed to clean most of it out, it was apparent that the braces around the soundhole were beginning to detach from the top. I did a dry run with the clamps to see if I could get the braces to close back up to the top, and as that was OK, I worked Titebond into the gaps and clamped it up., swabbing out the worst of the glue drips as I went.

Whilst checking inside the guitar with a mirror, I noticed another top brace nearest to the tail of the guitar, and that was beginning to come loose from the top in the centre. Again I suspect that the foam could have had a hand in pushing the top away from the brace, so that's another job to tackle before I re-glue the other brace that has become totally loose.

That expanding foam seems to have caused a lot more damage than I anticipated, and just goes to show how a bit of well-intended amateur bodging can create a myriad of problems. It did nothing to fix matters, was very difficult to remove (including getting the neck free from the heel block) and indeed has created a whole new set of problems which needed fixing.

Nevertheless, I am making slow but steady progress, fitting this in around my other work, and I anticipate that I'll manage to get the guitar back into a playable state before too long.

Here it is in back in the hands of the owner.    • Eko 12 String Acoustic Guitar rescued from...