001) Look at it lean!

002) The treble post had blown out a chip of wood long ago, as it was nowhere to be found.

003) I decided to remove the posts, drill deeper holes, and install longer anchors and studs. I cut away around the splined edges of the anchors.

004) That let me pull them out cleanly.

005) To be sure I would drill exactly on center I chucked a 1/2” nylon rod . . .

006) . . . and used it to find dead center.

007) Modern anchors are far longer than the old ones . . .

008) . . . and so are modern studs, plus the slots at the top of the studs that hold the bridge are different — the earlier ones have a narrower slot than the later ones.

009) I milled a clean 1/8” deep channel over the area.

010) I installed the new anchor next . . .

011) . . . and made a press-fitting maple piece that was drilled to fit around the anchor, and shaved it flush to the surface. Then I sanded it’s face to remove about .004” of the wood to allow for the finish to go on top.

012) I have a selection of Crescent Bronze “bronzing powders” to choose from to find a decent color match. They’re all numbered for reference..

013) I sealed my maple plug, then sprayed it gold with #256.

014) Here I am coloring either epoxy or superglue with the same powder (I don’t remember what glue it was — this was in 2009).

015) I slathered plenty of the gold glue into the cavity . . .

016) . . . and pressed it in flush to the surface.

017) Here I am trimming off the overhang of the plug.

018) Although repaired and strong, I didn’t like the look.

019 Using the same gold, I air-brushed over the plug, and melted it into the surrounding finish. Also, I used the original studs since they were plenty strong with the new anchors.

020) Frankly, I have no idea how I did it so well, and probably couldn’t again!