Uke / Ukulele Repair

Crack and Damage Repairs- The best time to repair a crack on your instrument is before it has time to accumulate dirt and grime. Some cracks can be close to invisible once repaired but those that have been contaminated with dirt or other substances rarely go back together without a noticeable line. Avoid contaminating open cracks with cleaners, polishes or dirty hands.
Short, tight cracks can often be glued back together without the use of cleats, but some cracks require a small patch of wood (cleat) to stabilize and strengthen the repair. I usually describe them as butterfly bandages for wood.

The affect that humidity has on your instrument cannot be overstated.  The tops, side and backs of all stringed instruments are relatively thin and are easily affected by the environment. In more humid climates moisture is absorbed into the instrument and can cause swelling if excessive.
Adversely, dry climates can severely dehydrate the wood and cause cracks and deformities. More about instrument care and humidity.

Loose Seams & Glue Joints - An open seam is different from a crack in that it was once a glued joint. (Top to side etc.)  Old glue is should be carefully removed prior to regluing.
 

Nut and Saddle Replacement - The nut is a small piece of plastic or other material that sits at the end of the fingerboard near the tuners. It determines the spacing between the strings and their height above the fingerboard.

The saddle is a small, thin plastic or wood strip that is inlaid into the bridge which transfers the strings vibration to the top.
Lowering the height of the saddle will of course lower the overall string height.

Bridge Regluing and Replacement - The bridge is glued directly to the top and the strings are anchored to it.
With age or excessive heat the bridge can pop loose from the top and require regluing. If it's warped or missing I simply make a new one from scratch.

Tuner Replacement - If you are having a difficult time keeping the tuners on your Uke from slipping many are made with a tension adjusting screw at the end of the tuning button. When tightened, more tension is placed on the tuner and this can solve many slipping problems.
New tuners are available thru Stew-Mac and Allparts.

Fret Repair and Replacement If you wear out the frets on your Uke I wanna speak to you. Just kidding, but it's rare that their frets need replacement. Most of the time neglect or damage creates the need for fret work.

Clean Up & Polishing

Replace Fishing Line