epoxy alone

[Clyde Hollinger]

Friends,

Can a separated back repair be expected to endure if I used epoxy alone?

I actually did this once.  A Wurlitzer console was only several years
old when I discovered, underneath the glued-on felt, a separated back.
I called the company's rep, who told me just to fill the crack with
epoxy.  Period.  No clamps, etc.  He sent me new felt for the top, and I
did as I was told but never glued the felt down so I could keep an eye
on it.  It is now about four years later and it seems okay.

So suppose from now on I just worked epoxy into the crack, pulled the
top together with big clamps, cleaned away the excess, waited two days
and took the clamps off.  Would it hold?  Has anyone tried this?  The
epoxy claims a strength of something like two tons per square inch, so
it seems like that should be sufficient.

This is especially in my mind because today I tuned a Conn console with
a separated back, even though it has four bolts going the whole way
through the back.  The separation is in the middle between two of them.
There is really no room to put in extra bolts where needed because the
tuning pins are in the way.  What do you think?

Regards, Clyde