How to fix a scratch???

  • Thread starter Thread starter Monsoon
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stetto said:
Otherwise, make up a good story...

I'm seeing a story about a stripper with 44DD's dancing on stage with ya, she turns around, knocks ya down and proceeds to have her way with ya. All the while you continue the set, impressing a record exec and you live out the rest of your life on some small island in the Carribean writing cheesy funk riffs for porn flicks...
 
LOL. Thanks everyone. The reason I asked was because I was selling the guitar. It was in perfect mint condition, and I scratched it while packing it up to send it out.

DOH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(

I like the make up the story idea, though.

After carefully considering the many suggestions in this thread, I ended up just refunding some of the payment so the guy can get it fixed - or pocket it - whichever, but it was no longer perfect mint as originally represented.
 
Crash © said:
I'm seeing a story about a stripper with 44DD's dancing on stage with ya, she turns around, knocks ya down and proceeds to have her way with ya. All the while you continue the set, impressing a record exec and you live out the rest of your life on some small island in the Carribean writing cheesy funk riffs for porn flicks...

This wouldn't involve a Snickers bar too, would it? ;)

Eric
 
This wouldn't involve a Snickers bar too, would it?

How does that jingle go again?? Sings:"Snickers satisfies you..." I keep thinking of that television evangelist that had an affair with his secratary that involved a snickers bar...

J.P.
 
LOL. Thanks everyone. The reason I asked was because I was selling the guitar. It was in perfect mint condition, and I scratched it while packing it up to send it out.

Well...I was going to suggest the clothes iron and wax paper trick I read about in the Guitar Handbook. It's supposed to remove surface scratches,but it takes time...

J.P.
 
Huh, didn't see this yesterday.

What kind of guitar is it? Because it really makes a difference. Different companies use different kinds of finish, so it is best to know what was used, which can usually be determined by the brand and age of the guitar.

The basic method, if it is a very light scratch, is to first level the finish (usually using a very fine wet or dry sandpaper - 600 to 1000, used wet). Then, you polish it out with a series of polishing compounds, usually automotive type compounds. The thing is, it really helps to have some experience with this stuff, because you can sand through the finish and make it worse.

If it has turned white, then it is PROBABLY too deep for a simple fluff and buff. At that point, you are usually looking at needing some touchup to get the finish level, and this is where I REALLY need to know what kind of guitar we are talking about. If it has a nitro finish, it can be repaired, but you really want to let a pro do it, as nitro is very toxic stuff, not to mention explosive. And the chemicals used to soften the surrounding lacquer (thus avoiding witness lines) is even more toxic. There are guys who would suggest a French polish touchup, but it would never even look decent, much less right (at least, to my eye). Certainly, it would never look "mint" again.

Of course, if it is not a nitro finish, all bets are off. Your are simply fucked if you can't get there with wet sanding and polishing.

Which brings me to the really good news. Even if it is nitro, you may well be fucked. If the guitar is more than a year or so old, the touch up will always show. We can do a lot to minimize this, but as lacquer is exposed to UV rays, it yellows, and that color is one which simply can not be recreated. Believe me, some of the best in the finishing industry have tried, and it simply can not be done.

So, not much in the way of good news, I'm afraid, but there you have it.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
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