***** Guitar Project Jigs, Tools & Techniques Online Resources Archives OLF Video Page Library of plans MP3 Library Inlay Class
Offical Luthiers Forum





And our community proudly sponsored by:

RC Tonewoods | Stewart MacDonald | LuthiersForum
TasmanianTonewoods | OLF | OLF MERCH
Luthier Suppliers | Pacific Coast Woods | ELEVATE
OLF X | Tasmanian Acoustic Tonewood | Luthiers Forum Store!
Luthiers Forum | OLF Facebook | AVAIL SPACE
OLF | Alaska Specialty Woods | A.Hix Tonewood
Duke of Pearl | Birkonium CNC | Space




Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Sat Nov 30, 2024 3:55 pm


Board index » Instrument Restoration and Repair

All times are UTC - 5 hours





Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
  [ 11 posts ] 
  Print view Previous topic | Next topic 
Author Message
Chris Pile
 Post subject: Old soft Gibson lacquer
PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 6:44 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
Posts: 5825
First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
I have a 1973 Gibson LP Custom Black Beauty in my care right now. The client wants me to rid it of all the non-original parts, and get it ready for sale. It's quite dirty, and I cleaned it up with Roland Guitar Detailer and a microfiber cloth. However, some spots are smearing and the cloth is leaving marks. That ain't good, and I can't convince it to behave. This detailer has never failed me before, and even cleaned up a nasty 30's National dobro and a filthy late 70's Jazz Bass without harming the finish. I'm scratching my head, guys.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince
Top
 Profile  
 
fumblefinger
PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 11:05 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:06 pm
Posts: 414
First name: Allan
Last Name: Bacon
State: Kansas
Country: USA
Focus: Repair
Naphtha.
Top
 Profile  
 
Chris Pile
PostPosted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 11:42 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
Posts: 5825
First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
Well, what are you doing on Friday?

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince
Top
 Profile  
 
jeffhigh
PostPosted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 5:16 pm 
Offline
Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:00 pm
Posts: 60
Location: Australia
If the finish itself is soft, consider the possibility that it has previously been contaminated with something like bug spray.
No amount of cleaning will fix that, just try and lightly polish it up as best you can.
Top
 Profile  
 
Tim Mullin
PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 4:11 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:14 am
Posts: 992
Location: Shefford, Québec
First name: Tim
Last Name: Mullin
City: Shefford
State: QC
Zip/Postal Code: J2M 1R5
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Chris, I generally reach for naphtha for degunking of guitar finishes, but there are times I’ve also used 3M Finesse polish that cleans by very mild abrasion, rather than a solvent. Recently, I came across this video on Youtube that makes a pitch for Easy Off Heavy Duty (lemon scented) oven cleaner in a pump bottle. I confess, I haven’t yet tried it myself, but i expect I will at some point: https://youtu.be/ti1Im1QaCMU


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Top
 Profile  
 
Chris Pile
PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 5:54 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
Posts: 5825
First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
Interesting.... Normally, anything that has to do with that idiot Dave I would immediately ignore, but he is right about the clean cotton rags. I might have to try this, as the naptha cleaned this guitar, but the smeared lacquer spot remains. I'll report back when I finally have it. Kudos to Mr. Bacon (fumblefinger) for decanting some of his 55 gallon barrel of naptha for me on Friday.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince


These users thanked the author Chris Pile for the post: fumblefinger (Sun Oct 29, 2017 10:52 pm)
Top
 Profile  
 
fumblefinger
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 12:18 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:06 pm
Posts: 414
First name: Allan
Last Name: Bacon
State: Kansas
Country: USA
Focus: Repair
I sell lighter refills on the side...
Top
 Profile  
 
truckjohn
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:13 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:27 pm
Posts: 2109
Location: South Carolina
First name: John
Last Name: Cox
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Easy Off is a super strong caustic degreaser.

I personally would be very worried about using it on a fine finish - as it's pretty reactive. It could cut a whole lot of alcohol soluble things... For example - shellacs and aniline dyes. It can also seriously darken some woods....
Top
 Profile  
 
Haans
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 6:01 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:34 am
Posts: 3081
I wouldn't trust that guy to shovel snow...


These users thanked the author Haans for the post: Clinchriver (Tue Oct 31, 2017 2:33 pm)
Top
 Profile  
 
cs51762
PostPosted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 9:32 am 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2015 11:36 pm
Posts: 30
Location: Western North Carolina
First name: Mike
Last Name: Fields
City: Granite Falls
State: North Carolina
Zip/Postal Code: 28630
Country: USA
Focus: Repair
Status: Amateur
truckjohn wrote:
Easy Off is a super strong caustic degreaser.

I personally would be very worried about using it on a fine finish - as it's pretty reactive. It could cut a whole lot of alcohol soluble things... For example - shellacs and aniline dyes. It can also seriously darken some woods....


I've used Easy Off to remove anodizing from aluminum Porsche wheels before. That should tell you how harsh it is.

_________________
Mike Fields
Top
 Profile  
 
Chris Pile
PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2017 5:33 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
Posts: 5825
First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
We are leaving the finish alone for now. The axe has been sold to a new owner, and he'll make all future decisions at to this LP's fate. It is strung up and playing nicely, so more music.....

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince
Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
  [ 11 posts ] 

Board index » Instrument Restoration and Repair

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 39 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com