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Cedar top varnish touch-up
http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10137&t=56900		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  LuisLujan [ Mon Nov 25, 2024 8:06 am ]
Post subject:  Cedar top varnish touch-up
Hi:
This is a varnish touch-up on the cedar top of a Spanish guitar. Clear varnish not tinted, some kind of poly or similar, not nitro or shellac. the customer brought it in because it had fingernail marks, it did not have a pickguard. (photo 1)
The standard solution would be to fill with varnish, level and polish.
I did several tests, If I use shellac, nitro, water base or superglue on the touch-up, this darken the wood (photo 2, test on the same top).
The question is, has anyone successfully repaired something like this?

Thanks a lot
Author:  Cal Maier [ Mon Nov 25, 2024 12:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Cedar top varnish retouching
That looks like the super glue. I’m guessing you tried that first. It will darken and change the colour of most soft woods.
It will probably be something you will have to live with. Welcome to the world of finish repair. I don’t have a remedy other than a top refinish, which I wouldn’t advise.
Author:  LuisLujan [ Mon Nov 25, 2024 1:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Cedar top varnish retouching
Cal Maier wrote:
That looks like the super glue. I’m guessing you tried that first. It will darken and change the colour of most soft woods.
It will probably be something you will have to live with. Welcome to the world of finish repair. I don’t have a remedy other than a top refinish, which I wouldn’t advise.



Cal, the picture is nitro, but it happen with shellac and super glue too. Now i am trying water base hot glue (fish glue) under and nitro on top. This method does not dark wood, but don't hide the varnish white mark.
"It will probably be something you will have to live with". off course!! idunno I deal whit it a lot of times, resignedly, but now I loking for a new solution and figthing gaah .
Could be somebody has the tip [headinwall]
Author:  Hesh [ Mon Nov 25, 2024 1:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Cedar top varnish retouching
Cal's right the only remedy that will remove that blemish for sure is to refinish the top and Cal is also right you don't want to go there.

You may be able to improve the look a bit filling, etc. but it will still be very visible. If completely gone is the goal it's refinish time.
Author:  Kbore [ Mon Nov 25, 2024 9:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Cedar top varnish retouching
If you built it and still had the cutoffs, you could cut out a dish shape, around the defect, with a gouge, and patch it, with a matching dish, cut from a matching piece of cedar. http://frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Tec ... hole21.jpg Iris Carr has done this too...
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