Repairing Guides

how to repair a scratch on a guitar

by Mr. Emil Stanton PhD Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Simple fix inside (picts)

  1. Tape off the area of the scratch, which i did not do for reasons explained later. Tape off a bit bigger than needed so you can "blend in".
  2. If you determined that the scratch is not all that deep, get your 600 wet paper. I use baby oil instead of water, but water is fine. ...
  3. Start with the most course and go in one direction only. Wipe often to see how the scratch looks. ...
  4. Go up in grits, alternating direction with each grit. Also, get fresh water or oil with each transition to another grit. ...
  5. Take your red polish and polishing pad. Use a lot of elbow grease and polish in a circular motion until you can see the 2000 grit marks are gone. ...
  6. Do the same with the fine polish. After a lot of elbow grease and about 10 minutes or maybe less. It should look like this! All done!

Part of a video titled Melt scratches off your guitar? - YouTube
0:19
2:35
So what we're going to do is use lacquer retarder or n-butyl to melt just the surface of all thoseMoreSo what we're going to do is use lacquer retarder or n-butyl to melt just the surface of all those little tiny cracks back together so that then you have one you know one substance one layer of nitro.

Should you buff or remove scratches on your guitar?

Obviously scratches are a part of life, but on occasion we want to spruce up our instrument and erase some of the wear and tear associated with playing. Buffing scratches is an option if they don't go too deep.

Can You buff out scratches on a car?

Buffing scratches is an option if they don't go too deep. When buffing scratches out, quite literally, finish is being removed until you are at the bottom of the scratch, making the finish a smooth flat surface again. For heavy scratches, wet sanding often precedes buffing.

Does buffing remove scratches?

When buffing scratches out, quite literally, finish is being removed until you are at the bottom of the scratch, making the finish a smooth flat surface again. For heavy scratches, wet sanding often precedes buffing.

How do you remove scratches from a clear coat?

If the instrument is merely clear coated, the same applies, sanding or buffing thru the finish will leave bare wood exposed. Drop filling a scratch, leveling the fill with the surface and then buffing the instrument is another technique.

image

Can you fix scratches on guitar?

4:255:48Get Rid Of Fine Scratches and Swirl Marks in a Guitar Finish - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI'll inspect the surface to make sure there aren't any remaining scratches. And if there are I'llMoreI'll inspect the surface to make sure there aren't any remaining scratches. And if there are I'll take a step back and I'll apply some rubbing compound just to those areas to remove those scratches.

Will guitar polish remove scratches?

Get ready for an entirely new concept in guitar polish. Refined technology, premium ingredients, and advanced formulation: guitar polish that works removing scratches and finish blemishes, actually IMPROVING your finish appearance, without harm.

How do you fix a scratched dent on a guitar?

6:198:10Luthier Tips du Jour mailbag 97 - Repairing a ding in a guitar finishYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then a clear plastic cleaner. I'm also gonna use a cotton ball. So have something nice and softMoreAnd then a clear plastic cleaner. I'm also gonna use a cotton ball. So have something nice and soft I don't want to put scratches back into the finish. So this has a very very light abrasive in it.

Do scratches on guitar affect sound?

It's good to know, that even a deep scratch or dent, will not affect the sound of your guitar. Nor will it fall apart. You could just play on and see if you can get used to it.

How do you remove scratches from a fender?

1:585:16How to Fix a Scratch in a Fender Automotive Spray Painting - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you'll mix up some flying filler or glazing putty. And just carefully put it into the scratch.MoreAnd you'll mix up some flying filler or glazing putty. And just carefully put it into the scratch. On the stain. Chip. We'll then block that out with a bit of 320.

How do you buff a guitar finish?

1:2417:37How to Buff and Polish your Guitar's Finish - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow medium cut cleaners are bridging the gap in between the heavy cut and a very lighter fine cut.MoreNow medium cut cleaners are bridging the gap in between the heavy cut and a very lighter fine cut. But it's a good intermediate step to take when you're trying to get a great smooth polished finish.

Can dents in guitars be fixed?

If your guitar has a dent in an unsealed section of wood e.g. the fingerboard. Using a combination of heat and moisture causes the wood to swell and regain its previous shape. If you have a dent in the finish of the body of the guitar you can fill the cavity using Gluboost, Superglue, lacquer, or epoxy.

What is a gloss finish on a guitar?

“Anything you apply to a sticker to remove the adhesive is going to damage your guitar,” says Fender Product Specialist for Electric Guitars and Basses Steve Pepper. “Water, alcohol, whatever you use could do something negative to your guitar.”Is It Safe to Put Stickers on My Acoustic Guitar? - Fender Guitarshttps://www.fender.com › articles › tech-talk › will-sticker...https://www.fender.com › articles › tech-talk › will-sticker...Search for: Why you shouldn't put stickers on guitar?

How do you polish a Stratocaster?

If a guitar is going into storage for a long time, it's good to remove the strings, or at least severely loosen them to remove most of the tension on the neck, bridge and top. This is particularly a good idea for a steel-stringed acoustic with fairly heavy gauge strings on it (like a .Oct 24, 2018Is it okay to leave a guitar without strings for a long period? - Musichttps://music.stackexchange.com › questions › is-it-okay-t...https://music.stackexchange.com › questions › is-it-okay-t...Search for: Is it OK to leave strings off a guitar?

How do I polish my electric guitar body?

Are Stickers Safe On Guitar? Putting stickers or decals on your guitar is safe for the finish – you will not damage the guitar and won't change any tone. However, removing stickers from guitars is difficult and can leave stains on your guitar.Oct 12, 2021Stickers On Guitar: Safe Place To Put & The Impact On Soundhttps://strummingbars.com › stickers-on-guitar-sound-imp...https://strummingbars.com › stickers-on-guitar-sound-imp...Search for: Is it bad to put stickers on guitars?

What happens if you remove clear coat from guitar?

If too much clear is removed you may buff into the color coat. Doing so leaves a hazy dull ring around the area of transition.

When should I refinish a vintage instrument?

Generally speaking, the only time I would recommend refinishing a vintage instrument is when damage is severe enough that it is simply required or when it has already been refinished very poorly as seen in this photo.

How to stop lacquer from brittle?

Flaking, brittle lacquer finish that is easily removed by simple contact can sometimes be stopped by amalgamating (re-melting) the finish. Finish that has separated from the wood can sometimes be reattached by this method. Top coats are normally diluted with a retarder and thinners that soften the original coat and allow the new coat of finish to melt into the existing finish.

Is refinishing an antique instrument bad?

As is common with other antiques, refinishing is detrimental to the value often associated with rare or vintage instruments.

Does lacquer shrink?

Lacquer is very high in solvents and as a result it shrinks quite a bit. For this reason, the lacquer used to fill a chip or crack can continue shrinking weeks after a nearly invisible repair. Realize that I am being quite picky to say that I can see the repaired area but I try and educate my customers to the nature of lacquer so they know what to expect.

Do waxes fill scratches?

Glazes and waxes attempt to "fill" scratches and claim to make them less noticeable. However, coming from an ex-body shop manager and car detailing buff, it isn't as easy as all that.

Do scratches on instruments mean they are a part of life?

Obviously scratches are a part of life, but on occasion we want to spruce up our instrument and era se some of the wear and te ar associated with playing.

What is the chip on a guitar neck?

It's where the back of the guitar meets the top edge. The finish on the back and neck is a deep, deep red. The chip is about half the size of a 5c piece.

Does a scratch in the top of a mahogany table go through the lacquer?

The scratch in the top doesn't go through the lacquer (or at least it doesn't appear to). The chip in the back/edge has exposed the mahogany, but like I said earlier, it wouldn't matter if the finish was almost black there.

How to take scratches out of a car?

How deep is the scratch? And how thick is the finish? Surface scratches (barely visable, but can be seen in the right light) can be taken out with a fine polish and some elbow grease. Deeper scratches (usually look almost white), are bit more involved.

Is Novus 1 good for cleaning guitars?

There is also Novus 1 that works like armour all but without the greasy residue. Really good for a quick guitar wipe down or cleaning up audio gear. It's anti static too. Best thing is, they are water based so won't present a problem if you ever want to refinish your guitar.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9