nitro chip repair

Hi everyone-

I really didn't want this to be my first post, but I've been lurking here for a few months while I build my first partscaster.

The Cherry Red nitro lacquer is curing (I have about two weeks left), and I pulled it down yesterday to see how it will look with the hardware on it. When I hung it back up, I noticed I have a chip on the top at the edge of the neck pocket. It's very small - about the diameter of a toothpick and about 1/8" long, but at this point, any chip is a bad chip. It looks like it took all 4 coats of red lacquer, because it's down to the stained wood beneath.

Do I have any chance of repairing this at this point, or should I consider myself lucky that my first nitro job (and guitar build) only has the one chip so far? I have read about Murphy's affinity for CAR teles, so I figured if I called mine "Trans Cherry Red" I may be able to avoid him...

Thanks in advance for the help - this site has been invaluable to my build so far - and I'll post pics when I'm done.



Chris

If you used aerosols, spray a little into the cap and drop fill into the chip area. The process will have to be repeated many times before you get it built up level with the surrounding area.

Do not attempt to brush the area with an artist brush. The fresh lacquer will melt the surrounding lacquer and it's easy to make a small flaw turn into a bigger one.

Thank you - that was what I expected to hear, but I thought I should double check. After drop filling it, should I still give it a full four weeks to cure before wet sanding, or will I be able to move on once it's dry?

The body's been dry for two weeks now, and I was planning another two weeks before sanding.

Thanks again!



Chris

jwells is, as usual, dead-on with his advice.

The only thing I could add is that I've had to do this a few times on my tele project. I found one of Dan Erlewine's posts very helpful. He shows the exacts steps to doing a drop-fill repair, complete with pictures (and advertisements for his tools :-). I did the trick with the razor-blade scraper and it works great.

stewmac newsletter - drop fill repair (http://www.stewmac.com/tradesecrets/ts0040_lacquerfill.hzml?jrl=1564&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ts0040&clk=141631)

Thank you - that was what I expected to hear, but I thought I should double check. After drop filling it, should I still give it a full four weeks to cure before wet sanding, or will I be able to move on once it's dry?

The body's been dry for two weeks now, and I was planning another two weeks before sanding.

Thanks again!



Chris

For a chip that small, you don't need to wait so long. I'm sure 2 weeks is plenty of time for the lacquer to cure on your repair.