Repairing ding in neck

tlsmack · March 5th, 2007, 06:30 PM

After 20 years, my tele got it's first ding in the neck. It is pretty small, but the poly finish is chipped. Is it safe to try to sand it smooth? Is there a quick fix to save the finish from chipping further? Or should I bring it to a repair shop?

Ringo · March 5th, 2007, 07:25 PM

if there is a chip in the finish it can repaired , Dan Erlewine has some good books that show how to do all kinds of repairs, you can use clear laquer to "drop" fill the chip, essentially use a toothpick dipped in the laquer and fill the chip with a drop of clear, let that dry, repeat as necessary, and then sand and buff.
I've also used superglue to fill chips in clear finish on Fender maple necks, same principle, fill the damaged area , sand with some fine sandpaper, then buff it out.

It's not hard but I wouldn't recommend it for everyone either, you'd need either some clear laquer, or superglue (I also use accelerator to speed the cure time) fine sandpaper from 360-600 grit wet dry, and some polishing compound, 3M Finesse It is awesome stuff.

If you haven't ever done any paint / sanding/ buffing, it might be just easier to take it to a good tech.

casterway · March 5th, 2007, 08:06 PM

I've had good luck with filling in dings with Krazy Glue. Just carefully add more until the ding is filled, then sand it down to smooth.

gtrman911 · March 5th, 2007, 08:16 PM

clear nail polish

drip a drip in the cavity and let it seek its own level

Ringo · March 5th, 2007, 10:20 PM

Nail polish is basically laquer paint, only thing is I don't know how hard it gets, or how long it would last compared to "real" clear laquer.
Certainly worth a shot though,

March 5th, 2007, 06:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
tlsmack Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lonk I-lant, New York Posts: 359 42 Photos	Repairing ding in neck After 20 years, my tele got it's first ding in the neck. It is pretty small, but the poly finish is chipped. Is it safe to try to sand it smooth? Is there a quick fix to save the finish from chipping further? Or should I bring it to a repair shop?

March 5th, 2007, 07:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ringo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,910	finish repair if there is a chip in the finish it can repaired , Dan Erlewine has some good books that show how to do all kinds of repairs, you can use clear laquer to "drop" fill the chip, essentially use a toothpick dipped in the laquer and fill the chip with a drop of clear, let that dry, repeat as necessary, and then sand and buff. I've also used superglue to fill chips in clear finish on Fender maple necks, same principle, fill the damaged area , sand with some fine sandpaper, then buff it out. It's not hard but I wouldn't recommend it for everyone either, you'd need either some clear laquer, or superglue (I also use accelerator to speed the cure time) fine sandpaper from 360-600 grit wet dry, and some polishing compound, 3M Finesse It is awesome stuff. If you haven't ever done any paint / sanding/ buffing, it might be just easier to take it to a good tech.

March 5th, 2007, 08:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
casterway Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Aldergrove, British Columbia,Canada Age: 40 Posts: 2,667	I've had good luck with filling in dings with Krazy Glue. Just carefully add more until the ding is filled, then sand it down to smooth. __________________ There's nothing wrong with a proper repair... "I don't scratch no guitars." John Lee Hooker, when asked to carve his signature into an old acoustic.

March 5th, 2007, 08:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
gtrman911 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Camelot Posts: 1,140 7 Photos	clear nail polish drip a drip in the cavity and let it seek its own level __________________ My opinion is worth what you paid for it.

March 5th, 2007, 10:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ringo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,910	re nail polish Nail polish is basically laquer paint, only thing is I don't know how hard it gets, or how long it would last compared to "real" clear laquer. Certainly worth a shot though,