sanding down chips

Capricorn

I have a couple of chips off my guitar and I'd like to sand them down
so that they look slightly smoother and more presentable. What grit sandpaper
should I be using...If not sandpaper any other suggestions?

AlanRatcliffe

Sanding the ding itself isn't going to make it look better, in all likelihood it'll make it look worse.

What colour is the guitar? It will be best to fill them up then sand them down smooth with the rest of the surface. Easy enough to do with most solid colours.

Capricorn

its actually a burst colour and i don't have any experience in refinishing or painting at all.

Manfred-Klose

Take it to the your local guitar tech or shop, they'll be able to fix it.

AlanRatcliffe

But with a burst, I'm guessing most of the damage is round the edges, which are black? Black's the easiest to touch up, you just drop fill some paint into the chips to build up layers until you get it built up above the original finish. Then you mask off and smooth down with waterpaper (starting at about 400 grit and moving up grade by grade until you get to 1000). Then polish it up with medium and fine polishing compounds.

nick

Alan Ratcliffe wrote But with a burst, I'm guessing most of the damage is round the edges, which are black? Black's the easiest to touch up, you just drop fill some paint into the chips to build up layers until you get it built up above the original finish. Then you mask off and smooth down with waterpaper (starting at about 400 grit and moving up grade by grade until you get to 1000). Then polish it up with medium and fine polishing compounds.

ah good to know, my black strat has a ding in the bottom Ive always hated and want to get fixed sometime

deanBailey

Or don't fix it. Dings and scratches kinda give the instrument some character and a "life-story".

eg.
"Oh this missing chunk is from me hitting a mugger out cold and saving a family, on my way back from tour"
"Oh this stain is from me being drunk one night and I did a groupie in the van...at least I hope it was a groupie and not my drummer"

Kinda like Tattoo's telling a story (except mine..which I just thought was cool at the time)

Unless of course it's a really awesome guitar, then it's a different story.

Sean

deanBailey wrote
"Oh this stain is from me being drunk one night and I did a groupie in the van...at least I hope it was a groupie and not my drummer"

Ouch!! lol.

I agree with Dean. Having a nice "relic" guitar is also cool. Some folk actually buy new guitars with a relic paint job.

Gearhead

This wouldn't matter with Sean, his drummer and his wife happen to be the same girl ?

Riaan

Dings and scratches kinda give the instrument some character and a "life-story".

I agree, especially if there's a nice story to be told, it doesn't really matter if the strory is entirely true or not. Like if it was in fact, the drummer.. ?..don't add unnecessary details that might spoil a good story!

Renesongs

Most of the pics of the gear and guitars I have seen on this forum have been immaculate condition, kind of makes me want to ask "do you guys actually play those things or are the kept locked in vault wrapped in bolts of velvet ?" I look at my guitar as a knight does his broadsword, nicked and scared from memorable battle yet always sharp and prepared to battle more.

Gearhead

sorry for F'ing up the story, I just hope Sean's not talking about the Fender I borrowed him (admittedly, voluntarily until I've finished making his new acoustic).

Sean

Gearhead wrote I just hope Sean's not talking about the Fender I borrowed him

I'm doing you a favour man, when you get your acoustic back from me, guys are going to say, "Whoa, that thing has character!!!" ?

Gearhead

Just as long as I will not need to tell any stories about our drummer I'm fine with it ?

AlanRatcliffe

Renesongs wrote Most of the pics of the gear and guitars I have seen on this forum have been immaculate condition, kind of makes me want to ask "do you guys actually play those things

I like pretty guitars. Of course I ding them (I dinged my last partscaster about 5 minutes after the final assembly) - I just fix 'em again. I get the relic thing (especially an 'honest" relic), but it's not for me.

I look at my guitar as a knight does his broadsword, nicked and scared from memorable battle yet always sharp and prepared to battle more.

I'd rather ride into battle with a sharp shiny sword than a nicked, rusty or blunt one, thank you very much ?

Explorerlover

@ Rene.... I think we keep our girls in immaculate condition because of some of the prices we have to pay for them