Finish repair

Nitebob

I know I've been asking a lot of questions recently, but I'm a sucker for projects. This is a pic of a scratch on my brothers Takamine, that I am considering repairing for him...

I've successfully done a few drop fill repairs before, but this obviously will not work here as the scratch is lighter than the top, and it isn't only the finish that is damaged....
It's a cedar top (afaik) any guidelines? should I get a wood filler and tint lighter and darker till I get a match? Then just drop fill the finish?

Gearhead

If it's not too deep you might consider sanding/scraping down both top and binding and then refinish.

Shibbibilybob

what kind of finish is on it currently? If it's high gloss, you could try a tiny drop of cyanoate super glue, and then use a scraper to get it flush again.

Other than that, I would say anything but a proper refinish is likely to leave it looking worse than it currently does. It's not really something that I would think needs repairing.

Nitebob

I use superglue even on a matt finish. Flat it down nice and smooth. Then give the whole guitar a run with steel wool...

lapdawg

Nitebob wrote: I use superglue even on a matt finish. Flat it down nice and smooth. Then give the whole guitar a run with steel wool...

The whole guitar? That sounds a bit drastic. Also, do not use filler! Ever!
I have successfully "pulled out" dings with a wet cloth and a steam iron. I suggest the following if you want to do it corectly:
1. Find out what the guitar is finished in. If you can, get some.
2. Sand lightly over the crack with about 350 grit. Do not go into the wood.
3. Wet the exposed wood, place a 4 x folded wet cloth over the ding. Hit it with a hot iron for < 10 secs. It must stay wet. NB: keep the heat on the area of the ding only. Keep it focused. Avoid the binding. do not let the iron touch the wood.
4. Worst case, the dent will lift a little.
5. Let it dry.
If it is structural, a small drip or 2 of super glue will be OK. It doesn't seem like its necessary.
6. with a pipette (or match stick etc.) apply a few drips of the matched finish into the crack. Let is dry completely & repeat until it is "proud".
7. Use a Stanley blade or flat scalpel balded & gently scrape it level.
8. Buff & polish. A bit of Turtle wax over the whole guitar works a charm.

Nitebob

Thanks lapdawg! Will try the steam!

I must admit. I did that with my Cort to restore the matt finish. Gave it a light run with steelwool after a superglue fill and it came out fabulous!...I might be a bit of a cowboy :-[

Will the original finish darken the top again to original?

Look I'm under no impression I'm going to fix it invisibly. Just less obvious...

Thanks again for the input!

Shibbibilybob

Steaming is a good idea. I've used butter knives in the past, to great success.
You can heat the knife (ideally on an element and not a flame- black dust stuff) and then just use it instead of the iron (to localise the heat a bit better).