The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 06-16-2022, 06:32 AM
rollypolly rollypolly is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 2,146
Default Finish issue

I just got a Martin mmv. It’s definitely not a perfect guitar so I’m not concerned about the finish being like new, however there’s a small place on the back where the finish has been scraped off. About the size of a quarter. Can anyone recommend a way to fix this just so more finish doesn’t loosen up and fall off? Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-16-2022, 07:12 AM
phavriluk phavriluk is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Granby, CT
Posts: 2,913
Default a thought

DIY fixes when the repairer is learning on the job often make little problems into big problems. I urge OP to take the instrument to someone experienced in finish maintenance and see what's possible. The problem is presented as a minor one, but Murphy's Law is one pernicious intruder, and uncontrolled scope creep lurks.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-16-2022, 08:08 AM
JonWint JonWint is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: 1 hr from Nazareth
Posts: 1,044
Default

Scraped off? Intentionally? Buckle rash?

Post photos for useful recommendation(s).
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-16-2022, 09:07 AM
Fathand Fathand is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 1,299
Default

They say shellac sticks to anything, Zinsser aerosol shellac is about $9 at Home Depot. You should be able to seal/touch-up with that.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-16-2022, 10:04 AM
rollypolly rollypolly is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 2,146
Default

thanks for the suggestions. I'll post a pic shortly. I may take it to a pro. The problem is there is some pretty bad looking overspray near the binding all over the back and sides, so I'm not sure I want to spend much on this fix just to have a rough looking guitar anyways. I'd prefer to try it myself in this case. I've read that CA glue can be used for some small repairs.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-16-2022, 04:24 PM
Fathand Fathand is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 1,299
Default

I looked up Martin mmv, Apparently they are finished with nitrocellulose, you can buy that in a spray can. It typically melds right into the previous finish.

Wear a respirator

Brands,
Behlen, Mohawk, Deft, Watco
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-16-2022, 09:12 PM
Sadie-f Sadie-f is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: New England
Posts: 1,019
Default

If you don't mind living with some brush strokes, clear nail polish is nitrocellulose. If the mmv is nitro finish, then it should be both cheap and effective.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-16-2022, 10:05 PM
mirwa mirwa is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,109
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rollypolly View Post
The problem is there is some pretty bad looking overspray near the binding all over the back and sides, so I'm not sure I want to spend much on this fix just to have a rough looking guitar anyways. I'd prefer to try it myself in this case. I've read that CA glue can be used for some small repairs.
Martins had a problem with the binding coming loose for a while there, it sounds like someone reglued the binding and did bad finish work.

Do not use superglue to repair nitro finishes, nitro finish repairs come up pretty invisible when done correctly with just nitro

Here is some nasty damage done by someone regluing binding.



Without removing the pickguard, doing a localised repair using nitro it can come up like this

__________________
Cole Clark Fat Lady
Gretsch Electromatic
Martin CEO7
Maton Messiah
Taylor 814CE

Last edited by mirwa; 06-16-2022 at 10:59 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-16-2022, 10:46 PM
Carey Carey is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Los Osos, CA
Posts: 840
Default

Superglue / cyanoacrylate is difficult to control on repairs like this, unless (or even if)
you've got substantial experience. Daubing on some shellac (probably buttonlac- very durable) is what I'd go for here.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-17-2022, 02:52 PM
rollypolly rollypolly is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 2,146
Default

Here’s the spot with missing finish. I have some Mohawk gloss laquer I could use but I’m no pro. Might either leave it or see if I can find a pro for a quote and get it fixed if it’s not too much $$.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 40AA636C-23F9-4941-8C35-9D6929EAEA93.jpg (13.2 KB, 124 views)
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 06-17-2022, 07:18 PM
mirwa mirwa is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,109
Default

Yes you still have binding that has not been attached, so get addressed at the same time
__________________
Cole Clark Fat Lady
Gretsch Electromatic
Martin CEO7
Maton Messiah
Taylor 814CE
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 06-18-2022, 07:24 AM
dnf777's Avatar
dnf777 dnf777 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: NW Pennsylvania
Posts: 3,655
Default

I would suggest finding a pro willing to help you out. Probably wont cost much more than the necessary supplies, of which you’ll pay for a whole can, and use only a fraction. Good way to learn in case theres a next time.
__________________
Dave F
*************
Martins
Guilds
Gibsons
A few others
2020 macbook pro i5 8GB
Scarlett 18i20
Reaper 7
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 06-18-2022, 10:05 AM
phavriluk phavriluk is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Granby, CT
Posts: 2,913
Default a thought

+1 on dnf777's advice. All day.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 06-18-2022, 11:24 AM
rollypolly rollypolly is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 2,146
Default

Thanks for the advice. I do really like the guitar so I may take it and get a quote. But just out of curiosity has anyone ever used Stew-Mac’s nitro touch up pens? It seems like a perfect application for these small areas. I’m assuming you can apply the nitro and sand or polish once you have enough coats to sand it down level with the original finish?
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 06-18-2022, 12:08 PM
phavriluk phavriluk is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Granby, CT
Posts: 2,913
Default

Please consider the observation about binding coming loose...
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:01 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=