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Post subject: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:22 pm
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I bought a mid-90s Telecaster from a friend and it has a hole and cracks in the lacquer on the back of the neck, as shown in the image below.

Image

Does anyone have any advice on how I could go about repairing this? I'd prefer to try doing it myself if possible.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:20 am
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Possible, but not easy - if you want the result to be perfect.
There's another ongoing topic about neck finish repairs here: https://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=109235
The same cautious approach applies to all finish repairs... One thing is a must: practice with the techniques & materials on scrap wood until you feel confident.

Instructions in the web are plentiful. The basic method of a drop-fill (it can be done with superglue or lacquers) is here:


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2018 10:46 am
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Thanks a lot jmattis. Definitely doesn't need to be perfect. I just want to prevent it from worsening. If I'm going to practice fixing it, I'm curious what the lacquer is that is used on a Telecaster. If anyone has any advice on what to buy for reproducing that, let me know. So I guess I basically need to get some wood at Home Depot, sand it smooth, apply the lacquer, and then I can scrape some off, and then test my repair techniques.

I probably should have off offered less for this guitar, but it has sentimental value, as I bought it back from a friend I'd sold it to.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2018 12:05 pm
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The guitar model & year would tell the finish type. Here's a start: https://www.fender.com/articles/tech-ta ... f-finishes

A couple of notes: get maple for the scrap wood. And, sometimes a (back of the neck) sanding-to-wood & total refinish is the easy way out. Even easier if you like the Road Worn looks & feel.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:02 pm
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Thanks for the tip on getting maple! I hadn't thought of that. This guitar is a 1996 American Standard Telecaster. Not one of the limited ones...just a vanilla American Standard made in that year.

I'm guessing from reading that article that my guitar likely has 'satin urethane' on its neck. Thanks again for your help. Much appreciated!


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 1:14 am
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Glad if I've been some help. A pic when you finish the job would be real nice. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 9:37 am
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Thanks. I will post a pic when I start it. Trying to work up the courage/guts. The only other repair I've personally done is replacing a pickup, so this will be a big step up for me. In addition to your suggested video, after searching around I somehow found this video while scouring YouTube, which seems like your idea of stripping the whole thing. I'm starting to lean to that approach.



Now want to research the kinds of finish I should use. In that vid he uses a gun oil/wax, which looked really easy to work with, but unsure how durable it is.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 12:07 pm
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(Birchwood) Tru-oil® is originally meant for use in hunting rifle stocks, and if you think about what kind of conditions they're exposed to, the durability on a guitar should be no issue.
I have nothing against that stuff, I just don't use it on guitars myself. I've learned different ways, usually it's using the same finish type as the original - and that's never an oil mixture.
Doesn't mean Tru-oil would not work for others, but old habits dry hard. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 12:41 pm
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So if I go with a 'satin urethane' type finish, do you happen to recommend any specific products? Have you used any or aware of any you'd recommend? Would this be a good example of what I'm looking for?

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Supplies/Finishing_Supplies/Tried_and_True_Original_Wood_Finish.html

I saw other one polyurethanes, like Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane, but as that looks to be general purpose, and not for guitar, not sure if that's good.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 1:33 am
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In my opinion this is only hestetic damage.

From the picture;
The hole is not one, it's a lack of polish
The cracks would be caused by a variation of temperature (?) And concerns only the varnish not the wood.

Bad repair will be and look as bad as doing nothing


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 10:45 am
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On those questions from wpleary:
The product you link to is another version of the oil-type finishes - there's not much difference to Tru-oil.
I have very little experience with oil finishes in general, and none on fixing dents on PU with them. They don't polish well, and in essence they are polymerized linseed oil - so I don't know how they handle with PU, polyester, nitro, shellac, especially with partial refins.

Now if that neck was in my workbench, I'd go with super glue (if in a hurry) or clear PU (if the goal is 'good as new'), using the "drop fill" method with both. That's clean the wood (sand, degrease) > blend the edges (& remove all dust) > fill till enough > level > polish - to put it as simple as possible.
The web has a lot of instructions, but practicing (that scrap wood...) is the only way to a good result.
On the brands, the ones I use are "any super glue I have on the shelf + acetone for accelerating" and "clear PU for wooden boats, domestic made so probably not sold in your 'hood".

But like st52 writes, the cracks don't necessarily need fixing - the natural relic look, etc. If your fingers stick to those points all the time, a very fine wet sand paper touchup to smooth the edges could be enough.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 1:12 pm
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@stratele52: Thanks for the reply. I am hoping those cracks are just in the poly, and yes, that hole isn't in the actual wood, but I definitely wanted to fix it, as thinking not good to expose it to moisture. I live in Texas and the humidity level is all over the place. I want to fix it also, since it does feel like I might rip off a bigger strip of the polyurethane when I have my thumb in that area.

@jmattis: That "drop-fill" superglue is a good idea. I had not come across that term, 'drop fill'. I was able to find some articles about that. After reading about it, I think I may go that route! That does seem the easiest and quickest. Think I'll start ordering some supplies now. I'll post some pics hopefully later this week or next week with the finished results.

Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate your help!!! God I love the internet.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 1:38 pm
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Good Luck :)

Don't forget , a bad repair is more difficult to fix than no repair. Be sure what you are doing

Your home furniture are made of wood like the guitar, no need to be carefully or afraid about moisture.

Don't you ever see Stevie Ray guitar ? Almost bare wood .He was a great Texas guitar player


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 2:44 pm
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@jmattis: Any suggestions on where to buy smaller pieces of maple for practicing? This weekend I went to Home Depot and Lowe's and all they have are these huge 4' x 8' (or something like that) pieces of maple. Wondering where people get maple to practice on. We live in a relatively small apartment, no garage, so I really don't want to have this huge piece of wood.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on how to repair lacquer hole/cracks in the neck?
Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 2:47 pm
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Hobby shop ? Or Hobby Lobby.
More chance on a carpenters shop, cabinet maker

Where do you live ? city ?


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