Cracks in Finish

[Stingray]

Hi Folks,
I recently acquired a Mosrite Celebrity with a significant number of cracks in the finish. The cracks don't appear to affect the wood at all, but they are long continuous cracks. They probably wouldn't bother me too much, but the original owner did some fine sanding of the surface with the thought of spraying another coat of clear lacquer, to fill the cracks.

I've built a guitar or 2 and have sprayed nitro lacquer. I'm thinking about going ahead and overspraying a few coats of clear nitro lacquer, but I don't think I can just spray the cracks and expect them to fill.

I've read that since nitro lacquer can be dissolved by lacquer solvents, you can flow some solvent down the crack, to soften the old lacquer and then brush in some fresh clear lacquer.

Does anyone have any experience with this, or have any other suggestions?

thanks for your help,

P.S. How do you attach pictures to a post?

Stingray

[Sarah93003]

Hi Stingray, it sounds like the usuall "checking" that occurs with Mosrite finishes. I don't mind them, personally. I'd love to see pictures of your Celebrity though. What serial number is it?

To post pictures you will need an online storage, such as PhotoBucket. Upload your image there and then cut and paste the link here using the "Img" button you see above this typing box.

[oipunkguy]

it might work, but my guess is it will still be visible. is the finish a sold color or a translucent/transparent? there is a process that I've been successful with on furniture called "reamalgamation", although i've never tried it on a guitar. basically you use a product that dissolve the finish so you can use the original finish to fill in the cracks, but this same product will allow the finish to dry again without harming it. then at that point you can clear coat it and buff it out.
I suppose it could be possible to be successful in doing this on a guitar with the right finish, but something like a sunburst, forget it. I'd love to see pics of what you are talking about.

[Sarah93003]

it might work, but my guess is it will still be visible. is the finish a sold color or a translucent/transparent? there is a process that I've been successful with on furniture called "reamalgamation", although i've never tried it on a guitar. basically you use a product that dissolve the finish so you can use the original finish to fill in the cracks, but this same product will allow the finish to dry again without harming it. then at that point you can clear coat it and buff it out.
I suppose it could be possible to be successful in doing this on a guitar with the right finish, but something like a sunburst, forget it. I'd love to see pics of what you are talking about.

Boy, I would not try that one myself. I would definately see a professional. And yes, pictures would certainly help.

[Veenture]

Not meaning to go off topic but I remember we were taught in science class that a thicker glass would crack more readily than a very thin one when subjected to a sudden temperature change (you would be inclined to think it was the other way round!).
Now I have this idea that the thicker the (clear) finish, the more liable it is to crack; could this be true also?

[bakeoboy]

I think the cracks could be filled if it was done,right after it cracked.Usually the cracks collect wax and dirt so you would be sealing that in too. The celebritys were finished with a catalized base coat and laquer over that. Seems like that catalized stuff would be difficult to melt .I'll be waiting for the results if you try anything!

[GattonFan]

Since that would be considered a refinish - I think if I were going to do that, I'd have it refinished properly.
Dennis

[woodchuck30]

Two cents, If your spraying nitro and thining it with lacquer thinner, the mix is hot enough to melt into the other lacquer. However, I would dewax the guitar, sand it with 500 wet dry paper wipe it down then spray it with nitro-thinner mix sand again with 600 wet dry paper spray again and see what develops, you may be happy with the results. It works great on cars, why not on guitars?

Al

[oipunkguy]

hey Paul, again I've never tried to do reamalgamation on a guitar, if may even be foolish to try, but hey it could be possible to save the finish maybe. when I tried this before the finish is thinned out anyway because you and have to rub it out with something to move the finish around. I did this using steel wool. once it was dry and the finish harden again I could sand it to my liking and clear coat it. also if you were to clear coat a guitar a little too thick you can always bring it down in the final buffing stage anyway.
But you are correct, that a thin finish is less likely to crack then a thicker one.
al is right too, I've been able to save finishes this way like he described, however never on anything with any age to it. I'm sure it's possible.