The Hub

The latest builds, repairs, and conversations from across Looth. Activity
Filters AND Search finish touch up× Reset all
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Eirw finish streaks under nitro

23 yo acoustic in for touch ups. EIRW, nitro. Has a couple of spots on the sides that look like this. In good general shape. What’s going on here? No texture, its under the finish.

7 replies
7 replies
LikeShare
Private member
kinda looks like compound in the grain from buffing, then relized the grain wasent sealed well & cleared some more over it...
Ian Davlin DiscussionJob Postings

Career Opportunity - Mike Lull’s (Bellevue WA 98005)

We’re Hiring: Experienced Luthier Mike Lull’s Guitar Works is looking for an experienced Luthier to join our team. We’re seeking someone with strong hands-on experience in instrument repair and restoration who’s ready to work in a collaborative, high-quality shop environment. Our demand for our acoustic repair and restoration services as well as our own line of guitars/basses is growing year over year and we’re looking to add to the tea…

LikeShare
Private member DiscussionFinish Repair

1970 d-18 patch

Hey! I have been working on repairing a d-18 that had a large hole in the side. I glued in a backer, cleaned up the edges and after a few attempts got a patch glued in and leveled. I have been testing finish on some scrap but am getting lost in the woods. In my tests I am doing most of the color in the grain fill. Does anyone have tips on how to start touching this up? Thanks!

13 replies
13 replies
LikeShare
Private member
I did a repair on this Martin and had to sand the entire side and refinish. I found this was the best way for me to get a good result. I could have tried spot finishing but I'm sure I wouldn't have b…
Private member DiscussionFinish Repair

When chips happen--customers, expectations, and responsibility

Hey all, I am really enjoying digging through the looth group. I have not yet watched all the ding kings vids or read all the amazing comments and articles here, but I've been appreciating some of the loothing for dollars stuff, seeing other people's intake sheets, discussions about dealing with customers, and it led me to this question: How do people deal with customer expectations, liability, and the inevitable accidents that can happ…

4 replies
4 replies
LikeShare
Private member
@member some really solid perspective here, thank you. You're so right regarding the bit about some of the more abusive customers being the most obsessed with cosmetics, to paraphr…
Private member DiscussionFinish Repair

60's LG0 bare wood touch up

This 60's Gibson LG0 mahogany came in with a little bit of the finish scraped off just to the right of the bridge as you can see. I'm curious if anybody has any tips on how to touch this up? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

7 replies
7 replies
LikeShare
Ian Davlin
I would start by using matte or dead flat lacquer.
Private member DiscussionShare Your New Builds Content

Acrylic touch up paints?

After installing purfling and bindings I noticed a black dot on one of the maple lines— and right at the florentine point! It’s not sanding out. Bummer. As I get close to finish prep does anyone have recommendations on acrylic touch up paint SKUs that work well with maple? These maple purflings happen to be from Gurian Instruments, for what that’s worth. Also, if anyone has an idea of what this dot is and how it got there I’d love to he…

5 replies
5 replies
LikeShare
Ian Davlin
Also, Jeff Jewitt goes over this in this segment. https://dev2.loothgroup.com/post-type-videos/in-the-booth-with-jeff-jewitt/
Private member DiscussionFinish Repair

Les Paul Cherry neck: Touch-up or refinish?

The neck on this Epiphone Les Paul was repaired by the local Guitar Center, but they left it ragged and the customer asked me to fix the finish. It appears to be very thick poly (not lacquer) and the crack has some glue left over from the repair. I would love to be able to just fill and finish the cracks, but I'm afraid it will be near impossible to match, so I'm inclined to strip and refinish the whole neck. Advice??

3 replies
3 replies
LikeShare
Private member
Thanks Al, I use the FNF liquids, but not powdered stain. I'd welcome a 1-on-1 if you're game. Whatsapp works well (+1-253-376-0116). I'm on Pacific time. Looking forward to talking! Neil
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

When do you make the call to pull a lifting bridge and reglue?

Hey y'all, I've got a mid budget lefty acoustic in the shop for some work and one of the bridge wings is starting to pull up. I know some people are content to just squeeze some glue under and reclamp, but from what I can see underneath it the finish goes back a long way before we even start to touch the wood, if ever. So I'm leaning towards pulling it to be safe, but just making sure I'm not being overzealous before deciding on that co…

3 replies
3 replies
LikeShare
Private member
Thank you both for taking the time to reply! Pulling it was definitely the right choice, it's a lot happier now. They'd removed some amount under the bridge at the factory but not nearly enough, only t…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Taylor crack repair - Finish touch up guidance please!

Hi there looths, Hoping you guys can help me identify what uv resin or other compatible finish can be used to finish this crack? I'm comfortable true-ing up the material and gluing, however I've only really done nitro or polyurethane finish touch up. Thanks, Aleks

2 replies
2 replies
LikeShare
Private member
On the recommendation of Dave Staudte I use Mohawk M102-0720 (Matte 19-23 Sheen). It works really well for blending into the orignal finish.
Private member DiscussionFinish Repair

Poor Lacquer Adhesion? — 2023 Martin D35

Customer brought in his D35 which he bought new 6 months ago from a local shop in here in Toronto. The way he describes it— the finish on the back of the neck began to ripple, and in one spot bubbled and chipped off about the size of a quarter. Where the lacquer has chipped off, there’s still sealer and pore fill underneath. I’ve heard about finish adhesion issues on Martins of various eras. The rest of the neck finish is starting to ri…

3 replies
3 replies
LikeShare
Ian Davlin
Def should go back to Martin. I’d take it to warranty location . Are you Martin warranty?
Private member DiscussionFinish Repair

70’s guild touch up

I have this 1970’s guild that had the finish burned from the cradle of a guitar stand. I am having issues with the border of the repair darkening. I sanded back the damaged area and the surrounding finish which was gummy. I used water based pore filler as a starter, a few sealer coats, and then clear coats (one of the coats with some dyes). Any suggestions at how to get this looking better?

5 replies
5 replies
LikeShare
Private member
Hey Al! This is a guitar I traded for a while back to practice on so I have no time constraint or expectations. I do not think I’m ready to take something on like this for customers yet! I can see get…