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PostPosted: Sat May 19, 2018 11:47 am 
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Koa
Koa
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Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:08 am
Posts: 1905
Location: Raleigh, NC
First name: Steve
Last Name: Sollod
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I have an old 62" Melody Maker and the finish on the neck is kinda "crusty" or "sticky"... I guess from years of hand sweat. I try to wipe off my guitar when I'm through playing... Is there something I can use to clean or restore the finish?
Thanks

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PostPosted: Sat May 19, 2018 6:09 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2014 1:27 pm
Posts: 375
First name: john
Last Name: shelton
City: Alsea
State: Oregon
Zip/Postal Code: 97324
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
naphtha is considered a safe solvent in most cases



These users thanked the author jshelton for the post: fumblefinger (Sat May 19, 2018 11:11 pm)
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PostPosted: Mon May 21, 2018 10:43 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:02 am
Posts: 3227
Location: The Woodlands, Texas
First name: Barry
Last Name: Daniels
Sounds like the lacquer finish is breaking down. Once that starts there is not much you can do other than strip and refinish. But naphtha or mineral spirits may clean off the sticky stuff temporarily.


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PostPosted: Mon May 21, 2018 1:12 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:28 am
Posts: 183
First name: Leonard
Last Name: Duke
City: Kalamazoo
State: MI
Zip/Postal Code: 49001
Country: USA
Focus: Repair
Status: Amateur
I use alternating treatments of naptha (mineral spirits) and denatured alcohol. Any stuff not removed by these I might attack with a rag with almost no water on it (although spit takes things off faster than water) (don't tell anyone I said that). Be sure the neck is totally dry before you take any finish to it.
If you are down to bare wood you may or may not want to sand it just enough with 320 or 400 to take just a bit of the nastiest dirty wood off. You can't get all the dirt out without harming the neck shape.
Bare wood ought to have something on it. I start with clear (not orange) shellac. It is easy to sand and add more thin layers to. After I am satisfied with the shellac I eventually put some clear nitro on it for the best feel and longevity. I use an airbrush. With careful spraying over a truly smooth surface you can wait a couple weeks, then with rubbing compound and wax the lines between old and new finish will disappear.


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