Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello everyone,

I need to respray an instrument (classical) I finished recently (put a ding in the soundboard ). I generally finish the instruments prior to installing the bridge. My issue is that I used boiled linseed oil for the bridge and I now need to spray the entire soundboard. Would it be best to mask the bridge or spray over top of it. I wonder about adhesion problems (using cat. urethane)if I spray over the bridge. Is there something I can use on the bridge to promote adhesion? thanks again.

This may seem far fetched to you but if you really wish to keep the bridge free of the finish, mask up the top around the bridge and apply past wax to the bridge with a q-tip prior to spraying. after the finish is cured scrape off the past wax and the finish on the bridge should come with it. You need to be careful not to transfer any of the wax to sound board prior to spraying or during spraying

Just a thought.

You really think you need to respray the whole top to fix a ding?

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

haven't seen the ding, but why not drop fill?

Paste wax, I like that idea. Thanks Michael.

Howard, I french polish the guitar then add 1 or 2 thin coats of catalyzed urethane for protection. I tried sanding the ding out and went through some of the shellac so there is an awful light spot where the ding was (used amber colored shellac). I don't know how to get rid of the light spot without respraying the entire top. Any ideas??    

Stan, If I drop fill will witness lines be apparent? If is used lacuqer, I definitely would have used your approach. What would I use to drop fill on cat. urethane... CA? Urethane? thanks for your input.

I am eager to hear more ideas in case this happens again in the future. Thank you.

I think Howard was meaning if you have not already removed the finish from the top to drop fill the ding. or sand back to the wood just at the area of the ding and steam the dent out then repair only the injured areas finish.