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This afternoon when I stopped playing my ( week old) guitar I noticed some white streaks where it had been touching against my leg. Further inspection revealed that the pattern of the denim of my jeans is kinda etched into the FP finish !

Has anyone seen something similar ?

Any idea what might have caused it / How I can fix it / How to stop it happening again ?

I am wondering if it could have something to do with detergent in the material since the jeans were clean on this morning and it hadn't happened during the previous 6 days playing !

I've tried buffing with a cotton cloth but no change

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Richard

What type of oil did you use? White discoloration can indicate oil entrapped in the finish.

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Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

[QUOTE=TRein] What type of oil did you use? White discoloration can indicate oil entrapped in the finish. [/QUOTE]

Olive Oil. Its only happened where it was touching against my jeans.

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Richard

I was hoping you would have said linseed oil. Then I could have said absolutely oil entrapment. I have never used olive oil so I can't say conslusively. I would try spiriting off the area with just a breath of alcohol in a pad. If it is oil entrapment, the spiriting off will help free the oil. Take it slow and start with a very dry pad!!

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Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

Olive oil is fine for FP as long as it doesnt have any additives. I use it without any problems. Important not to use too much oil and to make sure it gets removed during spiriting off.

Cheers

Could wax cause this?
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

Thanks for the replies guys

I used extra virgen olive oil.

I'll try spiriting off the area again and see what happens

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Richard

how old is the finish?

I finished the guitar 3 days befor fitting the bridge - so about 2 weeks old

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Richard

i've only done shellac finishes on violins and violas but always found it takes a while for the finish to harden fully. and when new it seems to be temperature sensitive, that is it seems to get softer as it warms.

have you noticed any fingerprints in the finish?

[QUOTE=crazymanmichael] i've only done shellac finishes on violins and violas but always found it takes a while for the finish to harden fully. and when new it seems to be temperature sensitive, that is it seems to get softer as it warms.

have you noticed any fingerprints in the finish?[/QUOTE]

No , I dont think so, not like the cloth pattern which seems like its etched into the finish. Fingerprints on the finish obviously but not sunken in.

How long do you recomend I should have let it cure before playing ?

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Richard

i like to give them at least a couple of weeks before handling them if the drying conditions are good. perhaps i am overly cautious, but i don't like having to redo finishes. the more i can reduce solvent exposure the happier i am.

Thanks guys

I thought I'd give an update on this so anyone interested can learn from my mistakes !

As suggested by TRein, I have gone over the affected area with a pad with a pad with a drop of alcohol on. This has removed the white marks (which seemed to be on the surface ) andhas lessened the "etching " effect. Further work will be needed to completely repair this but I have decided to leave it at this point for now. Since there are a few other marks which need a bit of attention I will do them all once number 2 is done !!!

In future I will leave the finish to harden a couple of weeks, as suggested ,before playing the guitar ! to be honest this being my first guitar I wouldn't have been able to resist playing it even if I'd known this beforehand !

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Richard