Glue on guitar body

The Achilles' Heel of Luthiery
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Greg Martin
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Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2015 9:24 pm

Glue on guitar body

Post by Greg Martin »

Hi Guys, this is my first post. I’ve been lurking for a while reading and learning.

I have a question re: finishing. I’m hoping someone might be able to help me.
I recently purchased a kit guitar, I’m really happy with the guitar it looks great but after applying a stain coat I am noticing the stain isn’t taking in a cpl of small areas. I think it might be where glue has been absorbed.

Any ideas what I can do to remove it and not that I have already added a coat of stain is it too late?
B. Howard
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Location: Hummelstown, PA
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Re: Glue on guitar body

Post by B. Howard »

The glue will need sanded or scraped away. The stain can then be touched up and blended. Careful inspection of your work prior to finishing using a solvent like naptha or DA will help find these spots so they can be taken care of beforehand.
You never know what you are capable of until you actually try....

Brian Howard
www.brianhowardguitars.com
Taylor authorized service
Custom finishing services

Brian howard's guitar building & repair blog
http://www.brianhowardguitars.com
Greg Martin
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2015 9:24 pm

Re: Glue on guitar body

Post by Greg Martin »

Thanks Brian, I appreciate your help.
Just to clarify......you wouldn't recommend using Acetone for instance?
I was concerned that sanding would not work if the glue had penetrated the timber more than a cpl of mm.
B. Howard
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Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:42 pm
Location: Hummelstown, PA
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Re: Glue on guitar body

Post by B. Howard »

Acetone will do more harm to your satin and really won't eat the glue. Glue doesn't really penetrate far into the wood, a few thousandths of an inch maybe.....
You never know what you are capable of until you actually try....

Brian Howard
www.brianhowardguitars.com
Taylor authorized service
Custom finishing services

Brian howard's guitar building & repair blog
http://www.brianhowardguitars.com
tippie53
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Re: Glue on guitar body

Post by tippie53 »

It does depend on the glue but I agree with Brian in that water based glues won't penetrate much and can easily be sanded clean
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Greg Martin
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Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2015 9:24 pm

Re: Glue on guitar body

Post by Greg Martin »

Thanks fellas really appreciate the advice. I'll get busy sanding.
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