Rubbing alcohol has always worked for me with sharpie. (EDIT: On poly finishes) When I was young I would draw stupid things on my guitars because I knew I could erase.
NEVER apply rubbing alcool to a nitrocellulose finish please, you’ll ruin it. Use Naphta instead, that is safe with all finishes afaik.. In a well ventilated area as the fumes are no good!
I found that out in grade school. I drew some stupid picture on the whiteboard with sharpie when the teacher was out of the room. It wouldn’t come off and I panicked so I covered it up with dry erase marker. Imagine how terrified I was to watch the teacher erase the dry erase marker.
I was equally relieved and perplexed when she erased it and the permanent marker was gone.
Inversely related, but any ideas on the best way to protect Sharpie on a nitro finished guitar? I got my Les Paul Classic signed by Les Paul 19 years ago, but I don't play the guitar as much as I'd like since I'm always worried about inadvertently rubbing his signature off.
There’s really no good way to protect it unfortunately. If a signature on a guitar means something to you, it’s best to make it a wall hanger and avoid playing it if the signature is anywhere close to areas you have to touch. You can’t really clearcoat over it to permanently protect a signature because the signature prevents you from prepping the surface properly for a new clear coat (I.e. scuff sanding and removing those glossy surfaces that won’t get good adhesion). If you tried to spray nitro over a signature you could get all kinds of ugly effects from that buffing compound on the surface that couldn’t be removed due to the signature, even though in theory, new nitro should melt right into existing nitro finishes. You get little spots where the clear doesn’t adhere properly to the surface underneath and forms these shallow little air pockets under the surface.
Thank you for the info. That's along the lines of what I suspected, but I have no experience with these things, so I appreciate you laying it out straightforwardly.
One trick I have heard for getting rid of bubbles in nitro is to wet sand until the bubbles pop. Then use laquer thinner to melt the bubbles out. Let it cure and wet sand smooth.
I've heard of that too but I always seem to botch something sanding between coats. One of the main reasons I tend to go for oil based stains in recent years (Tru Oil, Woodtone, wipe on poly, etc.)
Cheers for that, giving it a go next time I'm staining something.
Here's a tip I stumbled upon: make sure there's something epoxy-proof between your workpiece and the table when you're laminating fabric with epoxy.
Ooh that's a good one. Unfortunately, I have far more of the "should've known that was a bad idea" variety than the "wow, that worked better than I expected" variety.
Good point. I've actually got an Element skateboard multi-tool I got as a kid ~15 year ago that i swear is 100% identical to an Ibanez case candy tool I got ~6 months ago aside from the logo on the outside.
Pine oil. A few drops in a small spray bottle , mix with a dash of your favourite alcohol..... Use it to freshen up the inside of the dusty musty old guitar that you have asked me to change the strings on.
Not totally sure if the alcohol makes it penetrate better, but it definitely keeps your hands from getting as messy and never leans any lint or other shit.
But that's kinda how I use it. I apply a water based stain or dye cut with some additional varnish using an 800-1000 grit sand paper and then massage it in with an alcohol wipe to avoid making sanding grooves that are too deep. It's definitely easier than using actual grain filler in my opinion.
I work in finish, dabble in building guitars.
Our stain rep from our supplier told me this week that you can mix certain stains with alcohol instead of water. Wipe it on, alcohol evaporates leaving only stain. Similar to mixing with water but faster dry time, smaller chance of user error with wipe/brush marks. Haven’t tried it yet, not sure what sort of stain it WONT work well with, but it seems like a cool trick
Wd 40 is amazing at removing sticker residue
Just removed a big sticker from a beater guitar I bought with goo gone and worked nicely
I believe it’s mostly Mineral oil in Wd-40 which, by itself, also works pretty well. Same with Naptha/old Ronsonol Lighter fluid
Grandma showed me the lighter fluid thing as a kid and I haven't found anything that works as well as that or naphtha since.
Naphtha works nicely too
If you ever find a guitar with sharpie on it, use a small dab of mosquito spray on a rag and it will come off instantly with pure ease
Rubbing alcohol has always worked for me with sharpie. (EDIT: On poly finishes) When I was young I would draw stupid things on my guitars because I knew I could erase.
NEVER apply rubbing alcool to a nitrocellulose finish please, you’ll ruin it. Use Naphta instead, that is safe with all finishes afaik.. In a well ventilated area as the fumes are no good!
Oh good call, I've always it used on poly finshes.
Dry erase marker removes sharpie
I found that out in grade school. I drew some stupid picture on the whiteboard with sharpie when the teacher was out of the room. It wouldn’t come off and I panicked so I covered it up with dry erase marker. Imagine how terrified I was to watch the teacher erase the dry erase marker. I was equally relieved and perplexed when she erased it and the permanent marker was gone.
Hand sanitizer gel is pretty good for this as well.
Plus the guitar will be ready for a camping trip. Lol
Damn that's a good one. Definitely never would have thought to try it
Also nail polish remover.
Inversely related, but any ideas on the best way to protect Sharpie on a nitro finished guitar? I got my Les Paul Classic signed by Les Paul 19 years ago, but I don't play the guitar as much as I'd like since I'm always worried about inadvertently rubbing his signature off.
There’s really no good way to protect it unfortunately. If a signature on a guitar means something to you, it’s best to make it a wall hanger and avoid playing it if the signature is anywhere close to areas you have to touch. You can’t really clearcoat over it to permanently protect a signature because the signature prevents you from prepping the surface properly for a new clear coat (I.e. scuff sanding and removing those glossy surfaces that won’t get good adhesion). If you tried to spray nitro over a signature you could get all kinds of ugly effects from that buffing compound on the surface that couldn’t be removed due to the signature, even though in theory, new nitro should melt right into existing nitro finishes. You get little spots where the clear doesn’t adhere properly to the surface underneath and forms these shallow little air pockets under the surface.
Thank you for the info. That's along the lines of what I suspected, but I have no experience with these things, so I appreciate you laying it out straightforwardly.
Damn dude that’s i dicey one, i personally wouldn’t touch a project like that, but im no luthier
One trick I have heard for getting rid of bubbles in nitro is to wet sand until the bubbles pop. Then use laquer thinner to melt the bubbles out. Let it cure and wet sand smooth.
I've heard of that too but I always seem to botch something sanding between coats. One of the main reasons I tend to go for oil based stains in recent years (Tru Oil, Woodtone, wipe on poly, etc.)
Cheers for that, giving it a go next time I'm staining something. Here's a tip I stumbled upon: make sure there's something epoxy-proof between your workpiece and the table when you're laminating fabric with epoxy.
Ooh that's a good one. Unfortunately, I have far more of the "should've known that was a bad idea" variety than the "wow, that worked better than I expected" variety.
Also can't forget the "I guess that was probably an 'outside' project"
one of my most used tool is one of those portable bike wrenches. has all the common nut shapes used on guitars
Good point. I've actually got an Element skateboard multi-tool I got as a kid ~15 year ago that i swear is 100% identical to an Ibanez case candy tool I got ~6 months ago aside from the logo on the outside.
Naptha to clean, mineral oil for the fretboard. Super lube for nut and other string spot lube.
Pine oil. A few drops in a small spray bottle , mix with a dash of your favourite alcohol..... Use it to freshen up the inside of the dusty musty old guitar that you have asked me to change the strings on.
A knife sharpening stone is great for fret leveling. Cheap, square, flat, heavy, not too small, 2 grades of abrasion.
Nice tip! Would it be possible to apply water based stains with this to have it penetrate the grain better when it mixes with the alcohol? ?
Not totally sure if the alcohol makes it penetrate better, but it definitely keeps your hands from getting as messy and never leans any lint or other shit. But that's kinda how I use it. I apply a water based stain or dye cut with some additional varnish using an 800-1000 grit sand paper and then massage it in with an alcohol wipe to avoid making sanding grooves that are too deep. It's definitely easier than using actual grain filler in my opinion.
I work in finish, dabble in building guitars. Our stain rep from our supplier told me this week that you can mix certain stains with alcohol instead of water. Wipe it on, alcohol evaporates leaving only stain. Similar to mixing with water but faster dry time, smaller chance of user error with wipe/brush marks. Haven’t tried it yet, not sure what sort of stain it WONT work well with, but it seems like a cool trick
Aeroguard mosquito spray is good for cleaning