Blending crackled lacquer

[D. Scott Nettleton]

Lacquer naturally cracks once it's aged a few decades, and many players prefer the look of the aged, crackled lacquer. However, I have one customer with an old Gibson that feels otherwise and wants the lacquer blended so that the crackling is no longer visible.
I'm not sure whether that's possible or not, especially considering that there's very likely to be some sort of grime in the cracks; I run a very small shop with limited tools (i.e. no spray equipment). What can I do to solve my customer's problem?

--Thanks,
Scott

[Frank Ford]

I suggest you solve YOUR problem, not his. To avoid unrealistic expectations, I always tell them it's simply not possible. For one thing, Gibson habitually uses a greater thickness of lacquer than many manufacturers. Over a film thickness of around .007" lacquer is far more likely to check than if it is thinner, given the same environmental conditions.

Stripping and refinishing would be the only sure way to eliminate the problem, I think.

By the way, not all lacquer checks spontaneously. That's why we see so many more old Martins with unchecked finishes - they have always been careful with film thickness.

[Greg Mirken]

Whenever I see an old Gibson that's not checked, I think "What's wrong here? Refinished?"

Trying to re-amalgamate that finish would trap whatever has accumulated in theose cracks, and it tends not to work well on a thick finish anyway.

[Bruce Herrmann]

I've noted that checked finishes on an old Gibson usually means the original finish is still there.
With a Martin, checked finish usually means an overspray (or refin). I've always thought that this was due
to poor bonding to the original finish and just too thick a finish by the time the overspray was
finished. Am I missing something here? I just find that it's rare for an older Martin to have
finish checking with the original finish untouched.....
Best
Bruce

[Frank Ford]

I agree - heavy overspray tends to increase checking. But that's by far not the majority of checked Martins. When I see a Martin with checked finish I think the same thing as when I see a car with a rusted-out quarter panel - Northern climate or East Coast (cold weather).

Martins get lots of checks when they get too cold. One cold winter, years ago, UPS went on strike and trucks sat loaded, out in the eastern cold. After the strike, Martin refinished hundreds of checked guitars, if memory serves.

When I see checked Gibson lacquer, I think of poor quality workmanship that has somehow become iconic. No way would I ever consider it a desirable look. Accept it, well maybe yes, but LIKE it - NO.

[Chris Rochow]

Checking may be removed by disolving the lacquer using Butl Cellosolve ( 2 - Butoxyethanol ).. I get mine from Post Apple Scientific,inc. *** This is highly flamable and under certain conditions, explosive. Keep away (far!) from open flames , sparks, etc. It falls under the ether family.

After cleaning surface carefully, removing any dirt from cracks best you can...... brush on the butl-cell, a brush helps get it into teh cracks.
** this works great for drop fills into old lacquer... no witness lines! Dab a little onto the 'spot' you will fill.. then fill.