Serious Problem, Please HELP

[John Cartwright]

So I'm trying to fill a couple of small areas on my cousin's 1933 Gibson L-3 and I used Super Glue, OK, so then I decide to hit it with the tinniest drop of accelerator with a pipette.  I picked up the pipette and without applying any more pressure than what it takes to gently carry it over the the instrument, it shoots a long broad stream all across the entire guitar top!!!!!!!  We are talking a four-five inch wide spray from the right shoulder to the lower left bout of an otherwise beautifully preserved finish - not even any lacquer checking!  

Have I just completely ruined his guitar?  Is there any salvaging the finish?  Should I just take some rope and find myself a good tree from which to hang myself?

Please advise.  Thank you.

[John Cartwright]

Once this is done, would I block sand and/or polish then? And you are correct, it is brittle, not gummy at all. Thanks!

[Brad Suslovic]

the only reason you would need to block sand it is if the new finish rises over the old which shouldn't happen if you take it slow. may not even need to polish it. This is sort of like a drop fill, but not really. what your doing is melting the cracks together and adding a little lacquer to help resecure it all and level it up. This method will actually help those problem areas look more like the unaffected finish. If you level sand and polish, you create a distraction by making those areas look better than the rest.... lol sometimes the least amount of effort is the way to go. Make sure your brush is loaded up good and if your not getting enough material in, use a larger brush.

[Brad Suslovic]

on second thought.... that might be a french polish. You should be able to use the same technique, but with fresh shellac. test it first with a bit of denatured alcohol, if its shellac it will melt, if its nitro it won't.

[Frank Ford]

Now's the time to get it to someone who can give you some real help. This is the turning point where a small problem can quickly escalate to a mess that can't be fixed. Working in the transitional color area of a shaded finish is just about the most risky thing you can get into.

You should beware of taking advice, no matter how well-intentioned, considered or professional it is, from those who don't have immediate access to the instrument. There are just too many variables. I've been at this for four decades and I get surprises all the time, as does anyone who works with old finishes!

[John Cartwright]

I think I'll go with your advice here and get a pro to look at/fix it after contacting my cousin. He's they type of guy who cherishes battle scars, but it makes me sick to my stomach that I contributed to them, when I'm supposed to be restoring the guitar! Much sleep lost over this let me tell you. I'm just starting out in this field and he wanted to help me out by giving me this rather involved job (finger board tongue and sound board from shoulder to sound hole were crushed in and shoulders torn inward a bit - I fixed this without much hassle - and it still needs a re-fret and new nut) but I have no idea what it will cost to have the finish repaired - but I'm sure I cannot afford it. I may just have to complete the fret work and nut work, charge him nothing for the work I've done and let him put the money toward a finish repair at his discretion.

Thanks to everyone for all the help, I greatly appreciate it!