How To Repair A Chip In A Guitar Finish

In this video I quickly repair a large chip in a black nitrocellulose finish using super glue. Cynoacrylate adhesives can be tinted with dye stains, but I had some Loctite 480 on hand, which is a black CA glue. I used accelerator before application, then several grits of wet and dry sandpaper. Finally I buffed the repair with fine cutting compound and swirl remover.

[nicke.]

I just bought a Gibson SG with a big chip in it. They have a nitrocellulose finish. Everything I have read says Super Glue and nitrocellulose do not play well together.

[mikesmith]

If anyone can learn to do this kind of work competently like this guy, you’ll never be out of work.

[craig]

This is the best video I've seen for this kind of repair. Very informative and easy to follow. Thank you.

[GipsonCustomGuitars]

Wow! One of the best repairs I've seen. Well done!

[jackthebassman]

Superb video and process, no wild “click-bait” claims.

[bradcorrea]

Made it look simple. I realize it because you have experience. Thanks for taking the time for the video

[Halenrocks]

Superb instructions, explanation, repair and camera work! I’m going to try this out myself:)

[electrojazz]

really great video, I am doing exactly that right now at the top back side of the neck, thanks

[Cronposh]

Thank you very much for your tutorial. After watching this, I attempted some repairs with Loctite 480 on a black Explorer. Some of the chips were along the edges and corners of the guitar, which made "sculpting" the hardened glue a bit more tedious, but overall doable. Here's what I noticed though: When wetsanding the Loctite, there was a formation of tiny black grains on the sandpaper and I could start to see wood showing back up. However, these grains were not the acrylate per se - it was just the black color compound. The Loctite was still intact, it just started losing color. That was really confusing. I ended up removing the Loctite, painting the exposed wood black and then covering the now painted wood again with Loctite. That worked perfectly.

This happened regardless of how much force I was using or how fresh the sandpaper was. It just sucked the color component out of the hardened acrylate.

[michael_caz_nyc]

That was " Pro-Style " Glad I subscribed. I love learning about doing " All my own work " on my guitars and basses. It came-out beautiful. oNe LovE from NYC

[Shaylok]

Watching the process is scary - seeing all the damage that is necessary to inflict to fix the problem, but the results are beautiful. I can't say i would dare attempt this after merely watching a video. A ten hour class, at the very least, is what i would want before trying this myself.

[ilyasnamozov]

Thank you man! I was looking for the tutorial how to do this job!

[walterhambrick]

That looked wonderful. Especially when you realize that it is on the bottom of the guitar.

[Benjybass]

From 4:51 on, you could have used Colgate toothpaste to finish the job. I've used this method on many basses and it works just as well as a drill polisher in case you don't have one. Good job, nevertheless!

[b.r]

Pro repair! Looks like it was never there in the first place👍

[ianbellert]

Thanks mate. Just took a chunk out of jazz bass, top of the body. So it’ll be a forever reminder. Thanks for the locktite tip. Cheers

[eznAnze]

Finally a good video on the topic!! Many thanks! :)

[fotowue]

Hi. Thanks for the video. Can you please tell me how long you did let it dry?

Greets from Germany 😎

[luckylayne]

Just had a finish chip in my strat, will try this once i’m home!

[GimmicksGGM]

What kind of different compounds do you use for polishing up in the end ??