Removing Headstock Decals

[GRISSLEHEAD]

Ok............somebody clue me in on removing headstock decals without removing the finish. Your help TBer's would be much appreciated.
Thanks for your help,
Grisslehead

[JimmyM]

I don't think you can. Usually, there's a clear-coat sprayed over the decal, so to remove the decal, you have to remove the clear-coat.

[Jimbob Jones]

The only way to do it would be to remove the finish, then scrape off the decal and refinish your headstock. This would be relatively easy to do, but extremely difficult to make the mod invisible. If you have an inlaid decal (in pearl, alebone etc) it is almost impossible to remove.

[GRISSLEHEAD]

Originally Posted by Jimbob Jones

The only way to do it would be to remove the finish, then scrape off the decal and refinish your headstock. This would be relatively easy to do, but extremely difficult to make the mod invisible. If you have an inlaid decal (in pearl, alebone etc) it is almost impossible to remove.

Thanks Jimbob Jones !
I've heard that if you use nail polish remover with a cottonball...lightly rubbed over the area you can romove the finish & decal with very little noticabality to the finish.....Ever heard of such a treatment ?

[Turnaround]

It's pretty well guaranteed to make a mess. The nail polish remover is a solvent for the laquer (if it is lacquer) and it will get sticky fast causing bits of the cotton ball to get stuck in the finish. The more you try to clean it up, the more finish you will remove to the point where you will give up and just sand the whole headstock and refinish it.

I suggest you skip step one and start in directly with the sanding.

Or take your chances.

[Rhomco]

If I am concerned with damage, I use a powered drafting eraser. It lightly rubs away the decal without hurting the wood.
Rob

[Wilkins]

Unless you have a decal laying on top of the finish, which is not likely, you won't be able to remove the decal without ruining the finish on the headstock. If you do remove the decal, chances are that there will be an outline or a complete impression of where the decal used to be because the decal has hidden the wood from light(sunlight, flourescent or incandescant) and that area will be lighter than the area where the decal wasn't. The laquer or the wood has begun to darken and the decal area hasn't. I see it all the time when I strip finishes from guitars.

Peace

Pat Wilkins
Wilkins Guitar Finishes
www.wilkinsguitars.com