PLEASE HELP - Finish Chip Repair Disaster

Cyrus Pansch · #1 07-31-2009, 01:27 PM

Dear TB Friends,

I'm having trouble with a DYI repair on a chipped finish.

There's about a 2 x 4 centimeter chip on the top of my plywood bass I'm trying to repair. It's a Red/Brown spirit varnish, but every time I try and apply a tiny little bit of matching varnish it only builds on the very corner of the chip and does not adhere to the middle of the chip where the varnish is applied.

I'm thinking of trying a burn filler stick to match the color and rub it in, topped off with a q-tip french polish w/ a coat of blond shellac - thus leaving the spirit varnish alone?

Please help, what should I do?

Any expertly advice would help tremendously

vejesse · #2 07-31-2009, 04:23 PM

sounds like the varnish you're using is too thin. Put a large drop on your palette and let some of the alcohol evaporate first. Note: this will darken the color so double check how it will look on the bass.

uprightben · #3 08-01-2009, 05:32 AM

doesn't that "chip" get covered by the bridge? sometimes a grease pencil is used to check the fit of the bridge, perhaps there is some residual grease acting as a resist.

Cyrus Pansch · #4 08-01-2009, 11:01 AM

Thanks for your reply's so far, I already cleaned the area with turpentine due to about 10 yrs of rosin buildup, so there should be any residual grease affecting the area ~ good idea though!

Is it taboo to fix a small chip with fill sticks / putty, and or colored pencils? Or should I just stick with the touch-up varnish...

?

?

forester · #5 08-02-2009, 09:30 AM

common problem...i don't see a chip though. dent and rub maybe..thin layer of finnish may be stuck to the underside of the foot. in some cases it is better to clean and seal the spot first, then match the color over the sealer,that way if your wrong w/the color the pigment isn't inpregnated in the wood.. just wipe and do again to match. when your satisfied with the color,varnish back to "grade" so the bed for the foot is correct. you have a blemish when compared to older basses that have been through many bridges/repositions.
no rules...but i would shy away from putty etc. in this area.