Chip repair

[Stealth57]

I have a 2010 Epiphone Thunderbird in a creamy white poly. I have a small chip (5mm x 5mm) on the backside that needs filling. I was thinking there must be a clear poly that can be tinted, but I can't seem to find what I need. Any suggestions? I have looked at "white" CA glue before but it dries more gray than pure white. Thanks in advance.

 

[Lo-E]

I’ve had some luck using nail polish for drop-fill repairs.

 

[Stealth57]

I've had some luck using nail polish for drop-fill repairs.

Does it harden enough to sand and polish?

 

[Lo-E]

Does it harden enough to sand and polish?

Sure, but you have to do many, thin coats and let it fully cure before sanding so it’s not really like drop-filling lacquer where you can blorp it in fairly heavy.

 

[SharpCat]

I haven’t tried it, but the chip repair paint at auto parts stores seems like a possibility. They have a lot of colors available.

 

[Five or Six]

Pictures would help?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Gluboost makes a white tinted CA filler specifically designed for chips like this. Some good videos of the process on YT.

 

[Danny C]

Sure, but you have to do many, thin coats and let it fully cure before sanding so it's not really like drop-filling lacquer where you can blorp it in fairly heavy.

I couldn't find blorp on any scales to convert. Blorp... ahahaha, I love it. Thanks for the laff!

 

[MCF]

Gluboost makes a white tinted CA filler specifically designed for chips like this. Some good videos of the process on YT.

Dave,

There is an episode of Dave’s World of Fun Stuff where he uses the Gluboost to do a repair. Also, this guy, @JIO, might have a suggestion.

 

[FugaziBomb]

Wussat?

 

[Stealth57]

Gluboost makes a white tinted CA filler specifically designed for chips like this. Some good videos of the process on YT.

Looks like the white is out of stock everywhere, including the Gluboost store.

 

[Stealth57]

Pictures would help?

 

[rojo412]

I frequently use nail polish. On occasion, I'll color with polish, then fill with CA and flatten after.
The issue with most anything aside from black is, you're gonna see it after it's fixed because a 100% color match is rare to nonexistent.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Nail Polish does work, it's just Nitro Laquer. How good it comes out depends on how well you wetsand and buff it out. Ideally you'd go over the area with clearcoat, but if you are just looking for a "three-foot away" acceptable repair, nail polish could be your best bet.

 

[Relsom]

Does it harden enough to sand and polish?

I add a coat of clear nail polish hardener after the polish is wet sanded too.

 

[Stealth57]

I add a coat of clear nail polish hardener after the polish is wet sanded too.

Better than thin CA?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

If it’s a poly finish, it’s really hard to avoid “witness lines” where you sand everything flush. Any nitro applied to an existing nitro finish will “burn in”, but not with poly. It’s like thin layers of plastic. A Pro refinisher would probably put a new coat of color and clear over the whole bass, but that kind of work is expensive. I’ve tried my hand and gotten mixed results, hats off to anyone who can do it well. Again, this kind of chip repair depends on expectations. Perfection is nearly impossible, but “Ok from a distance” is relatively easy. For a white bass like this, I think I’d patch the chip, (and any other ones while you are at it) clean and sand the whole bass to get some “tooth”, and rattle can it with new white and clearcoat. To do that right you have to be patient enough to let it cure for a few weeks, unless you do some kind of UV activated finish.

 

[Stealth57]

If it's a poly finish, it's really hard to avoid "witness lines" where you sand everything flush. Any nitro applied to an existing nitro finish will "burn in", but not with poly. It's like thin layers of plastic. A Pro refinisher would probably put a new coat of color and clear over the whole bass, but that kind of work is expensive. I've tried my hand and gotten mixed results, hats off to anyone who can do it well. Again, this kind of chip repair depends on expectations. Perfection is nearly impossible, but "Ok from a distance" is relatively easy. For a white bass like this, I think I'd patch the chip, (and any other ones while you are at it) clean and sand the whole bass to get some "tooth", and rattle can it with new white and clearcoat. To do that right you have to be patient enough to let it cure for a few weeks, unless you do some kind of UV activated finish.

This is a small chip on the lower backside. A touch up is all that is needed. Not concerned about a perfect match, just better than the mahogany showing through.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

This is a small chip on the lower backside. A touch up is all that is needed. Not concerned about a perfect match, just better than the mahogany showing through.

A bottle of white nail polish should work admirably then. I've done it with black, but that's a lot more forgiving.

 

[Chop11777]

Arctic white or polar white touch up paint from an auto parts store ..
It's got a small brush you can blorp it in with !!!
Couple drop (blorp) fills wait a few days polish it out !!!
Easy peasy!!!