How to remove paint from an OM/PW

[LindaLooUK]

Hi folks

I’m wondering if you can offer me some advice regarding my Santa Cruz OM Pre-War mahogany guitar that I’ve managed to mark/damage.

I ordered the guitar (a lefty) from Artisan Guitars in Tennessee back in November 2007 and received it here in the UK in February 2008.

The other day, dopey here was folding a large blanket and in doing so I managed to swipe a painting off the wall and the frame of the picture then grazed my guitar on its descent. 🙁

The painting has a wooden whitewashed frame that may be emulsion paint although I guess it could be some sort of thinned oil-based paint.  Here are a few photos – there are 2 pictures of the major mark and then a smaller mark near the black binding and I’ve also included a photo of the offending picture frame for information:

When you run your fingers across the white marks they’re barely detectable.

I thought I’d start by gently rubbing the affected areas with a damp cloth but before I set about ruining the guitar permanently (!) I thought it might be a good idea to enquire of people that actually know more than me. 🙂

If you have any thoughts or suggestions they’d be very welcome.

 

[indexless]

Welcome Linda,

Let’s see what the collective hive can come up with. I’m seeing Richard Hoover tomorrow, I’ll start there, again, welcome to the family

 

[LindaLooUK]

Thank you so much. That’s very kind of you.

[BOWIE]

Trying to use a solvent without knowing the material isn’t ideal. Though, naptha is generally safe.

I’d use a mild buffing polish as it will not only remove the paint, but the abrasion marks from the impact as well. I do a good number of repairs and there’s always some kind of mark left in the finish when you have contact like that. Hopefully it’s not so much that you’d have to level the surface. After that, a finishing polish after that will give it the original gloss back.

[BOWIE]

Also, it’s a nitrocellulose finish, so be careful what chemicals you put in contact with it. Even alcohol can sometimes be a problem. Nitro is soft and even using a paper towel can potentially haze the finish.

[LindaLooUK]

Thanks for the input Bowie. 👍

[indexless]

Sorry I didn’t get a quiet moment with Richard Yesterday, go slow Bowie’s advice is strong, maybe a damp cloth with just some water and gentle pressure will remove it. It’s a badge of courage!

[tadol]

You have absolutely nothing to lose if you use a soft cotton cloth (old T-shirt or maybe a piece of felt) and a bit of water – it should minimize the issue a great deal, but you may have a little paint that has gotten abraded into the finish. For that, a very fine polishing material may suffice – you can try a bit of fine cigar/cigarette ash mixed with a bit of water, with the same cotton cloth. You can work your way up to more aggressive grits if you want, but you can also check with a local luthier and see if a quick swipe on their soft buffing wheel may do the job in a couple seconds –

[LindaLooUK]

Apologies for not getting back to you sooner.

I’ve had a prolonged go with water and soft microfibre cloth but it’s not budging which leads me to think it’s more likely an oil-based paint.  We have a close friend who does modelling (no not that type of modelling! 🙄) and he has all sorts of equipment to polish and buff things so I think I’ll see if I can persuade him to have a gentle go with it.

Thanks again for all your input. 👍🥰

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