Guitar Dent Repair

[bert123]

I got a 97 MIM Strat Body to 'practice' putting together and setting up a guitar. It has a few dents in it so I'd like to 'practice' some cosmetic repairs also. I've found lots of info about refinishing bodies but very little about repair of poly coated guitar bodies.

Found info for furniture they discuss using burn-in sticks. Some one has suggested using crazy glue.

Anyone have info or web sites they use?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Guitar Dent Repair

A solderiron and a damp cloth...raises most small dents.

 

[Pandemonium]

Re: Guitar Dent Repair

www.mimf.com/

There's a whole section on repair techniques.

I suggest you register so you can get into the library.

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: Guitar Dent Repair

A solderiron and a damp cloth...raises most small dents.

could you elaborate that process a bit? i'm couious about it myself...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Guitar Dent Repair

You place a damp cloth over the dent. Then heat up that damp cloth over the dent with the soldering tool creating steam that starts to boil the water in the dent raising the dent.

Works alot better with unfinished wood than finished wood.

If the wood is heavily finished it's hard to get the wood under the finish to absorb enough moisture to create enough steam to swell the dent back out.

I'd just leave it alone.

If you've never tried such a repair it's easy to burn the wood or burn the finish...or the finish might even stick to the cloth and pull off....which will look much worse than a little dent.

Lew

 

[y2stevo]

Re: Guitar Dent Repair

You place a damp cloth over the dent. Then heat up that damp cloth over the dent with the soldering tool creating steam that starts to boil the water in the dent raising the dent.

Works alot better with unfinished wood than finished wood.

If the wood is heavily finished it's hard to get the wood under the finish to absorb enough moisture to create enough steam to swell the dent back out.

I'd just leave it alone.

If you've never tried such a repair it's easy to burn the wood or burn the finish...or the finish might even stick to the cloth and pull off....which will look much worse than a little dent.

Lew

but thats why he put practise in " ' ' " 's :laugh2:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Guitar Dent Repair

but thats why he put practise in " ' ' " 's :laugh2:

Yeah....well...

I'd start by practicing with repairing a dented coffee table or something.

 

[bert123]

Re: Guitar Dent Repair

Yeah....well...

I'd start by practicing with repairing a dented coffee table or something.

Good idead Lew. However we just replaced the family room furniture. :smack:

My Dad used to do this to raise dents in stocks of his target rifles. He would only let the iron touch the wet rag for a few seconds, enough to get a 'sizzle' and then check the work frequently.

I would be concerned that the polyester might let go because I've read some refinishing tales concerning polyester finishes. No chemical takes it off but a wet towel and a steam iron does.