Paint repair on Les Paul headstock

[novosibir]

Recently I've disassembled my Historic Collection completely, to may polish the entire lacquer surface.
For this reason I've even removed the tuner's ferrules off the headstock.
Obviously I've pushed back the ferrules a bit too strong, because a few days later some flakes of the headstock's black paint went off. See pic below!

Ok, I couldt go and swap in some other tuners w/ the bolt bushing, like these:

http://www.darrenriley.com/shop/cart.ph ... tail&p=713" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.wdmusic.com/tpk_3_3_25_64_bo ... ickel.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

where then the washer below the hollow screw wouldt cover the damage.

But then I'd loose the originality of the guitar - and moreover I'd have to ream up the holes in the headstock w/ a drill, because the hollow screws are slightly bigger in dia. than the orig. ferrules.

I don't like this idea!

So what's the best way, to fix the damaged headstock paint?

- remove the tuners & ferrules
- scrape off loose parts of the remaining paint around the holes
- dab some black nitrocellulose paint around the holes onto the plain wood in 2 or 3 steps
- after drying, sanding the spots, starting w/ 400 grit, then 600, 800, 1000, until the surface is even again
- then use a polish and polish the headstock, until the repaired spots are shiny again
- then GENTLY push in the ferrules again - but STOP, as soon as the flange just touches the headstock's surface

So far, so good!

But where can I get the orig. black nitrocellulose paint in a small amount?
From where in Germany, because shipment by plane from the States is prohibited?
And what kind of polish shouldt I use, to get it as original as possible?

Unfortunately Dan Erlewine is living so far away from Germany

Larry

[DNeafsey]

I am pretty sure the black color on the gibson headstocks comes from the black fiber headstock veneer. That being said, look closely to see if in fact there is black under the chips. If this is the case you should be able to touch up with a small bit of clear lacquer a lacquer burn in stick or even super glue. Touchups like this are tricky because unless you re shoot clear on the entire headstock you will see some sort of a line where the chip ends and the fill begins no matter whether it is clear or black. Do you have any type of woodworking supply type stores around? If you do you might be able to pickup a clear or black lacquer stick like you would see on the Stew Mac site. You can use a wide tipped soldering iron to melt the stick into the chip and then level it off. Care must be taken because the surrounding lacquer is very thin and it is easy to burn through while sanding.

Dan

[Mynameisfritz]

I'd ask Florian Jäger what to do.
http://www.jaegerguitars.com/
Or check out this forum,
http://reranch.com/reranch/index.php?si ... 2338d2cdfc

Good luck!

[novosibir]

I am pretty sure the black color on the gibson headstocks comes from the black fiber headstock veneer. That being said, look closely to see if in fact there is black under the chips.

Unfortunately the chips all are gone lost, but thanks for the hint!

Larry

[novosibir]

I'd ask Florian Jäger what to do.

Hey Germany

I'll go and send the photo to Udo Pipper, who's a buddy of me - and he's a buddy of Florian.

Anyways I'd like to see Florian's shop once

Larry

[jcmjmp]

I am pretty sure the black color on the gibson headstocks comes from the black fiber headstock veneer.

+1

There's no paint on the front of the headstock. only clear lacquer.

[DNeafsey]

I am pretty sure the black color on the gibson headstocks comes from the black fiber headstock veneer. That being said, look closely to see if in fact there is black under the chips.

Unfortunately the chips all are gone lost, but thanks for the hint!

Larry

Also there might be a bit of polish in the space where the chip came out, take a toothpick and gently scrape it out to get a good look at what's there.

Dan