Finish touch up?

[bobsessed]

Hey guys....My 1980 Special is in need of a few touch ups, finish-wise. I'm wondering if any of you can recommend what type of coating to use. I bought this one brand new 30 years ago, and recently started playing it again. There are just a few small chips I'd like to cover, to make her happy again. I've read a few different things about the finish on these guitars, and I'm just not sure whether to use nitro or polyester or ????? Anybody know? Thanks.....

[Jem]

Hamer were pure nitro until around '92.

[zenmindbeginner]

ReRanch sells nitro pens and Stew Mac sells Catalyzed lacquer pens. The Stew Mac stuff dries a bit faster and harder, it's got a high nitro solid content and is great for touch up areas where a good build-up is required to match the previous finish. Hamer's finishes in 1981 tended to be rather thick.

You're going to need to spray nitro when you are done touching up to blend it all in. The Stew Mac catalyzed lacquer pens work just fine with nitro clear coats but the ReRanch pens will melt in with the spray coats.

You'll want to check the humidity levels and do this work outside or in an open garage since it super stinky.

I've had good experiences with Ohio Valley Nitro and ReRanch or you can get some Deft... Woodcraft's Behlen stringed instrument lacquer is supposed to be pretty good stuff.

You'll have to get it buffed by a pro when you are done though... try as one might, there is no way to get a mirror-like buffed finish with elbow grease... you'll get the fine scratches out, but the micro fine scratches will be impervious to your efforts.

Good Luck.

[Jem]

Avoid Deft like the plague, not that it's for sale over here but i#ve seen so many posts on building sites where the stuff has been dissed, go for Behlens, it's totally industry standard stuff.