Brittle 1962 binding cracking and chipping off in little pieces - can it be saved?

[GusS]

can something like this

be prevented from deteriorating further by sealing with glue or whatever? It's a Silvertone so rebinding would cost at least as much as the guitar.

[murkat]

acetone will "melt" plastics.

if you have some white binding, melt it with acetone making a puding/ putty with it,

and fuse the ares with the putty you made.

or,

Modeling glue cement will fill the areas as well.

[GusS]

thanks. would that stop it from chipping off?

[GusS]

should i just apply modeling cement with a brush on the binding all around the guitar?

[murkat]

I would soften it up a little using a small paint brush with very little acetone in/on the chipped out area, a moist app.

then quickly apply cement with a pippit or toothpick, a little bit at a time to coat, build up the area that is chipped out.

I would not go all around the guitar, just the major chip out areas that concern you.

Very little apps at a time to min sanding flush.

If anything, I would just coat the areas like pictured.

Never the less, you can not stop aging, degassing old plastics like that. very brittle delicate stuff.

[Andrew]

Binding is usually a celluloid/cellulose nitrate type material rather than hydrocarbon plastic.

A cellusolve (ethoxy-ethanol, n-butoxy-ethanol) may be better to try and more permanent than acetone.

[GusS]

pictures of the actual guitar.. binding is deteriorating all over

[BTMN]

My '79 Standard's binding is cracking like that also. Right in the curve above the bridge pickup and along that line to the right to the tip.

Not quite visible I guess....

[Punkavenger]

I'd leave it alone... no matter how skilled you are you will just make it look worse.

[GusS]

well, if i leave it alone, and i play the guitar, which i intend to do, i'll lose most of it, piece by little piece.

if it were possible to freeze it in its the current state somehow, it would be amazing.

[gorch]

How about thin coating it with clear lacquer? It should fill the gaps, fix it and cover it like new.

[velorush]

Man, that's a shame, Gus! I love that binding!

[GusS]

The most beautiful electric guitar ever made in a natural finish, in my opinion. Well the Ric 660 or 381 are up there too. Natural top and bottom with black sides and neck. Looks so goddamn good.

The checkered ply is actually intact, as is the neck binding.

[Punkavenger]

What about a few coats of epoxy spray paint? Mask it off carefully with blue tape. Might hold it together. Another idea ... I usually prime hard to paint surfaces with spray XIM first. That stuff is great, comes in clear too. Its possible that might hold it together as well. Good luck.