How to safely remove Sharpie/Magic Marker stains?

[django49]

Okay......So I picked up a guitar that has been finished in nitro. On the back of the headstock, it is signed with a "permanent' marker. No, NOT by anyone named Jol.....

The guitar is a "relic", which is another whole story. Suffice to say it is neither "NOS" or beauty queen! So having it come out pristine is not an issue here, But it would be nice to remove the other name without making a mess or removing anything more than that very small scrawl. Is acetone (or nail polish remover) the way to go?

My jury is still out on this whole relic thing. That said, it has a great feel and sound.

TIA!

[Stike]

Okay......So I picked up a guitar that has been finished in nitro. On the back of the headstock, it is signed with a "permanent' marker. No, NOT by anyone named Jol.....

The guitar is a "relic", which is another whole story. Suffice to say it is neither "NOS" or beauty queen! So having it come out pristine is not an issue here, But it would be nice to remove the other name without making a mess or removing anything more than that very small scrawl. Is acetone (or nail polish remover) the way to go?

My jury is still out on this whole relic thing. That said, it has a great feel and sound.

TIA!

NO! It will melt that nitro. quick. Get a soft rag lightly dampened with rubbing alcohol (naptha will work too) and gently rub the signature changing the rag as the ink disolves so you don't wind up smearing it around. There's a chance the ink has stained the lacquer and if that's the case you're kind of out of luck unless you want to refin the back of the headstock.

[django49]

Very cool! Worked like a charm!

I had to use a little elbow greasey (to quote a silly old Elvis movie), but it came off, slowly, with a bit of thumbnail pressure behind the rag.

If there is any discoloration left behind, it is not obvious----And it is a "relic". so I should care about a stray mark or two? And if I pull out a Sharpie and add my name where the prior owner's was (in the inscription from the builder/relic-ker) it should pretty much fit right in and (sorta) be "personalized".

Thanks for the expert advice!

[LordsoftheJungle]

I love happy endings,,,

[a.bandini]

Another way of removing indelible markers (for example, on white boards) is to write over the offending writing with an erasable marker. That dissolves the indelible mark perfectly. I've also seen indelible marker on a video projection screen erased nearly magically by alcohol-based sanitizer. Incredible, (perhaps) but true.

Glad your's had a happy outcome.