LeatherCaster resto: removing glue residue

[DaddyDom]

Man had i known...

Looks like it clocked time on stage at GG Allin shows

LOL - it had me at the eyes, the eyes!!!

This is magnificent - the effort, the leathercaster, the gluecaster, the residuecaster - all of it is magnificent!

[zhivago]

That is one messy puppy!!

Would some sort of scraper maybe work?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/glass-scraper/ ... ss+scraper

I have one that is useful for removing paint off glass...it could be something to look into to get some of it off?

Just an idea.

[MattK]

If you think the original finish is underneath you might be able to strip the white underneath the glue, taking the glue with it. Maybe try a patch with a mild water-based paint stripper and just leave it on for an hour or so to see if you can shift the underlayer. Worked for me with the airbrushed Jag, but the original finish was catalysed polyurethane on that. Might be for a mid 70s Tele, too.
If you're scraping, a dispenser of single-edge razor blades is your best friend - toss them when they start to dull. If you pull the blade one way for a while, the edge rolls so if you flip it over it becomes more aggressive.

[Pacafeliz]

Looks like it clocked time on stage at GG Allin shows

[Highnumbers]

Acetone will take the finish off with the residue, don't do that.

The only solvent that will dissolve adhesive residue without destroying a finish is naphtha. You need to puddle it on the finish and really let it soak in to soften the adhesive, not just wipe it on/off.

The other option is Goo Gone adhesive remover. This uses citric acid (non-toxic, non-finish damaging) to soften adhesives and sprays in a gel-like consistency, so it can sit on the surface longer and do it's thing.

Always exhaust the least-damaging options first, acetone is really strong stuff. It melts plastic, so polyester finish is not safe from it.

[BoringPostcards]

Heiliger Bimbam!

[Pacafeliz]

The other option is Goo Gone adhesive remover. This uses citric acid (non-toxic, non-finish damaging) to soften adhesives and sprays in a gel-like consistency, so it can sit on the surface longer and do it's thing.

I've used GooGone first, but it didn't do shit, really.
Got some acetone today. Will carefully test what it does. I have no idea what this white paint is "made of".
Worst case scenario I'll fuck it up and have it refind

[MattK]

As others have suggested, it might be better to start with denatured alcohol or naphtha left on for a while, before reaching for the acetone. It'll penetrate even a poly finish and you won't have a chance to decide what you want to do.

[badform]

Oh, wow! That's quite the score. Can't wait to see you get this cleaned up!

Also, welcome to the club! I also recently got a Deluxe with a dead neck pickup. It's supposedly a partscaster made of all '73/74 pieces. I had the dead pickup rewould by Tom Brantley (who I can't recommend enough).

Here's my Deluxe:

[OffYourFace]

I had the dead pickup rewould by Tom Brantley (who I can't recommend enough).

Tom is the best! He should be up there with all the best. I recently got a set of his 60s Strat pickups and my search is over! I’ve had so many S pickups over the years and these sound the best to my ears.

[Pacafeliz]

Sent the WRHB off to a german pickup maker friend who will check what's wrong... there was lots of green-blue-ish goop stuff on it, like when copper oxidizes or so.

As for the body, it's too cold to outside to try or work on it, so that'll have to wait til spring...

[Pacafeliz]

I've now also removed the leather of the pickguard and reinstalled the original neck pickup...

[Matthias]

Polycarbonate/plastic-safe graffiti remover might budge the overpaint if it’s a simple spray can job without affecting the finish underneath and might work on the pickguard (you’d need to test it on a small area as there’s a chance it’d eat through the original finish too), but I’d take care as the late 60s/early 70s finishes seemed to react a little more like nitro than the later stuff. Some people think some of the black guitars were still using nitro… Not really sure about that, but it certainly seemed a little less bulletproof!

[MattK]

Yeah I used some denatured alcohol on my 78 Musicmaster, thinking that was about the safest thing solvent wise, and the black finish ran like crazy. No idea what it's made from!

[Matthias]

Yeah I used some denatured alcohol on my 78 Musicmaster, thinking that was about the safest thing solvent wise, and the black finish ran like crazy. No idea what it's made from!

An S8 serial might have been one of the short-lived water-based finishes.