evenkeel
December 3rd, 2009, 03:33 PM
The back of my Martin has a bunch of small dings. It was like this when I got it. I liked the tone so much I felt I could ignore the blemishes. But, no sense in leaving well enough alone :thwap so I decided to try and spot reair the back.
Here is what it looked like before the repair effort. The largest spot in the middle has just been hit with some 400 grit sandpaper.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/D2rbackrepair1.jpg
I spot sanded all the dings, maybe 7-8 in total. Then brushed on a coat of nitro lacquer. This Martin actually was finished with a catalyized lacquer but I opted to use the regular stuff.
After drying for 3-4 hours I sanded again, 400 grit and reapplied the lacquer. The idea was to expand the coverage each time, feathering into the finish and build up the ding to the same level. Here is a pic at this stage of things. You can see the sand marks but the dings are starting to fade.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/d2rbackrepair2.jpg
More filling and sanding, now with 600 grit paper.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/d2rbackrepair3.jpg
I went around this dial four times until I got things pretty evened out. The final step was to wet sand the entire back side to blend into the repair. This was done with 800 grit, then 1500 grit. Then a light compound, then a final polish.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/d2rbackrepairfinal.jpg
I'm very pleased with the results. The dings are still visible but you really need to hold the guitar in just the right light to find 'em.
I should add I'd never do this with a "real' Martin. My D2R is a poor mans Martin, like a Shenandoan or even a Sigma so I figured I could not really make things any worse.
Here is what it looked like before the repair effort. The largest spot in the middle has just been hit with some 400 grit sandpaper.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/D2rbackrepair1.jpg
I spot sanded all the dings, maybe 7-8 in total. Then brushed on a coat of nitro lacquer. This Martin actually was finished with a catalyized lacquer but I opted to use the regular stuff.
After drying for 3-4 hours I sanded again, 400 grit and reapplied the lacquer. The idea was to expand the coverage each time, feathering into the finish and build up the ding to the same level. Here is a pic at this stage of things. You can see the sand marks but the dings are starting to fade.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/d2rbackrepair2.jpg
More filling and sanding, now with 600 grit paper.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/d2rbackrepair3.jpg
I went around this dial four times until I got things pretty evened out. The final step was to wet sand the entire back side to blend into the repair. This was done with 800 grit, then 1500 grit. Then a light compound, then a final polish.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r74/evenkeel_album/d2rbackrepairfinal.jpg
I'm very pleased with the results. The dings are still visible but you really need to hold the guitar in just the right light to find 'em.
I should add I'd never do this with a "real' Martin. My D2R is a poor mans Martin, like a Shenandoan or even a Sigma so I figured I could not really make things any worse.