Not exactly a Mandolin!
I'm restoring an antique Mandolin Guitar (or chorded zither, or fretless zither) for a friend.
I have completed all the body repairs, but I am stumped by the top, which has a badly crazed and lumped varnish which needs to be removed and re-varnished. I have tested a corner and the varnish dissolves well in denatured alchohol (methylated spirit), and not well with laquer thinners, so I am assuming this is a french polish finish. The problem is with the gilt decals which need to be preserved. A tiny experiment with DN alchohol and a cotton bud seems to remove the gilt, leaving a white surface behind, which is not ok.
Any helpful suggestions would be oh so welcome.
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