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Thread: Buffing Out Marks in Nitrocellulose Finish?

  1. #1
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    Default Buffing Out Marks in Nitrocellulose Finish?

    I have a great Poe Scout mandolin that arrived from a previous owner in a nice, protective looking gig bag. Somehow, though, it appears that a pattern in some of the material lining the bag has transferred to the top side and bottom of the mandolin. The gig bag is lined with foam padding held in place by a black netting like material. The mandolin rests perfectly and snugly into the case. Could the foam padding possibly contain some sort of plastic that could have softened the mandolin's finish so that a faint imprint of the netting was left on the finish? That's the only thing that I can think of.

    So: I transferred the mandolin to another case. Any suggestions in getting those faint imprints out? Can they be rubbed out without otherwise damaging the finish?

    If this is a job better left to a professional, any suggestions? Thanks for your help.

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Buffing Out Marks in Nitrocellulose Finish?

    I think it’s likely that the “some sort of plastic” is vinyl. It’s common knowlege that vinyl plays havoc with nitro. finishes and it occasionally came in things like cheap straps and convenient places to rest your instrument, like chairs, but this is the first I’ve heard of it in a gig bag. Name it and shame it!

  3. #3

    Default Re: Buffing Out Marks in Nitrocellulose Finish?

    "Buffing" with an electric buffer I would leave to the hands of a professional. You could try hand rubbing out the marks. I'd start with the least aggressive compound such as "new car polish" or "swirl remover" and see if that removes the marks. Without seeing a picture, it's hard to tell how deep the marks are into finish.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Buffing Out Marks in Nitrocellulose Finish?

    The mandolin could have been left in a hot place (car), shipping, possibly making the finish soft?

  5. #5
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buffing Out Marks in Nitrocellulose Finish?

    Quote Originally Posted by timacn View Post
    If this is a job better left to a professional, any suggestions? Thanks for your help.
    Have you tried contacting Andy?

    https://www.poestrings.net/contact
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
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    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
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    2017 Poe Scout
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    2019 Hogan F5

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Buffing Out Marks in Nitrocellulose Finish?

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    Have you tried contacting Andy?

    https://www.poestrings.net/contact
    Good advice. I didn't know if Andy Poe was still working as a luthier. Somehow I had in my mind that he had taken a hiatus.

  7. #7
    Teacher, repair person
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    Default Re: Buffing Out Marks in Nitrocellulose Finish?

    I would do nothing for at least 30 days, except to leave the instrument un-cased for a while, if possible.

    Whatever the cause might have been, the finish in the offending area may have been softened, and will need several weeks to cure before it will be safe to attempt any sort of repair.

    Once the finish is good and hard again, it may be possible to repair it. It would be best to have that done by a seasoned professional.

  8. #8
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buffing Out Marks in Nitrocellulose Finish?

    Quote Originally Posted by timacn View Post
    Good advice. I didn't know if Andy Poe was still working as a luthier. Somehow I had in my mind that he had taken a hiatus.
    His website doesn’t look like it’s been updated in a few years, but I seem to recall that a shop selling one of his used instruments managed to contact him.
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Buffing Out Marks in Nitrocellulose Finish?

    Can anybody recommend some good finish guys who specialize in nitrocellulose?

    I have no idea where to look.

  10. #10
    Teacher, repair person
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    Default Re: Buffing Out Marks in Nitrocellulose Finish?

    I'm sure there are people in Philadelphia who can handle it.
    If you can't find anyone there, PM me.

  11. #11
    Registered User gspiess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buffing Out Marks in Nitrocellulose Finish?

    http://www.bluettbros-violins.com/

    Just across the river in York.
    Being right is overrated. Doing right is what matters.

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