Number 36 is happening.

For guitar kits, the veneer is 0.6mm most of the time. This sounds like nothing, but if you are careful, it can take quite a bit of sanding.

I'd also try goof off/acetone first. But if the veneer is so porous that glue squeezed right through it, keep in mind that the acetone will also probably creep right through and may lead to lifting/bubbling. So it may be better to do several lighter treatments than trying to get it off all at once.

I have so far been quite successful with acetone in regards to removing glue stains, but it can take 4-5 treatments until it's really gone. I also prefer rubbing with cotton swabs and an old tooth brush instead of brass bristles. The brass bristles can damage the veneer surface so it stands out when staining.

Well this morning I started with Goof Off and a toothbrush style soft bristled brush. No movement at all.

Then I tried a squirt on a rag and rubbing....no movement.

The veneer has a couple of long gouges/splits and was very porous and rough.

So against my better judgement I got some 240 grit sandpaper and gave it a run over the veneer.

Well it smoothed out some ripples and marks, but no movement on the glue marks.

So I tried the brush and then the cloth again and this time with Acetone.....no movement.

Well since mid morning I have applied three dryish coats of a similar coloured Timbermate. First with the grain sanded with 240. Second across the grain and sanded with 320 grit. The third and last with the grain and sanded to 400 grit. I allowed about an hour between coats with the body hanging outside in the sun.

It looks pretty filled and feels a lot smoother. I will leave it over night.

Tomorrow a bit of tape around the edges....wipe down with wax and grease remover...tack cloth....then see how it looks with some spray poly.

See how it looks in the morning first.

Neck now has five coats of fine buffing oil applied with 0000 steel wool. Tomorrow three more with a cloth applicator only. Then hang until no longer smelly.

Okay, so it is not glue, then.

I came across some white-ish kind of filler in some of my kits, so maybe somebody in the factory thought the veneer is too uneven and tried to fill it.

It's a good thing you're not trying to stain the top, because if that white stuff is the same kind of filler that I had in my builds, it's resistant to all kinds of staining attempts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ThatCluelessGerman

Okay, so it is not glue, then.

I came across some white-ish kind of filler in some of my kits, so maybe somebody in the factory thought the veneer is too uneven and tried to fill it.

It's a good thing you're not trying to stain the top, because if that white stuff is the same kind of filler that I had in my builds, it's resistant to all kinds of staining attempts.

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My thoughts of not normal glue too.

I have various sanding sealers here, from shellac through Behlens vinyl sanding sealer and the dreaded Feast Watson sanding sealer.

I am starting to believe it may be a half hearted attempt at a sanding sealer.

I actually found two glue spots of the bottom edge and they both went away with the goof off.

I hope tomorrow brings some clarity.

I am keen to see how this turns out, I have a kit in the cupboard with that same veneer on the top, I think it has some of that whitish filler in it too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

I am keen to see how this turns out, I have a kit in the cupboard with that same veneer on the top, I think it has some of that whitish filler in it too.

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Sorry Cliff....not good. I really don't know what to do from here.

This is what I found this morning....

Not so sure about this....I can still see the glue/sealer/junk in the pores.

The finish is starting to shine already....but many many holes remain....lots of clear coat and lots of sanding flat to fill this I think.

But I can still see that white muck.....it is nearly lost in the pores....but still there.

I'd probably use a tinted lacquer rather than a stain. 2-3 coats of that will sit on top and colour everything.