Hi everyone - just about to commence the build and I have a problem to fix right at the start. the body arrived with some dents in the top. returning is not an option as it is the last it so a deal has been done with Pitbull management. So now I need to either fill the dents or swell them back.
I have never done anything like this before btw.
What do you think?
It doesn't look like it's got a veneer top. How were you planning to finish it? If painting it a solid colour then it's easy to just use a water-based wood filler, sand it back flat and then continue as normal. If it's a basswood body, then you'll find that it is quite a soft wood, so take care with it otherwise you'll find you've added some more dents yourself!
If you plan to stain it, then you've probably still got to use a wood filler, hopefully you can get one that matches the colour of the body wood. But if so, then it may help if you can post a picture of the whole top to get an idea of size and location and if there's anything else you could do to disguise the dents.
It is a quilt maple veneer. I took the shot to show the dent rather than the grain. I will take some more photos to give a better picture of what I am facing. Looking to stain the quilt.
if you want to swell it back cover the dints with a damp cloth and use the iron over the top. You may not get it all out tho
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There's always little problems here and there to fix occasionally. Its part of the fun and to take you out of your comfort zone.
the iron trick may be your only option as its a quilted veneer that is VERY thin. do not attempt to sand it out. if its still there after swelling you may get away with timber filling depending on the filler you use and the type of stain and colour you use. In Australia we use a waterbased filler called timbermate. I've had some brilliant success with patching with timbermate and staining the wood and timbermate black. almost cant see the patch. Not sure if that would work with a quilted top.
Alternatively, if a ding is still there after swelling, you could go ahead and stain and fill the dings in with the clear coats. you will just need to put more on than usual.
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Somebody rattled the edge of the fretboard on the quilt! Disaster!Originally Posted by woolleydick
Hi everyone - just about to commence the build and I have a problem to fix right at the start. the body arrived with some dents in the top. returning is not an option as it is the last it so a deal has been done with Pitbull management. So now I need to either fill the dents or swell them back.
I have never done anything like this before btw.
What do you think?
I'd follow the steps that the others have outlined, first the swell out with the cloth and iron, and assess from there. I assume that is one of the pot holes so maybe a couple will be hidden? The filler idea is good if you can colour match it but you might be constrained to using more than one method, or having to live with the ones that are too deep.
Keen to see how you tackle it, cheering you on for a good result!!
FrankenLab
Hand crafting guitars, because Death Rays are expensive.
Here is a shot to show the location better...
That's clearer. Too far up to cover with a dark sunburst edge.
Is that grain filler on the body?
It is the veneer - difficult to show in a photo - it is very very thin
It just doesn't look like any bare quilted veneer top that I've ever seen on here. But it does look like one that's been lightly coated in Timbermate grain filler. Any chance of another picture showing the whole body?
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