Polishing Rickenbacker Fretboard

[admin]

I have a small area about the size of a thumbnail on the fretboard of my 350 that is dull as a result of a small drop of crazy glue landing on the first fret. Is there a way I might polish this surface to restore it. I am inclined to just leave it alone, but I thought I would ask.

[markthemd]

Well you need to have some really fine sand paper for this one.
And/or you need to go to a Hobby Shop and purchase some Cyanoacrylate remover/softener.Get the Gel type,not the water thin stuff.They sell both .

And a type for you 'crazy glue' fans.BUY small bottles ,and before you open them,keep them in your refrigerator-this will extend their life.After you open them DON'T put them in the refrigerator as the moist air will shorten the glue life.

To directly answer this,pull your strings out of the way.Loosen them or lift them out of the nut and set them aside.Get a clean cotton cloth.I use shop rags from an Automotive shop for this .
Put a drop of the glue remover on ...don't go over board with this and set the timer on the stove for 10 minutes.Keep you eye on it.If this stuff can soften the glue then it could soften the conversion varnish finishing material.
It may not but "Who really know until you dive in?"

The other way is to take a piece of 2000 grit sandpaper and wrap a section around a "Tool",something flat,like a kitchen knife.
File away at the lump until it is almost level with the finish and then hand sand till gone.
Use some water in a bowl and add a drop of dish washing liquid detergent to the water.A drop meaning a teaspoon.don't be anal and get out a measuring tool for this ......this is not science here.
the soap acts as the lubricant and helps to keep the sandpaper un clogged.
sand with a piece ,fold it in 3rds,it will be easier to use,and smooth out the surface.
Wipe off all the water/soap mixture frequently to check your progress.You won't sand thru the finish.Believe me !This sandpaper is so fine ,that you would have to use the flip side to get a rougher 'grit' and then ....have you ever tried to sand using paper by itself....kind of slow I would think!?!?!?!?

Any way ..sand till the gob of goo is gone and then polish with some kind of polish ,not compound.
I use 3M Finesse-it II finishing material #05928.
Use a 100% cotton cloth,an old T-shirt is just fine ,anything that is cotton,NO Polyester!
Clean up your mess. (I'm not your Mama) and retune.

Enjoy!

[admin]

Mark: Yes I know. "Not The Mama, Not The Mama." Thanks for your comprehensive response. I wanted to add that I actually had the fretboard masked with tape but somehow the tinest amount of glue found its way under the tape. So there is no buildup of glue but rather, a discoloured section that is of some concern cosmetically. I am inclined to go the 3M Finesse-it II route and see no real need to use the crazy glue remover as there is no apparent glue residue. What do you think?

[markthemd]

That sounds like the way to go...I would use some incredibly fine sand paper though.It will help a lot .you may have to buy a 'sleeve' of the stuff but it will come in handy over time.