Hey guys,

I have a past client who had an accident with his guitar.  It was in the case, and picked up with the top unlatched.  The guitar fell out of the case.  He has sent it back to me to see what I can do with it.  The guitar has a sunburst top, but it does not appear that the damage actually went that deep, maybe on little place where it made it into the sunburst.  The top appears to be structurally sound.  It did hit hard enough though, to a) make him physically sick, and b) create some dinged areas in the top.  They appear to be mostly whitish areas, about 4 of them.  They are all less than 4mm in diameter, and appear to be where the lacquer has delaminated.  I have considered dripping acetone on the areas to see if they would soften up (or liquify) and re-laminate, and then do some extensive drop filling.  I wanted to try to avoid sanding down into the burst if it is possible.  If any of you all with experience in this area, I would greatly appreciate some sound advice before I head off into doing this repair.  Here are a couple of pics:

OK....somehow I posted before I got the other pic up, but it's just another spot below the bridge, and I am on dial up.  In reality, most of the dings look like the one on the left.  I do think that the one on the right made it to the wood, though.  The one under the bridge that I mentioned feels smooth when you touch it...no chip, just a whitish look.  OH, and that title should read "guitar" .

Any Ideas on how to repair this????

I guess I should also mention that it's nitro.....dang.....If I keep up this posting, I'm gonna make Koa in no time!!!.  Sorry about the add ons!

Thanks , Jebarri and Todd.  I had seen the StewMac ad and it sparked the idea, but I think that there was no delam issue in that particular incident.  I will probably attempt to remove the fractured lacquer, as you suggest, Todd, and drop fill the areas.  I just wanted to ask before I did it, just to be sure I'm not missing something that may work better. 

Thanks for the info.

Todd,

Thanks for the advice.  I went in and picked out the chipped and delaminated nitro...just broke it out like glass, and softened the area with a little acetone.  I have started the drop fillings.  I am going to have the guitar for a while, as the owner said he was in no real rush, since he has another of my guitars.  After I get the build on the fills up,  I'll take your advice and let it sit around for a while and cure well, before leveling and finishing up.  Once again, thanks.