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I am always looking for a good way to protect surfaces when I want some finish or pore fill to not touch. I have been thinking about this for a while. Normally its blue tape and paper. I finally stepped out and bought a simple product called carpet protector film. You know, the slightly sticky stuff they put on carpets when selling a new house. I applied it to the top of the guitar, did all of my epoxy work, then removed. Use a hair dryer. Not because it will lift grain (it did not), but because you will need to if you want it off in a short period of time. Perfectly sealed against epoxy intrusion.

It should be noted that this solution is NOT a good idea if you are using a solvent based product. Nitro, etc. Its only for water borne, and epoxy stuff.

Mike,

Would that stuff seal a fretboard with frets in, epoxy filling up to the fretboard surface?

TIA.

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

Hi Mike, where did you find this product?
Thanks.

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Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!

Perhaps ??

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Surface-Shi ... /205187255

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Thank You and Best To All

I know that HomeDepot and Lowes carry it.

During my short career as a home builder I used it to make a pathway across carpeted areas when I was expecting tradesmen. It worked well for that as long as you didn't leave it on to long, as in weeks.

I wished I'd thought of it as a guitar maker.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

What happened if you left it on for weeks?

I wonder if this leaves any unseen residue that might interfere with finishing. I had some non slip mat stuff that left a pattern on the wood once you started finishing, very annoying.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Bryan, left it on at the owners request. Waited several weeks for the closing then they moved in. Called shortly after and complained the film was hard to get off the carpet. I told them to just man-up..... well, actually I wanted to but in reality I spent the better part of an afternoon pulling pieces off the carpet. Turns out the plastic film got weaker (foot traffic?) while the glue seemed to get stronger.

Regarding your concerns about it leaving a film after it has sat on the wood awhile, I would be concerned also if it was an area that latter would have a finish applied. I would be interested in using it on the fingerboard as Trevor eluded to and the top. For the top I think I would seal it first with Vinyl Sealer, (not a fan of shellac). Then you could wipe the top with a solvent before the finish went on. Just an idle thought

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I think it would work great for fret boards. Yes, u should clean surface. Just like you would after using tape. Maybe more so. I did seal the top. I did rub it down with mineral spirits when I was done. Yes, that’s the product linked to above. There is another meant for hard surfaces I felt would not work. I would not leave it on the top for more than a few days.

Let me know how this works out for you. It really speeds up prep time. In the past I have taped freezer wrap (Walmart, big roll, waxy on one side. Or just taped a border. The former took a lot of time. The latter did not protect top against drips. With this, I can get a top sealed up in less than 5 minutes. But Trevor's use struck me as especially interesting. Taping up a fingerboard with frets sucks. This gotta be easier. I'm gonna test some with nitro tonight to see what happens.

I would not do that. Put it on, do your epoxy, get it off.

I did a nitro spray test... soaked it good. No melting of plastic. I'm doing a soak test in DNA, mineral spirits, and acetone.

Mike

The plastic passed the soak test. DNA, Acetone, Mineral Spirits for 12 hours. The acetone turned the plastic white, then after it dried it was clear again. That's good news!

Wow, sounds like it will be a great protection layer. It should be much easier to use than masking tape. And it should give better protection. Good find

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Anybody tried this yet?

Thought I would update my experience with this in the event someone stumbles across this. It worked great at protecting the surface. And in the quick chemical resistance tests I was able to easily remove the product. But in the real life test where it stayed on the guitar for several weeks through the finishing process (finger board in particular), it turned out to be a BEAR to remove. Even with a hair dryer. Even with a week during the epoxy pore fill, it was difficult to get it off the top.

So, unless your project will only last a day or two, I would not use this. I am back to using Reynold's Kitchtens Freezer Wrap (Walmart sells it). Big roll. Shiny side out.

Mike

similar to this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Reynolds-Kit ... t/11027102

Hey Cal, hows it going on your side of the bridge?

Here in Kelowna.

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/robert ... 1000538143

Or most flooring supply shops..

B

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My memory is so good, sometimes I remember things that never happened.

Hi Brian, just down in Tucson till the end of March, I’ll get hold of you when I get back.
Cal

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Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!