How to Paint Large Chips on a Guitar

You can easily repair the colored surface of a guitar with a simple tube of super glue.

Mastering the guitar is a lifelong commitment for many musical enthusiasts. Unfortunately, the longer a guitar is in use, the greater the chance of it picking up superficial damage. Belt buckles, zips and metal buttons are common reasons for chipping, although many guitarists openly admit that overenthusiastic practice sessions and frustration have also led to unwanted blemishes on their prized possessions. Thankfully, even large chips are easy to rectify to leave guitars looking like new.

Things You'll Need

• P1200 grit wet-and-dry paper
• Alcohol
• Lint-free cloth
• Electrical tape
• Latex gloves
• Super glue
• Colored paper
• Color restorer

Instructions

1. Wipe over the chip with your finger to remove any flaking paint. Dab a piece of P1200 grit wet-and-dry sanding paper with water. Wrap the sanding paper around your finger and gently rub over the chipped area to remove any high spots. Don't worry if the sanding paper dulls the surrounding area.

2. Wipe the chip clean with a small amount of alcohol on a piece of lint-free cloth to clean the repair area of sweat, dirt and grime. Dry the area thoroughly after wiping. Mask around the chip with electrical tape, allowing a clearance area of approximately 1/4 inch.

3. Put on a pair of latex gloves. Put several drops of super glue onto a colored paper and leave to dry. This acts as a test for the super glue; it should dry clear. If it does not dry clear, try an alternative fast-drying adhesive that will.

4. Hold the tube of super glue over the repair and apply several small drops so that it fills in the chip. As the super glue dries, it may flow a little, so just add a little more in gradual stages until the super glue sits above the surface of the guitar. Leave to dry overnight so that the curing process leaves a hard, workable finish.

5. Remove the electrical tape. Dab the piece of P1200 grit wet-and-dry paper with a small amount of water again. Wrap the sanding paper around your finger again and lightly rub over the dried super glue to remove excess. Continue until the super glue is flush with the surface of the guitar.

6. Add a small quantity of color restorer to a piece of lint-free cloth and work it into the surface of the guitar, concentrating on a 3-inch radius of the repaired area. The color restorer will blend the existing color over the repair to leave a perfect finish on your guitar.

Tips & Warnings

• Some guitars will use a colored mold during the manufacturing process; there will be no need to use a color restorer on this type of model.

• Always wear latex gloves when using super glue to stop accidental binding of the fingers.

References

• SK Guitar: Repair tips
• Axe Central: Guitar Paint Chips - A Cheap Repair