Repair of a few sanding marks on Martin D28

[viento]

When repairing the broken white binding strip on my Martin D28 (built around 1970),
I found a few light sanding marks on one side in oblique light, which are too difficult to take photos.
If I correct it at all, how should I go about it? The region is about 3 to 4 fingers wide in size.
Spraygun and nitro paint or nitro spray can??
Any idea??

[TheGITM]

Originally Posted by viento

When repairing the broken white binding strip on my Martin D28 (built around 1970),
I found a few light sanding marks on one side in oblique light, which are too difficult to take photos.
If I correct it at all, how should I go about it? The region is about 3 to 4 fingers wide in size.
Spraygun and nitro paint or nitro spray can??
Any idea??

Others may have better recommendations, but if there is still finish left and you're talking about scratches/scuff area then you should be able to just sand/buff it out, back down to the finish.

You could wet sand the area with higher and higher grain sand paper. Start with something like 800 grit and lightly (and I mean lightly, don't press down) sand it, then move to 1000 grit, then 1200, etc... all the way to 2000, if you want. The take some Meguiars ultimate (or similar product) and buff it out really good.

I'd try that before spraying nitro. It really depends on the current condition. Any chance you have a photo or two you can post?

[viento]

I´ve tried to take photos. Here´s one I made after working on the broken binding strip.The backlighting was bad.
The rest of the side is in very good condition...



I don´t know how they occured...

[runamuck]

Originally Posted by viento

I´ve tried to take photos. Here´s one I made after working on the broken binding strip.The backlighting was bad.
The rest of the side is in very good condition...

Those look like quite deep scratches. Sanding them out will require going through the finish and patina and removing wood. Then, no matter how it's finished, you'll have a spot that different in color that will be a bad eyesore for many years.

You could level them by applying more finish but they'll still likely show.

If it were me I'd leave it as is.

[runamuck]

Originally Posted by viento

I´ve tried to take photos. Here´s one I made after working on the broken binding strip.The backlighting was bad.
The rest of the side is in very good condition...

Those look like quite deep scratches. Sanding them out will require going through the finish and patina and removing wood. Then, no matter how it's finished, you'll have a spot that different in color that will be a bad eyesore for many years.

You could level them by applying more finish but they'll still likely show.

We have scratches that look like that on our dining table - the result of our dog getting up there when we're gone.

If it were me I'd leave it as is.

[viento]

Yes, I will leave them as they are.

Addendum:
If I don't look closely, i.e. when I look at it normally, I can hardly see anything. So I'll probably leave it like that

[H165]

I would not apply new finish.

I'd hit them gently with 1000-1200 wet/dry sandpaper (wet, with 1 drop of liquid soap in 1/4 cup water) , then 2000 paper (wet, with 1 drop of liquid soap in 1/4 cup water), then with Meguire's fine white liquid auto polish. You won't do any harm with 1000+ wet paper, and you might do some good.

[Acoustic Voyage]

I've reduced the visibility of scratches by using an automotive polish, like Mother's. It takes the harshness out of the scratch.

[viento]

@H165 + @ Acoustic Voyage : Thanks for your friendly help!

[phavriluk]

My opinion: I'd leave it alone. Far likelier to make appearance worse by messing with it.