Super glue removal from guitar finish?

bopster

What works to remove dried super glue from guitar top finish?

Al Watsky

It depends on what the finish is.
If its poly you can test an inconspicuous area with a q tip dipped in acetone. If the acetone does not score the finish its poly.
Then you can use acetone to remove the glue as acetone is the correct solvent for the glue.
If the acetone scores the finish you will need to wetland the glue down to the finish which has many more steps and is more prone to failure in some ways.
These are "trade skills" and do not lend themselves to amateur shop heroics , so if you have no experience , bring the guitar to a professional and let them take care of it !

bopster

Thanks Al Watsky! Lesson learned when trying to superglue tailpiece insert.

Lango-Django

Related question... I have a guitar with a "pick guard" made of transparent adhesive plastic.

I'd like to get the top refinished, and I wonder how I could go about removing that "pick guard"?

Craig Bumgarner

The usual method is to use a little naptha solvent at a corner, lift the corner and keep applying naptha as you lift. Slow and steady but usually takes less than five minutes. Test the finish with naptha first to be sure it doesn't harm it but most finishes don't seem to mind. Don't let the naptha go everywhere, a small syringe of some sort and cotton rags help keep it under control.

Lango-Django

Thank you, Craig.