Oops! (need Help.. Superglue)

[Ghwar]

OK, this is totally my fault for being a dumbass, but I spilt a little superglue on a guitar that I am very fond of, and it's really ugly looking (not to mention this was a fairly expensive axe)

Goo gone didn't do ****.., what can I do to get it off of there? i'm scared to try and simply scrape it off, in case the bond is strong enough to take the paint with it... i think it's the standard polyurethane type of finish.. what you guys think? thanks very much!

Admin Edit: Langauge Warning

[marksound]

If it's a hard poly finish you can use nail polish remover (basically diluted acetone). TRY IT IN A PICKUP CAVITY OR ANOTHER INCONSPICUOUS SPOT. If the finish starts to get soft, STOP.

[Setch]

I'd use a razor blade scraper with safety tape (ala Frank Ford) and then finish the job with 2000 grit and a trip to the buffer.

[johnsilver]

I'd use a razor blade scraper with safety tape (ala Frank Ford) and then finish the job with 2000 grit and a trip to the buffer.

Yeah. This is the way Dan Erlewine says he smooths out drop fills when using CA glue.

[erikbojerik]

Superglue dissolves easily in acetone....but unfortunately, that's true of a lot of stuff. So I second Mick's recommendation to try it in an out-of-the-way place first. The oils in nail polish will make the acetone work more slowly, so that's better to try than straight acetone.

[Southpa]

Some methods are difficult to control without further damaging the surrounding unaffected areas. If you try acetone first off then avoid getting any on the areas around the spill. By the time the spilled superglue has softened so has the surrounding surface. Personally, I would avoid any solvents all together and remove the glue mechanically. I agree with the razor idea as well. You can target the problem area without disturbing the surrounding finish. Then the rest is very light cosmetic work, ie. fine grit sanding followed by polishing, to blend things together.