Neck shaving on polly neck

[Nickpastar]

Hi you all. I have an Edwards Les Paul copy that i really,really like but the gummy and sticky poly neck really bothers me while I'm playing.
So I'm interested in shaving most of the polly of my neck.The thing is that i don't want to shave it to a naked wood,but to leave some "cover" because i'm a bit affraid about neck stability,humidity ecc. I also read somewhere that if i don't remove 100% of polly that sticky feel will eventually come back with time.So i would like also like to know your opinion on this matter.
I allready read some of past treads, where people were advised to use 400-800 grit sandpaper but everything i found was to shaving it to the bare wood.
How to know how deep i can go? So give me every advice you think wolud be usefull (as well telling me not to do it).

[dennistruckdriver]

Polly might object to having her neck shaved....

[diceman]

Poly shouldn't be "gummy" at all. Should be hard and smooth, like plastic.

[diceman]

On an Edwards - I'd guess you're dealing with a nice Nitrocellulose finish!

[Nickpastar]

Originally Posted by diceman

Poly shouldn't be "gummy" at all. Should be hard and smooth, like plastic.

First sorry for my english, i'm not sure if the word is polly o poly (plastic).
My mistake. It looks gummy and it feels sticky .
I think it's polly because i tried to sand down just a bit and dust is white and its smells like plastic.But than again maybe i'm wrong,i'm not the expert here .

P.s. dennistruckdriver - when you posted the photo i remebered Monty Python sketch - dead parrot

[River]

Originally Posted by diceman

Poly shouldn't be "gummy" at all. Should be hard and smooth, like plastic.

Originally Posted by diceman

On an Edwards - I'd guess you're dealing with a nice Nitrocellulose finish!

Yeah. A good "Polly" finish (sans crackers) is like clean glass. I quite like the effect on the back of a neck, myself. Perhaps someone was eating cheezy-pooffs while playing your guitar and it hasn't been cleaned since?

[4Boogie]

I say take it to the wood. I started with 180 to get the thick stuff off and worked my way up to 1000 grit. It feels great

[River]

Originally Posted by 4Boogie

I say take it to the wood. I started with 180 to get the thick stuff off and worked my way up to 1000 grit. It feels great

I think we should ask for before encouraging someone to start sanding. But that's just me.

[Nickpastar]

Originally Posted by River

I think we should ask for before encouraging someone to start sanding. But that's just me.

Great idea,thanks.If someone has some photoes to share it would be great.

[River]

Originally Posted by Nickpastar

Great idea,thanks.If someone has some photoes to share it would be great.

I meant photos of the finish you're trying to fix. There are several threads here with photos of folks sanding, "shaving", and refinishing their necks. Also of folks just taking a Scotch-Brite pad (the rough green stuff on the back of some kitchen sponges) to them.

[Nickpastar]

Originally Posted by River

I meant photos of the finish you're trying to fix. There are several threads here with photos of folks sanding, "shaving", and refinishing their necks. Also of folks just taking a Scotch-Brite pad (the rough green stuff on the back of some kitchen sponges) to them.

Aha, i get it. Unfortunately i have started to sand a bit so i could try to take "back of the headstock" picture which is intacted.I have to say that i immediately noticed a better feel which is what i was gaining for.
I know,i know, probably you will tell me - Why did you started withouth asking nothing and then ask as nothing happened?
I have to clarify that i don't care about the look and that I knew that i could not compromise stability-integrity of the neck with little sanding.I am determined to do it. I would just like to see some advice how "deep" should i sand before I reach a point of no return (bare neck) but also i'm open to "curse" comments on my idea .
So if somebody is sorry for me , don't be. "There is a sucker born every minute".

[River]

Originally Posted by Nickpastar

Aha, i get it. Unfortunately i have started to sand a bit so i could try to take "back of the headstock" picture which is intacted.I have to say that i immediately noticed a better feel which is what i was gaining for.
I know,i know, probably you will tell me - Why did you started withouth asking nothing and then ask as nothing happened?
I have to clarify that i don't care about the look and that I knew that i could not compromise stability-integrity of the neck with little sanding.I am determined to do it. I would just like to see some advice how "deep" should i sand before I reach a point of no return (bare neck) but also i'm open to "curse" comments on my idea .
So if somebody is sorry for me , don't be. "There is a sucker born every minute".

Unless you're trying to make your neck smaller, don't go any further than when it feels right. I'm still not sure how you wound up with a sticky poly neck, though. Keep everything cleaned up with naphtha (lighter fluid) at every step.

[alk-3]

In Instances such as what you're experiencing I usually just rub down the back of the neck with 000 or 0000 steel wool each time I do a string change. After doing it 3 or 4 times the neck just stays silky, probably due to the lacquer hardening and becoming less sticky. I don't know if Edwards guitars have poly or lacquer, and I have never tried the above method on poly.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by 4Boogie

I say take it to the wood.....

Originally Posted by River

I think we should ask for photos before encouraging someone to start sanding.....

I say sand it to the truss rod rout.

[Ride on a Pony]

EDIT: Was going to make a truss-rod joke, but I see Dennis beat me to it.

Anyway, I did this on my Xaviere the other day, I took parts of it down further (accidentally) than I'd planned, but those parts seam to actually be less sticky than the lesser sanded stuff, which seems to have some sort of uber-thin 'finish' or something still covering them. I think I'll go a bit further sometime and even it out.

As for the grit of sandpaper, I have no idea... I think it was blue (is sand paper universally colour-coded?), but having said that, I am colour blind, so it may have been purple. After that I managed to find some finer stuff, and then some really fine stuff to finish it off and It feels really nice.

I did a pretty shabby job, it looks like hell and I've got that poly shit wedged up in close a few of my frets (I'd suggest masking it or something ) but I'm sure that isn't going to be too hard to get rid of.

But I'm happy with it anyway.

[Ride on a Pony]

Originally Posted by alk-3

I don't know if Edwards guitars have poly or lacquer, and I have never tried the above method on poly.

The thread title may be a bit of a hint.

[Nickpastar]

Originally Posted by alk-3

In Instances such as what you're experiencing I usually just rub down the back of the neck with 000 or 0000 steel wool each time I do a string change. After doing it 3 or 4 times the neck just stays silky, probably due to the lacquer hardening and becoming less sticky. I don't know if Edwards guitars have poly or lacquer, and I have never tried the above method on poly.

Interesting, i may try this,sand a bit more and wait if the sticky feeling comes back. As for poly-lacquer dought i read that this guitar has poly with thin lacquer on top.

[Nickpastar]

Originally Posted by Ride on a Pony

I did a pretty shabby job, it looks like hell and I've got that poly shit wedged up in close a few of my frets (I'd suggest masking it or something ) but I'm sure that isn't going to be too hard to get rid of.

But I'm happy with it anyway.

I noticed that to.I assume that you have to mask the binding if you want do do the edges fine.

[Nickpastar]

Originally Posted by River

Unless you're trying to make your neck smaller, don't go any further than when it feels right. I'm still not sure how you wound up with a sticky poly neck, though. Keep everything cleaned up with naphtha (lighter fluid) at every step.

Ok i have zippo fluid that i use for my lighter and to clean fingerboard.

[The Thruth]

Hi mate

[Nickpastar]

Originally Posted by The Thruth

Hi mate

Hi there! Do you have some advice for me?

[The Thruth]

Originally Posted by Nickpastar

Hi there! Do you have some advice for me?

if you are near i can shave that neck
or do complete refinish with nitro

[River]

Originally Posted by The Thruth

if you are near i can shave that neck
or do complete refinish with nitro

Yes, he can.

[The Thruth]

Originally Posted by River

Yes, he can.

Hey River you have something in your e-mailbox

[River]

Originally Posted by The Thruth

Hey River you have something in your e-mailbox

Nice, Alex. A name is starting to come to me, but it hasn't arrived yet.

Neck by Alex:



None finer. Observing your locations, what's the difference between Croatia and Croatia, Italy?

[The Thruth]

Originally Posted by River

Nice, Alex. A name is starting to come to me, but it hasn't arrived yet.

i think it will, immediately when you get your hands on it

Originally Posted by River

None finer. Observing your locations, what's the difference between Croatia and Croatia, Italy?

i think Nickpastar study in Italy and live in Croatia, or something like that

[Nickpastar]

Originally Posted by River

Observing your locations, what's the difference between Croatia and Croatia, Italy?

I'm a croatian never ending student in Italy,Venice.
Hey Truth thanks, but for now i would like to do "this little thing" myseft,and afterall it is not very exepensive guitar.If i want to do a pro job with "real" finish i would most likely contact you knowing that you dig the vintage "groove".

[The Thruth]

Originally Posted by Nickpastar

I'm a croatian never ending student in Italy,Venice.
Hey Truth thanks, but for now i would like to do "this little thing" myseft,and afterall it is not very exepensive guitar.If i want to do a pro job with "real" finish i would most likely contact you knowing that you dig the vintage "groove".

Thanx for compliment
i would do that same thing guys suggested you, fine sand paper, maybe 800 or 0000 wool, and of course be careful to do it lightly not to sand through to the wood

[expo]

Originally Posted by Nickpastar

Interesting, i may try this,sand a bit more and wait if the sticky feeling comes back. As for poly-lacquer dought i read that this guitar has poly with thin lacquer on top.

Edwards calls this LTS -- laquer taste

The guitars are full poly with a thin nitro on top, only for the look.
Could this cause chemical problems?

[Nickpastar]

Originally Posted by expo

Edwards calls this LTS -- laquer taste

The guitars are full poly with a thin nitro on top, only for the look.
Could this cause chemical problems?

I don't think so.If you wipe nitro off,poly will remain and if i'm not wrong poly is more "hard" and "seels" wood more than nitro. This is also the reason nitro is more wanted- because wood breath better and suond is more clearer. Naturally the biggest issue is the thicknest.