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Fix for Nitro Cellulose Pickguards?

tuberide

Active member
Joined
Feb 17, 2005
Messages
1,469
It's a shame what happens to these old nitro pickguards. This one is from a mid-'60s L-5 CES. Other than pitching into the trash, is there anything that can be done to stabilize the guard from further deterioration? I've heard that some have applied superglue to the rotted area to prevent further breakdown. How about superglue then some stained epoxy fill to level it out?
Any ideas or experience is welcomed.

001-2.jpg
 

BobV

New member
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
831
From what I understand, if you have celluloid pox, then it's offgassing and can corrode other plastic parts inside the case, so I'd be afraid to leave it on there. happened to me with the tuner buttons on a late forties Gretsch, though the guard never crumbled.
 
B

bigsby'd

Guest
Save the binding and put it on a new guard. Off gassing can be slowed/stabilized, but this guard is missing too much material to salvage. The back panel, binding and hardware can be used to build a new guard.
 

Scott Lentz

New member
Joined
Jul 26, 2001
Messages
611
Nitrate material can be purchased from Axiom including the binding. I have made pickguards similar to this and by no means is this a slam dunk. Best to contact someone that makes guards of this style and pay to have another guard made.
 

tuberide

Active member
Joined
Feb 17, 2005
Messages
1,469
Thanks for the input and references guys. I think I might try to cutout the rot and insert another piece of pickguard material. With the back up piece there at least there is something to attach to. :peace2
 

lem

New member
Joined
Aug 18, 2009
Messages
10
Any rot , even just a bad odor, means removal of all plastic near the obvious rot is necessary to slow down the inevitable. Re-using any vintage or old nitro-based plastics just leads to more attack on the instrument ; I`ve seen glue-lines blackened & destroyed by these gasses. These guards are very time-consuming, even for professional shops.
 

SoK66

Active member
Joined
Aug 31, 2009
Messages
236
Give Tony Dudzik at "The Pickguardian" a try. Dan just featured his work in a recent VG article. He uses the right material and can reattach that original binding for you. He did a Strat pick guard for me that's indistinguishable from the original. Even has the correct green layers.

Whatever, get that think offg your guitar and out of the case, it can cause havoc.
 
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