Dear Sterling: I would suggest that you first discuss this issue with the maker of the Lute if that is possible. It sounds to me like the finish has "Blushed". This is, to put it in a simple terms, a result of moisture trapped under the finish. There are a couple of things that can be done to relieve this problem but the chances of success and the chances of further damage are dependant on the nature and chemical make up of the finish under discussion. Have you tried to clean the back of the neck, if so, with what? Are the cloudy areas in the locations where your thumb happens to reside most of the time?
There are so many possibilities as to the kind of finish I am loath to offer any remedies. If it is oil finished then an application of a compatible oil finish should bring it back. If it is just plain old dirt and grim from the oils in your hands some times mineral spirits will cut this off and not damage a lacquer finish. However mineral spirits, naphtha, paint thinner or turpentine will damage an oil finish, and might damage a French polish finish, as well as a wax finish. Denatured Alcohol will also release the blush from a Lacquer finish by softening the original finish enough to allow the trapped moisture to reconstitute itself back into the finish it was driven from. It is also possible that the finish is not really cloudy but abraded from the contact with the thumb. Provided the nature of the finish will allow it, it might be possible to rub it out with a very fine rubbing compound. Vance Wood. ----- Original Message ----- From: "sterling price" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2004 3:29 AM Subject: Lute Finish > Hi all-I have a question about the finish on my > archlute. The neck extension is painted black and is > somewhat 'cloudy' in appearance. I would like to > polish it to brighten it up a bit. What would be a > good method? > Sterling Price > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes > http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/signingbonus > >
