Advice on a clear coat crack

[Penumbra]

Hi, posted in the JS section before this but I was told here was really the place to ask. ( That thread is here: http://www.jemsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48536 for pics )

There's a couple of cracks appearing in the clearcoat of the custom finish on my js1000 ( 4 month old guitar ). The clear is seemingly an acrylic based laquer. At first I was worried they were stress cracks but another crack appeared in the middle of nowhere below the neck pickup, not running to any particular edge, so I think (as does the artist) that the laquer is expanding/contracting due probably to the insane heat this summer. He has suggested using a thin brush to apply "auto chem clear lacquer acrylic plus formula" into the crack, and then after a day or so, smoothing with T-Cut. As he is the artist I assume that's the correct stuff to use.

I love the artwork on this guitar, and the guitar itself is awesome technically (as I said, 4 months old). So right now I'm really torn what to do. If I repair the cracks in the clear myself I'm worried it's just going to be a continuous thing, repair... new crack... repair etc. When I bought it I was told if I was unhappy he'd take the guitar back.

So my torturous choice is to attempt to maintain/repair, or return it. If I returned it I'd be buying a brand new JS. Advice/thoughts would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

--Pen

[ryanb]

I think you need to just wait right now. Either it is moving because of an environmental change (temp., humidity), or because of a problem with the finish itself -- such as the base coat not fully drying with the clear coat over it, etc. It should eventually settle down and stop moving. Then you can decide what you want to do about repairing any cracks in the finish. If you patch it now, it will just crack again, most likely. Of course, the cracks aren't even visible in the pictures you posted, so you should probably just forget it, unless they get a lot worse.

You should find out from the artist exactly what he used for both the base coat (art work) and clear coats. If they are incompatible materials, you may not ever be able to stop the cracks. It would be pretty hard to redo the clear without losing the artwork. As long as the clear doesn't have an adhesion problem (peeling right off), it will probably eventually settle down.