Getting magic marker off a guitar

[jzucker]

I bought a bass a few weeks ago that the previous owner had gotten signed in magic marker by a couple famous bassists. The bass is finished with a single coat of minmax tung oil and then wax. The marker is on top of the finish but with such a thin finish I'm sure it's penetrated somewhat into the wood...

I started off with alcohol and then tried naptha and finally alcohol and white 3m pads. I've gotten 75% of it but do I just need to brute force sand through it at this point?

[MaxBoogie]

I generally use lighter fluid for getting off stuff like that... it's clean, odorless, an leaves no residue. However, I have no idea what it may do, if anything, to the finish of the guitar. However if Naptha didn't do anything to the finish, then I would think the lighter fluid should be okay.

[Andrew]

You might need to take a buffing wheel and some polishing compound to it. Not sure but I don't think that will mess up the finish.

[jzucker]

I generally use lighter fluid for getting off stuff like that... it's clean, odorless, an leaves no residue. However, I have no idea what it may do, if anything, to the finish of the guitar. However if Naptha didn't do anything to the finish, then I would think the lighter fluid should be okay.
The finish is already gone in that area. The good thing is that the minwax stuff is easily renewable. I already removed marker in another place on the instrument (with white 3m pads). It sanded down to the bare wood but after reapplying a coat of minwax over the area, you can't even see where the sanding was done.

I'll try lighter fluid.

[Dabluzeguy]

Hi Jack

You may want to try some Meguiars No.9 Swirl remover and a soft cotton cloth (old T shirt). It is slightly abrasive, but won't scratch the wood and can be rinsed off with a damp rag prior to reapplication of the Minwax. If it is a natural color, Acetone will cut the marker, but will also remove the finish- not an issue if you plan on re applying finish anyway.

Rich

[LHanson]

FWIW-

My company deals with magic marker on plastic sample bottles for water treating applications. We discovered that while black is a ***** to get off, blue will come off the plastic cleanly with isopropyl alcohol.

[brad347]

as far as i know, lighter fluid and naptha are the same thing.

There is something that is supposed to leach dye out of wood... don't remember what it is or what it is called even vaguely but perhaps you can ask around. Sorry i'm of absolutely no help whatsoever.

[Ben F.]

Sharpie ink is very soluble in acetone. Since you're already taking the abrasive route, it probably wouldn't hurt to try a little before you get down to the wood.

VM&P Naphtha has had the aromatics removed, so it's safer to use/breathe than lighter fluid. Otherwise, there's no difference. Naphtha is good in that it won't damage 99% of the finishes used on guitars. The only exceptions are waxes and uncured oils, which it dissolves.

If the wood is already stained (and the solvent doesn't do any more than wick it deeper into the wood), then I'm not confident a wood bleach will help. The best one, if any, would probably be household chlorine bleach. "Wood bleach" is typically oxalic acid. It works well for weathering, aging, and biological stains but not so well for pen ink.

Good luck!

[gkoelling]

Unfortunately, I smoke. I use a Zippo and know that lighter fluid has naptha in it. If you've already tried naptha don't waste your time with lighter fluid.

I wish I had a cure for you. The only thing I can think of is sanding it out but you may end up with a low spot on the body.

Good luck to you.

[jzucker]

Hi Jack

You may want to try some Meguiars No.9 Swirl remover and a soft cotton cloth (old T shirt). It is slightly abrasive, but won't scratch the wood and can be rinsed off with a damp rag prior to reapplication of the Minwax. If it is a natural color, Acetone will cut the marker, but will also remove the finish- not an issue if you plan on re applying finish anyway.

Rich
I spent over an hour with acetone and paper towels. I've got about 90% of it off but you can still see it at certain angles. Not sure if another couple hours worth of elbow grease will do it or if I should try a different approach. Where do you get the swirl remover?

[MullardChris]

Just be metal.

Cover it up with blood.

[gkoelling]

I spent over an hour with acetone and paper towels. I've got about 90% of it off but you can still see it at certain angles. Not sure if another couple hours worth of elbow grease will do it or if I should try a different approach. Where do you get the swirl remover?
Try your local auto parts store.

[Dabluzeguy]

Well, I ran into the same problem last night. I took my own advice, and used the swirl remover. Didn't touch the marker. I wound up with #320 grit sandpaper, and a block.

That having been said, I get it at auto parts store, like Pep Boys or the like. It works great for many applications, but it didn't do it for marker removal. I use it to hand rub lacquer finishes, remove superficial scratches and dull spots from existing finishes, even to renew shine to a damaged pickguard after 0000 steel wool.

FWIW, I also tried the following on the marker: Pine Sol, ammonia, acetone, naptha, mineral spirits, denatured alcohol, soap and water, soft scrub. Sandpaper worked the best, but there are still traces of marker deep in the grain that might only come out by swelling the wood and sanding or bleaching (not recommended- it will whiten the spot). Nothing worked easily, nor did anything work 100%.

Luckily, it was on a maple headstock that I am relicing, so I got enough out to satisfy my needs. Took all night, though.

[Spudboy]

I've had luck removing magic marker with WD-40, believe it or not. However it sounds like maybe you've got penetration into the varnish in which case you might have no recourse but to redo the finish.

[Ben F.]

Good suggestion, but please be careful with WD-40 and wear some rubber gloves. It contains DMSO, which isn't harmful in and of itself but is very good at penetrating skin and pulling all sorts of other crap along with it...

[tedzepplin]

Who signed it? it's funny no one has asked that yet.

[Zilmo]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/Zilmo/grinder.jpg

[DanHund]

Who signed it? it's funny no one has asked that yet.
I was thinking the same thing. Was it signed by Michael Jackson, or something?

[Rock Johnson]

I was thinking the same thing. Was it signed by Michael Jackson, or something?
Nah, some dude, Jaco something....

[jzucker]

Nah, some dude, Jaco something....Idunno. I think it was Mingo or Minghus or something. And the other one was Ray Brawn or Ray Brine...

No , actually it was nathan east and gerald veasley.

The veasley one was pretty much gone by the time I got it. Smeared really bad. The East one looked good and I should have left it but it's too late now.

Using acetone I've got about 95% of it off. Maybe a couple more hours of rubbing and I'll have it...

[michael.e]

Would any of these techniques help in getting magic marker off a baby?

Thanks, M.E.


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/M_E113123/ownedbaby.jpg

[Bluzsteel]

I handed my 54 tele to George Jones to sign the back where I had several other { Bonnie Raitt, Albert Collins} and before I could tell him the back he signed the front . I almost puked. I didnt talk all the way home. my girlfriend says whats wrong . Im thinking she dosent understand .....just wanted them on the back. got home set the guitar in a chair and kept looking at it. after a while I thought, ah what the hell . its Jones. then I met with BB King to sign the back and he asked who is this ......thats Jones!!! and he said "well Im signing the front!" .......BAMM.

[gkoelling]

Wow! On a '54 Tele? I don't think I could bring myself to let anyone sign that. That is some impressive company you're in, though.


BTW, nice web site.


.....Greg

[MaxBoogie]

...then I met with BB King to sign the back and he asked who is this ......thats Jones!!! and he said "well Im signing the front!" .......BAMM.
Now THAT's funny! :)

[Reeek]

Charles Mingus:


http://mingus.onttonen.info/

http://www.bostonphoenix.com/archive/music/98/07/23/CHARLES_MINGUS.html

http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist.aspx?aid=2669

[jzucker]

And on the back of the bass (which was manufactured in 1999) its got signatures of Coltrane, Miles, Wes and Duane!

[gkoelling]

And on the back of the bass (which was manufactured in 1999) its got signatures of Coltrane, Miles, Wes and Duane!
Hmmm So, rather a collectors dream, it's from a dreamer's collection.