Gunk on my nut. Yecch!!

[slowhandy]

I bought a Warmoth neck with a pre-installed nut.  I applied the finish(nitro) and removed the masking tape.  To my consternation the lacquer had seeped under the masking tape into the crevice between the top of the nut and the rosewood fretboard.  I tried removing the build-up with a plastic scraper, credit card and sandpaper but it only made it worse.  Is there any way to remove the build-up without removing the nut?

Also when masking a pre-installed nut, where should the tape go where it meets the fretboard on top?  Other threads say that Fender only masks the front, bottom and sides of their pre-installed nuts.  Is that an option?

 

[jackthehack]

Lacquer thinner on a rag/Q-tip should work...

 

[slowhandy]

I tried out the thinner and it works.  It went through layers of lacquer in about a second.  Full strength the stuff is deadly.  I never knew that they used it to remove guitar finishes.

A furniture finisher recommends that I dilute it with something like alcohol next time, when using it on rosewood.  Thanks. 

 

[Jim_H]

Diluting is good, especially when using it for cleanup.  More importantly, it's very 'splashy', and even  a small drop will ruin any finish it gets on. 

Mask/cover things, wear gloves, and just generally, be careful!