weeshan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2016
- Messages
- 106
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Long story short...waited a good long while to get a solid acacia Opio, until I found JUST.THE.RIGHT.ONE from a shop in Wisconsin. Lots of communication, lots of photos sent and I finally decided this beauty was the one. It was shipped to me on 2/2 but due to severe weather, the delivery was delayed through UPS for 14 days, no joke. Due to temp fluctuations, when I opened up the box today, I JUST ABOUT DIED. The finish is crazed, mainly across the top, a little on the sides, a couple of spots on the neck.
Before I say more...the sellers have been nothing short of spectacular through this whole thing. They kept in contact with me nearly every day the last 14 days, they know how much this instrument meant to me. They were horrified when I sent them pics of the instrument and of course offered an immediate full refund.
Here's the deal...Im very crafty and hands on. I have done wood burning on solid wood instruments, Ive adjusted the saddles on my ukes myself etc. As an alternative solution, I asked the seller if they would be willing to very steeply discount this uke so that I can keep it and refinish it myself. It would allow me to have a great instrument at a low cost and also put my diy skills to the test. They said they are certainly willing to consider it as they would have been putting the uke back in their shop steeply discounted anyway...especially since the outside of the pkg wasnt damaged so UPS likely wont take responsibility and its a loss for the shop owners.
Questions...what am I getting myself into? I am sure 99% of you would say send the darn thing back, get a perfect one, dont bother, refinishing is too hard etc. However...I want THIS ONE. Ive looked at alot of these over the months and many have fairly bland acacia on them. This one just glows and the patterns dance around as the light hits them. Im sure some of you can get this...I am literally bonded with this inanimate object already lol.
Outside of just telling me to send it back..what am I looking at to refinish this myself? Im not a woodworker (but have been a stone worker for years utilizing silicon carbide, diamond, various polishing compounds etc) but am willing to put in the sanding time. But starting at what grit? What do I follow it with? Any polishes? Then what can I spray it with to protect it? This particular instrument is not a gloss finish...its either a matte finish or real subtle semi. The seller already contacted Koaloha to see what type of finish they use (poly I believe) and whether they could offer any suggestions on refinishing.
Im including pics to show the damage. Thanks for any advice you can give. Im just heartbroken over this.
Shannon
Before I say more...the sellers have been nothing short of spectacular through this whole thing. They kept in contact with me nearly every day the last 14 days, they know how much this instrument meant to me. They were horrified when I sent them pics of the instrument and of course offered an immediate full refund.
Here's the deal...Im very crafty and hands on. I have done wood burning on solid wood instruments, Ive adjusted the saddles on my ukes myself etc. As an alternative solution, I asked the seller if they would be willing to very steeply discount this uke so that I can keep it and refinish it myself. It would allow me to have a great instrument at a low cost and also put my diy skills to the test. They said they are certainly willing to consider it as they would have been putting the uke back in their shop steeply discounted anyway...especially since the outside of the pkg wasnt damaged so UPS likely wont take responsibility and its a loss for the shop owners.
Questions...what am I getting myself into? I am sure 99% of you would say send the darn thing back, get a perfect one, dont bother, refinishing is too hard etc. However...I want THIS ONE. Ive looked at alot of these over the months and many have fairly bland acacia on them. This one just glows and the patterns dance around as the light hits them. Im sure some of you can get this...I am literally bonded with this inanimate object already lol.
Outside of just telling me to send it back..what am I looking at to refinish this myself? Im not a woodworker (but have been a stone worker for years utilizing silicon carbide, diamond, various polishing compounds etc) but am willing to put in the sanding time. But starting at what grit? What do I follow it with? Any polishes? Then what can I spray it with to protect it? This particular instrument is not a gloss finish...its either a matte finish or real subtle semi. The seller already contacted Koaloha to see what type of finish they use (poly I believe) and whether they could offer any suggestions on refinishing.
Im including pics to show the damage. Thanks for any advice you can give. Im just heartbroken over this.
Shannon