Ukulele Need Of TLC

[mickeyj4j]

The other day when I was in local Charity Shop. I found a Makala Dolphin Ukulele. These are fairly cheep ukes but for the price $59nzd new are a great ukulele that are recommended by most ukulele players and teachers for beginners.
For $8 I decided to grab it even though it was in need of some TLC

As you can see from the images...

1. Chipped Paint:: It has some paint chipped off places. I intend to get some clear superglue to fill and sand smooth. Want to keep the aged worn look What type do I need. Where to get in NZ
2. Cracks In Paint:: Could I fill these with clear superglue to?
3. Cracks In Fingerboard: Intend to fill with black superglue and apply lemon oil. Where to get black superglue in NZ.
4. Tuners: Fill and drill new holes and find new screws.

Any other advice would be helpfull
To me this ukulele is worth fixing as a fun project and give away to someone willing to learn.

[Mark McLean]

For $8 I probably would have grabbed it too.
For the fingerboard, start with a rub down using superfine (0000) steel wool over the frets and the timber. Then a good vacuum, followed by some oil. I would be surprised if you need superglue for the FB. I can't see the cracks - but maybe I am missing something? Is it just pores of the timber? If you do need to use CA glue on the fingerboard I would avoid black. Instead use some 400 grit sandpaper to raise a bit of dust from the FB timber and fill the cracks with that, then use clear CA glue (superglue) on top. It will give an invisible repair.

[mickeyj4j]

For $8 I probably would have grabbed it too.
For the fingerboard, start with a rub down using superfine (0000) steel wool over the frets and the timber. Then a good vacuum, followed by some oil.

Good idea. Part of a good fretboard clean

I would be surprised if you need superglue for the FB. I can't see the cracks - but maybe I am missing something? Is it just pores of the timber?

It could be. The above cleaning will fix that.

If you do need to use CA glue on the fingerboard I would avoid black. Instead use some 400 grit sandpaper to raise a bit of dust from the FB timber and fill the cracks with that, then use clear CA glue (superglue) on top. It will give an invisible repair.

That is cool. A luither told me once he repared a fretoard that was cracked with black CA sperglue. May have been different color timber..

Thanks for these helpful ideas.

Now to find the right type of clear CA glue to fill the paint chips. Am thinking thicker type would be best.

[kiwigeo]

That is cool. A luither told me once he repared a fretoard that was cracked with black CA sperglue. May have been different color timber..

It would have been an ebony fretboard. Rosewood is an open pored wood so you're probably looking at the pores.