I will never trust sharpies again!  I used a red sharpie to touch up the red trim on a vintage  White Owl box.  Now the Sharpie ink rubs off on everything, including the clothing of the person holding the guitar (me)!

What is the best way to remedy this?  Ideas I am considering:

  1. Wipe away as much of the Sharpie ink as I can with paper towel, kleenex, etc, then apply some kind of sealant to the box
  2. Use Exacto-knife to score and peel away narrow strips of red trim on the outer paper (on which the Sharpie ink was applied) then apply red acrylic craft paint to replace the red trim lines.  Then probably apply a sealant in this case as well.

Has anyone dealt with this?  How can I save this vintage box without messing it up more?

Thanks in advance,

/Mark

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If you need to remove the sharpie, try Isopropyl alcohol first.
Goof Off might work, too.

I can't say that this would work specifically to your issue, but I would try using some Formsby's Tung Oil. Put a small amount in a container, amd use a Q-tip as an applicator. Roll it across the area that you put the sharpie on. Let it dry.

Formsby's is a tough sealant, and it should harden over the ink and keep it from smearing.

Just an idea.......

Let it dry... a LONG time.. Then lightly coat with spray lacquer... let it dry, and add a few more coats... good luck!

What an interesting thread, something I haven't as yet encountered but very handy to know before hand!  I am assuming that a sharpie is like a Texta (permanent Marker).   I have used the isopropyl for removing sticker gum and the like or even sparingly using Orange Power (but be careful it removes everything if too much is used!)  Can't wait to find out the definitive answer...........  Just a though and as I said I haven't encountered this before but what about small dabs of "Nail Polish Remover" Acetone, the real stuff, not some of the new NON acetone remover that they usually sell now???

As always, check a small place before going at the whole thing, just in case this turns out to be ineffective, but I've been working with Sharpie and acrylic in my artwork for decades.  This should work. Rub off the bulk of the Sharpie red with cloth or paper towel that has a hint of lemon oil - You can squeeze lemon rind for it, or use furniture cleaner/polish but extremely sparingly - then hit it w/ rag slightly (barely) dampened in rubbing alcohol.  You can then put artists' acrylic directly on it, no more prep needed.  No need to seal it, but if you want, seal with water based urethane varnish.  Water based varnish will seal very well. As for the sealer, the CB tenor in the images has a copy of the original inside label printed on photo gloss paper, glued to the bottom and sealed w/ wb varnish.

Attachments:
Ok. Wipe the Sharpie off from wher you applied it. Then step away, slowly, from the box. Do not attempt any more "touch up." Leave it alone. Tell people it is a vintage box. Vintage boxes have occasional wear and tear. Do not seek perfection by forcing it. Let it be. Play the snot out of it. Let it suffer pick scratches and dings. Let them be honest battle scars. Display them proudly.

Every guitar I have, even the most expensive, has playing wear and dings. They are like the wrinkles on your face. they tell a story.

Let it be.

Just "wiping off" won't work.  I've wiped and wiped and wiped and it keeps coming up and  leaving marks on clothing. Something more than that must be done or it will be unusable.

I didn't see the need to specify removal methods and liquids, since you already have plenty of those from everyone else...

Understood.  But the stuff definitely must come off!

Agreed. But it's coming off on clothing, your arm, what?? Do you have a T-shirt you're willing to sacrifice?

I am making it for someone else

Sam and I are 'Tru' believers in Tru-Oil (Birchwood Casey).  Over bare wood, boxes, wood and paper, acrylic, and red Sharpie, we have never had a problem.  2,4,10 coats to the gloss you desire, sanding with 600-1500 in between.

If you do buy Tru-Oil, only poke a small hole in the foil with a  guitar string, wipe the threads on the bottleneck with vaseline, and store it upside down in a Solo cup; Our top secret tips to keeping it fresh.  A little goes a long way.  Don't buy quarts.

Thanks

Huntz

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