Lacquer chipping

[Steven Williams]

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this. I build ukuleles mainly and use ungeared friction keys, usually Gotoh. The lacquer around the tuning key holes fractures and chips very easily. When I install the keys for the first time and then remove them, the area around the holes chips and crumbles sometimes.
Is there any way of preventing this? I use West System epoxy to fill the grain and Behlen's instrument lacquer over that. I'd like to start using Pegheds geared tuning pegs but I don't think there is they use a bushing on the top surface of the headstock which would make upgrading from Gotoh to Pegheds difficult.
What is it? Bad adhesion? Any ideas?

Thanks,
Steve

[Clay Schaeffer]

For an area as small as the face of the peghead you could use the epoxy as a finish and buff it to a high gloss. It might be a bit tougher.
Do you slightly chamfer the edges of the tuning key holes before finishing?

[Michael Lewis]

From your description it sounds like you have too much finish on the instrument. The thicker lacquer is the easier it chips.