Best way to buff out surface scratches? Car Wax?

A

arcana

New member
Hey all,

I have no idea about this sort of stuff (for cars either), but how would one go about removing the surface scratches from a guitar body (Standard Black).

In the light you can see thousands of fine hairline scratches in circular patterns. I have upgraded my pickups to Seymour Duncan (distortion/sentient O Yea Cmon!) also replaced the 3-way switch, tone/vol controllers/knobs and would now like to give the body a make over for a mirror like finish.

A fine turtle wax or something? or is there something more appropriate for guitars?

Cheers ppl!
 
Re: Best way to buff out surface scratches? Car Wax?

I have some Meguiar's ScratchX 2.0 seems to do the job pretty well.
 
Re: Best way to buff out surface scratches? Car Wax?

Lake Placid Blues said:
This stuff:http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/g19216-ultimate-polish/

Its not a wax. Its a polishing compound. Works with both machine buffing or by hand using a micro fiber towel.
Click to expand...
This Meguiar's formula does have some oils, but that's to the good here. I would use a very fine (as in, "not coarse") polishing compound, gently buffed. Not a whole lot of muscle needed here; if you buff with a coarse compound, or for too long with a machine, you might burn through the finish.

The circular patterns you're describing seem to indicate someone came at it with a power buffer before. Tread lightly.
 
Re: Best way to buff out surface scratches? Car Wax?

For really fine scratches, I use toothpaste. It takes a while and won't touch deep ones but it works on those annoying fine ones. Even if you use a more aggressive polish, it pays to follow with the toothpaste.
 
Re: Best way to buff out surface scratches? Car Wax?

Use the Virtuoso Cleaner, followed by the Virtuoso Polish. Guitar Center carries it. The Planet Waves guitar cleaner and their Carnauba Wax is a good system too.

Bill
 
Re: Best way to buff out surface scratches? Car Wax?

Thanks for the advice all. I had a look at the Meguiar's products and notice they also do a 'Swirl Remover', might be worth a try too.
On the back of my guitar I might try a few patches with each, toothpaste too, see how it comes out. The added bonus with toothpaste is that your guitar will be left minty fresh with no worry of plaque build up when playing the guitar with your teeth lol.

Also going to get some microfiber clothes, I've got a 19 year old Jackson RR3 as well that's in immaculate condition but could do with a clean up as far as surface scratches go.
 
Re: Best way to buff out surface scratches? Car Wax?

surface-scratches.jpg

Here is a before shot showing the terrible circular surface scratches. I should have delivery in a couple of days so will post the results.
 
Re: Best way to buff out surface scratches? Car Wax?

Never use car wax....

However, Stew-Mac does make really nice products to remove swirls...

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_an..._Polishing/ColorTone_Polishing_Compounds.html

Small bottle Swirl Remover, 4-oz. bottle $7.95 Item # 1847

But I recommend the full kit...

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_an...Polishing_Compounds_Set_of_4_small_sizes.html

Followed with a foam polishing pad that you can use with a drill...

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_an...uffing_and_Polishing/Foam_Polishing_Pads.html

Purchasing Stew-Mac products can seem to be expensive ($27), but they will last a life time, is in the long run cheaper than Meguiar's Carnuaba Car Plus wax ($14.99), and doesn't harm your guitar finish with in-product silicone chemical.
 
Re: Best way to buff out surface scratches? Car Wax?

ScratchX might not be suitable for the really fine swirls. Also it contains silicone, so you wouldn't want to use it on paint that you might want to overpaint (or repair in the case of nitro) later.

For really thick poly you might want to switch attack mode and get a plastic polishing kit. The #2 of these ones is excellent:
http://www.amazon.com/Novus-Plastic...8647913&sr=8-1&keywords=plastic+polishing+kit
 
Re: Best way to buff out surface scratches? Car Wax?

arcana said:
The added bonus with toothpaste is that your guitar will be left minty fresh with no worry of plaque build up when playing the guitar with your teeth lol.
Click to expand...
:laugh2:
 
Re: Best way to buff out surface scratches? Car Wax?

Well, Planet Waves cleaners turned up today. So put them to work.
guitar-cleaner.jpg

And after using all three with about an hours worth of hand action, here it is!
I put a fair bit of effort in to it, my hand hurts so that guitar better be grateful and play me a nice tune.
guitar-cleaned01.jpg

I would say 50% better! The radius of scratches doesn't go as far. Also I have it directly under the light for the photo. Sitting on its stand it is shiny as hell.
I am still waiting for the scratch 2.0 and ScratchX Swirl Remover, so will give these a try on the back once received.
 
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Re: Best way to buff out surface scratches? Car Wax?

I use car stuff. And I clean with lemon pledge. I just don't care like that....
 
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