Fret polish & Guitar polish

[Hank-]

What do you guys use to get the rust(greenish black) residue out from the frets close to the neck pickup? Something that isn't sold by dunlop or planet waves and can be had for much cheaper & is just as effective or better.

Most of my guitars have oxidation taking place on those frets since I dont use that area alot to play on the fretboard.

Also coming to body polish:

On gloss finishes can I use car polish products? I have Formula 1 product lying around the place, was wondering if it has silicone, the darn pricing sticker occupies majority of the important details on the back of bottle. Its this one, http://www.formula1wax.com/products/scratch-restore/scratch-out-reg-liquid

I can get dunlop polish but its too expensive for a tiny bottle. So looking for alternatives. Meguiars I can order online but just making sure before I do.

 

[devastone]

Re: Fret polish & Guitar polish

For the frets and fretboard - http://www.gorgomyte.com/ It's not as cheap as dirt, but if you cut one package up into small squares like the directions say and only use it every few months (shouldn't need it more than that), one package will last quite a while, and it works really well. The other option for the green gunk would be steel wool or something, I'd use the Gorgomyte, easier and safer.

As far as polish goes, the link you sent is for scratch and swirl remover, which you can use occasionally, but I wouldn't use it for regular cleaning, if it is non abrasive, then it probably has some heavy duty chemical thing going on to remove scratches and swirls. If you use it on your car I would definitely follow it up with a good wax. I also wouldn't use it on real lacquer finishes! FWIW, the poly they use on guitars is pretty much the same paint they use on cars. You can also use car wax on a guitar if you want, but it would be a pain if you got it in any pickup holes or anywhere, and I don't think it would have any benefit for a guitar since it's not out in the weather, probably just make a mess.

Guitar "polishes" like the Dunlop 65 are more of a cleaner, not a hardcore, abrasive "polish". They work well and a bottle is less than $5 and lasts a really long time. It only takes a few sprays on the front and back, then just wipe it down, you don't need to bath the guitar in it, I've got a bottle here I've had for years. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/acce...-65-polish-and-cleaner?rNtt=dunlop 65&index=3

You can try Pledge or some kind of furniture polish from the grocery store, but they cost the same as the Dunlop stuff. Since the Dunlop polish has a pump sprayer and Pledge, etc... are in cans with propellant, there is probably as much or more actual cleaner in the Dunlop bottle, and the furniture polish probably doesn't clean as well.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Fret polish & Guitar polish

Daddarrio sells feet polishing paper.

 

[Hank-]

Re: Fret polish & Guitar polish

For the frets and fretboard - http://www.gorgomyte.com/ It's not as cheap as dirt, but if you cut one package up into small squares like the directions say and only use it every few months (shouldn't need it more than that), one package will last quite a while, and it works really well. The other option for the green gunk would be steel wool or something, I'd use the Gorgomyte, easier and safer.

As far as polish goes, the link you sent is for scratch and swirl remover, which you can use occasionally, but I wouldn't use it for regular cleaning, if it is non abrasive, then it probably has some heavy duty chemical thing going on to remove scratches and swirls. If you use it on your car I would definitely follow it up with a good wax. I also wouldn't use it on real lacquer finishes! FWIW, the poly they use on guitars is pretty much the same paint they use on cars. You can also use car wax on a guitar if you want, but it would be a pain if you got it in any pickup holes or anywhere, and I don't think it would have any benefit for a guitar since it's not out in the weather, probably just make a mess.

Guitar "polishes" like the Dunlop 65 are more of a cleaner, not a hardcore, abrasive "polish". They work well and a bottle is less than $5 and lasts a really long time. It only takes a few sprays on the front and back, then just wipe it down, you don't need to bath the guitar in it, I've got a bottle here I've had for years. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/acce...-65-polish-and-cleaner?rNtt=dunlop 65&index=3

You can try Pledge or some kind of furniture polish from the grocery store, but they cost the same as the Dunlop stuff. Since the Dunlop polish has a pump sprayer and Pledge, etc... are in cans with propellant, there is probably as much or more actual cleaner in the Dunlop bottle, and the furniture polish probably doesn't clean as well.

I wanted to keep away from steel wool mostly, I even thought of WD40 but it leaves off an oily after effect & a smell of insectide spray lol
I'll give the gorgomyte a shot, if not then the planet waves stuff.

The dunlop bottle I didn't know had a sprayer in it, I figured it was packaged in the same bottle as their lemon oil. The stuff I linked to is something I bought two years back but haven't used on my car yet(next time I wash it I'll use it, lets see if the swirls vanish as advertised lol).
I need something that I don't want to use regularly on daily basis but more like once a month, kinda like a protective layer against swirl marks, minor marks or makes the gloss finish as good as new. Pledge I think contains silicon in it, so not sure about that. Does the dunlop stuff fill/cover scratches on the finish effectively for long?

Planet waves also have detailing package stuff which reminds me more of a car detailing package :knockedou

Daddarrio sells feet polishing paper.

Does it help make tap dancing pedals on stage easy?

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Fret polish & Guitar polish

Oh wow. *fret.*

 

[devastone]

Re: Fret polish & Guitar polish

Definitely try the Gorgomyte for the frets, it does smell a little funky, but doesn't linger and won't make everything oily like WD-40 would.

The Dunlop stuff I linked to is a cleaner, it's not made to fill swirls and scratches, and it works great as a cleaner. If your guitar is newer and has a poly finish, the Formula 1 stuff won't hurt it, like I mentioned, the poly finishes on guitars are pretty much the same as the paint used on cars, so you can use car products on it. Again, probably wouldn't recommend it on a vintage nitro lacquer or oil finish.

It looks like Planet Waves and Dunlop also have carnauba waxes for guitars, Planet Waves also has a polish for removing swirl marks and light scratches but it's pretty much the same as the car stuff you have and waxes you can buy at Advance Auto - http://planetwaves.com/pwProductDet...roductname=Restore_Deep_Cleaning_Cream_Polish

If you use a scratch remover polish on your car or guitar, I would recommend following it with a wax, scratch/swirl removers work by cutting into the paint to smooth out the swirls/scratches. The polish doesn't leave any kind of protective layer, in fact it removes it to get to the paint.

Honestly, I wouldn't get bent out of shape trying to hide/prevent swirl marks, it's pretty much impossible on a guitar that gets played. Maybe polish it every year or two, but they are made to be played.

 

[ChAoZ]

Re: Fret polish & Guitar polish

Dremel or similar rotary tool and a little Meguiar's metal polish,especially for the first clean

 

[metlking]

Re: Fret polish & Guitar polish

Another vote for Gorgomyte on the frets and fretboard......amazing stuff!

 

[Hank-]

Re: Fret polish & Guitar polish

Oh wow. *fret.*

Autocorrect goof ups are always fun, unexpected & rare.

Definitely try the Gorgomyte for the frets, it does smell a little funky, but doesn't linger and won't make everything oily like WD-40 would.

The Dunlop stuff I linked to is a cleaner, it's not made to fill swirls and scratches, and it works great as a cleaner. If your guitar is newer and has a poly finish, the Formula 1 stuff won't hurt it, like I mentioned, the poly finishes on guitars are pretty much the same as the paint used on cars, so you can use car products on it. Again, probably wouldn't recommend it on a vintage nitro lacquer or oil finish.

It looks like Planet Waves and Dunlop also have carnauba waxes for guitars, Planet Waves also has a polish for removing swirl marks and light scratches but it's pretty much the same as the car stuff you have and waxes you can buy at Advance Auto - http://planetwaves.com/pwProductDet...roductname=Restore_Deep_Cleaning_Cream_Polish

If you use a scratch remover polish on your car or guitar, I would recommend following it with a wax, scratch/swirl removers work by cutting into the paint to smooth out the swirls/scratches. The polish doesn't leave any kind of protective layer, in fact it removes it to get to the paint.

Honestly, I wouldn't get bent out of shape trying to hide/prevent swirl marks, it's pretty much impossible on a guitar that gets played. Maybe polish it every year or two, but they are made to be played.

Thanks man, will give the gorgomyte a shot. The polish thing, I'll dig some info into wax types & see what the planet waves 3 step detailing is about at a store near me.

@bold, its trans black in gloss finish thats the worst offending, rest of my guitars are not that bothersome with marks(sweat, oil, swirls). If it were satin/matte finish I wouldn't even bother with polish.

 

[Hank-]

Re: Fret polish & Guitar polish

Dremel or similar rotary tool and a little Meguiar's metal polish,especially for the first clean

View attachment 78066

Nice work!

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Fret polish & Guitar polish

For a poly-finished guitar, auto polish is acceptable; in fact Taylor recommends Turtle Wax. You can also use a PURE carnauba wax as a protectant.

For a NITRO-finished guitar, auto products will be too harsh and abrasive.

Warm water on soft damp rag will remove 99.9% of contaminants. Buff dry.

The Dunlop 65 Cleaning Kit is actually a good value, and the products are of high quality. I'm still using products from a kit I bought seven years ago, and my collection now totals 61 guitars. There is a fretboard cleaner and a conditioner, carnauba wax, Spritz polish, string cleaner and a small fret polishing cloth. Good stuff for less than $30.00 USD.

Along with the Dunlop products, there are many more for fretboard conditioning. I also use Gerlitz Guitar Honey, and Music Nomad F-One oil. Fret Doctor is highly praised. Many like lemon oil; a little bit of lemon oil on a rag with a small dab of toothpaste will clean the board and polish the frets. How's that for cheap?

For a nitro guitar that has a heavily oxidized finish, Virtuoso Cleaner and Virtuoso Polish are the best I've used. Planet Waves also has a very nice carnauba, and a cleaner that is also good for removing oxidation.

Personally, I would never use Pledge on a guitar.

None of these products are expensive; if used properly, you'll get many, many uses from a small bottle.

Bill