"Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

[fretburner]

How do hide - or better yet, get rid - of those scratches on the finish without refinishing my guitar's back?

Does Dunlop's Carnauba Wax really help me on this? Or even the more expensive Beeswax?

Thanks!

 

[PoorMan]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

Depending on the severity of the scratches (and avoiding colorsanding) I like Meguiar's. Assuming you have a polyurethane or lacquer finish try the steps below.

1. Fine Cut Cleaner (removes light surface scratches) Keep this away from the edges of the guitar because you can go through the paint.
2. Swirl Remover (removes swirls from Fine Cut Cleaner, polishes and protects)
3. Show Car Glaze (This will fill mild surface scratches and haze)

If you have very light scratches you can skip the Fine Cut Cleaner alltogether. But what kind of guitar and finish do you have?

 

[fretburner]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

Depending on the severity of the scratches (and avoiding colorsanding) I like Meguiar's. Assuming you have a polyurethane or lacquer finish try the steps below.

1. Fine Cut Cleaner (removes light surface scratches) Keep this away from the edges of the guitar because you can go through the paint.
2. Swirl Remover (removes swirls from Fine Cut Cleaner, polishes and protects)
3. Show Car Glaze (This will fill mild surface scratches and haze)

If you have very light scratches you can skip the Fine Cut Cleaner alltogether. But what kind of guitar and finish do you have?

it's nitro.

sorry i forgot that very important detail. i don't think it's that deep. not sure if it even hit the paint.

 

[Bludave]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

For Nitro I would try 3M Cleaner wax. It comes in a variety of formulas. I would use the medium oxidation formula. If this does not take out the scratches, try a lightcompound first and then use the cleaner wax.

 

[fretburner]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

For Nitro I would try 3M Cleaner wax. It comes in a variety of formulas. I would use the medium oxidation formula. If this does not take out the scratches, try a lightcompound first and then use the cleaner wax.

those 3M stuff on ACE hardware right?

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

Make sure to avoid anything that has silicone in it. It can make any future finish repairs almost impossible.

 

[fretburner]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

Make sure to avoid anything that has silicone in it. It can make any future finish repairs almost impossible.

noted.

i guess the carnauba wax would be useless eh?

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

What I've found, at least with cars, is that when you use wax on scratches the wax tends to get stuck in them and when it dries it turns white. It ends up making it look worse unless you can do some good buffing on it.

I assume the same would apply to a guitar finish. I've never really tried it, though.

 

[fretburner]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

What I've found, at least with cars, is that when you use wax on scratches the wax tends to get stuck in them and when it dries it turns white. It ends up making it look worse unless you can do some good buffing on it.

I assume the same would apply to a guitar finish. I've never really tried it, though.

so carnauba wax is a no no, but the 3M cleaner wax is okay?

 

[PoorMan]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

it's nitro.

sorry i forgot that very important detail. i don't think it's that deep. not sure if it even hit the paint.

Thn I'd start with Swirl Remover and move on to Show Car Glaze. If that doesn't work try the Fine Cut Cleaner with very light pressure. Followed by Swirl Remover then Show Car Glaze.

 

[leadlix]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

nitro finishes breath so anything you rub on the finish you rub it into finish
as well. a polyurethane or polyester finish you can polish all you what with anything you want and it never penetrate to the color coat.

 

[Bludave]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

those 3M stuff on ACE hardware right?

This stuff. Although I prefer the medium oxidation!

http://www.autogeek.net/3m39006.html

 

[fretburner]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

thanks all!

i guess i'll check those things out very soon.

 

[SoCalSteve]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

I just used some of Meguiar's 'Cleaner Wax' on my Wolfgang this morning and it shined 'er right up. Removes fine swirl marks.

 

[fretburner]

Re: "Hiding" those scratches - Carnauba Wax?

Thn I'd start with Swirl Remover and move on to Show Car Glaze. If that doesn't work try the Fine Cut Cleaner with very light pressure. Followed by Swirl Remover then Show Car Glaze.

I saw a Turtle Wax Scratch and Swirl Remover (http://www.turtlewax.com/).

Will that work on NITRO finish?

I also read the warning at the back that it shouldn't be used on some surfaces like wood. Though I don't think the scratch even got to the paint, if it did get to the paint, it should still be safe to use on my guitar right?

Thanks!