How to restore shine on bridge and body?

[xypher]

My strat's bridge and saddles are far from shiny as of now.. Its more than 10years old anyway. I am planning to get a good photo of it.. so i have to clean it up.

How do i remove rust and restore shine to the bridge and saddles?

Also, how do i restore the shine on the finish? Its kinda dull now, but only noticeable when put beside a new strat.

Thanks

(Im quite a perfectionist when it comes to expensive stuff). :biglaugh:

 

[WhoFan]

Re: How to restore shine on bridge and body?

with rusty pridge parts i've used 3-in-1 oil and WD40 stuff.... rubbing a soft cloth should be all that is needed to get the metal bridge chrome to shine after cleaning it up...

if the finnish is poly i've seen the local shop polish used guitars with Brasso metal polish and an auto buffing wheel on a drill.... a little brass polish and the drill makes the finnishes shine

 

[MikeS]

Re: How to restore shine on bridge and body?

I usually disassemble and clean with WD-40 and an old soft toothbrush. I suppose you could use a chrome polish, too, but it would be tough to work into the small crevasses, and you don't want to leave any behind. If the chrome parts are pitted then there isn't much you'll be able to do to remove the pits short of replacing the parts.

For the body, anything a regular guitar polish won't clear up, a polishing compound should work. A less aggressive approach might use a swirl and scratch remover before trying polishing compound.