Removing tiny scratches in the finish

[DreX]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

This is the stuff I use:
http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G172...1406686903&sr=8-1&keywords=polishing+compound

It is slightly abrasive and really good for refreshing dull finishes. I don't have swirls, not sure how the OP gets his.

I have that, and a few other Meguiars compounds on hand. The self-reducing, extra heavy compound with the orbital polisher (you're instructed to use this compound with a machine polisher) got rid of some rather deep scratches really well. I'm thinking my scratch problem must have come from little fragments on the polishing pad, though I have no idea where they came from, or how I'd prevent them from getting there in the future.

Supposedly we should be worried that Meguiars products might have silicone in them, and that's supposed to be bad for the wood. I make sure not to get any globs of it in the screw holds, but otherwise I'll take my chances because it does work a lot better than the "shop-safe" alternative compound I've tried.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

Tiny scratches can be cured by banging the guitar into a few walls, dropping it off guitar stands repeatedly, wearing sharp objects while playing, and dropping it down a flight of stairs. You will never see the tiny scratches again.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

Tiny scratches can be cured by banging the guitar into a few walls, dropping it off guitar stands repeatedly, wearing sharp objects while playing, and dropping it down a flight of stairs. You will never see the tiny scratches again.

That's a good one!!


I absolutely agree that hand polishing will do a way better finishing job than machine polishing.

When wet sanding I have found that adding several drops of dish soap to the water works wonders.

 

[Securb]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

Hit your local automotive store. There are a ton of products that professional detailers and body men use to remove swirl marks and fine scratches.

 

[kilphody]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

That's a good one!!


I absolutely agree that hand polishing will do a way better finishing job than machine polishing.

When wet sanding I have found that adding several drops of dish soap to the water works wonders.

Thanks Doc. I'm up to 1500 today and will try this.

PC

 

[DreX]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

I just tried D'Addario Planet Waves restore, it seems OK, and it claims to remove swirls and light scartches, so it must be abrasive, but.. I think it might have a wax component that sort of superficially fills the scratches, because it looked like it was working amazing, until I cleaned up the surface with naptha, then suddenly the scratches reappeared. I get the feeling it's probably a finer grit than Ultimate Compound. The bottle also says "Safe on all common guitar finishes" which makes me wonder about it's effectiveness. I'd rather hear that a compound is abrasiveness to the point of being at least a little unsafe.

Hand polishing in general seemed to do a lot better than the orbital buffer. They say "don't apply pressure, let the compound do the work", but it seems to me that the distinction of hand polishing is the opposite of that; more focused pressure and less overall movement.

I've loaded up the guitar with three Little '59's, spin a split, and bass and treble TBX controls. All I have to do is string it up.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

The thing that hides a scratch the best is a counterscratch.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

Drex, you really need to step back, chill out for a while, and leave you flippers off your guitars.

Sandpaper against swirls? Seriously?


As for new thoughts: Planet Waves? Are you insane? You can't let any of their products near anything you like. Seriously.

A non-abrasive compound is suitable to remove swirls. The swirls are so shallow that a compound melting the surface a bit will do nicely. Stop putting random crap on your guitars. Pick specific products that do a specific thing, not some witch-mix that does nothing except dissolve dirt (if you are lucky).

You need to have a close look at the rags you are using. Are you sure they are clean enough and weren't exposed to dust?

 

[DreX]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

Drex, you really need to step back, chill out for a while, and leave you flippers off your guitars.

Sandpaper against swirls? Seriously?

What's this about sand paper? The closest I've come on this guitar was 1500 grit micromesh.

As for new thoughts: Planet Waves? Are you insane? You can't let any of their products near anything you like. Seriously.

What have you heard about their products? Archer250 suggested it on page 1. My impression is that it was more of a wax, and as generally ineffective as anything else. Maybe I should try toothpaste, dentist approved.

A non-abrasive compound is suitable to remove swirls. The swirls are so shallow that a compound melting the surface a bit will do nicely. Stop putting random crap on your guitars. Pick specific products that do a specific thing, not some witch-mix that does nothing except dissolve dirt (if you are lucky).

You suggested Ultimate Compound on page 1, it's good stuff, but what non-abrasive surface melting agent would you recommend? As for trying random stuff, trial and error is the only way to figure out half of this stuff.

You need to have a close look at the rags you are using. Are you sure they are clean enough and weren't exposed to dust?

Various micro-fiber cloths, some very fine and others more rag-like in appearance. I switch them out often and I don't use more than one compound to one cloth.

I've had even less luck removing scratches from pick guards, in the rare cases where it couldn't be replaced altogether. Is that supposed to so difficult as well?

 

[Archer250]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

As for new thoughts: Planet Waves? Are you insane? You can't let any of their products near anything you like. Seriously.

Well ****. Considering I also use their strap and cables and am currently using D'Addario strings.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

Well ****. Considering I also use their strap and cables and am currently using D'Addario strings.

I was hyperboling.

But they have a lot of Neuschrott like we say in Germany, and I really don't like all these "maintenance products" that have literally random properties and aren't marked in what exactly they do.

 

[DreX]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

A non-abrasive compound is suitable to remove swirls. The swirls are so shallow that a compound melting the surface a bit will do nicely.

So I've been trying to find info on something that will "melt" imperfections out of the finish, something which is apparently called an "amalgamator", but information is scarce. This doesn't appear to be a real common procedure, but apparently it has been done. Which amalgamator product do you use for melting the finish? Does it only work for nitro or poly?

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

I think Drex's head might explode if he ever got a guitar with a nitro finish.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

you forgot to spit on them.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

you forgot to spit on them.

Sentence of the week for me

 

[Aceman]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

I spit on my guitars to clean a little smudge off now and again….

 

[uOpt]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

ScratchX definitely has some melt-like properties.

 

[DreX]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

A few people here are taking the view that you have too much enlightened perspective on the world to let some tiny scratches bother you, but I doubt you'd be willing to buy a marred floor model for full price.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

In this thread, the consensus appears to be that hand polishing is the default choice.

 

[DreX]

Re: Removing tiny scratches in the finish

I think Drex's head might explode if he ever got a guitar with a nitro finish.

I'm still here... you can address me directly.