srvwannab Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 I made a good buy on a black USA G&L Asat Classic at a pawn shop a while back. I really like the guitar- but, it’s got some some pretty decent scratches on the back and a place where a sticker had eaten through the guitar finish a little bit First, I realize this is amateur hour... I decided to use some rubbing compound on the back of the guitar and it really did a great job on the scratches. Unfortunately, it took the sheen off of the finish in those places where I used most of the compound. I then used some car wax- which made the finish in general shinier, but, I’m left with the haze. I’m not entering the guitar in the concours at Pebble Beach- but, I’d love to know if there is a remedy. (Obviously, other than the whole “quit while you are not ahead thing”) clay bar? An electric car buffer- (which I have, but thankfully have never been stupid enough to use on my car...) Thoughts? Thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadgerDave Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 The rubbing compound was a good start, but it's a coarse abrasive. You need to continue to apply progressively finer abrasives to get the shine back. Stew Mac sells a nice set of four compounds that you can apply with your electric buffer. Just be sure to change the buffer pad (or "bonnet") after each level of abrasive. Stew Mac link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srvwannab Posted October 9, 2017 Author Share Posted October 9, 2017 6 minutes ago, BadgerDave said: The rubbing compound was a good start, but it's a coarse abrasive. You need to continue to apply progressively finer abrasives to get the shine back. Stew Mac sells a nice set of four compounds that you can apply with your electric buffer. Just be sure to change the buffer pad (or "bonnet") after each level of abrasive. Stew Mac link Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serial Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 Don't use waxes. I use Micro Mesh polishes and wet/dry papers.. You can buy it in craft and hobby shops now under the Revell label.. Has up to 12,000 grit paper which makes things really shine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srvwannab Posted October 9, 2017 Author Share Posted October 9, 2017 Which grits would you buy to go from haze to shine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killerteddybear Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 1000, 4000, 8000. Wet sanding is a must. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff R Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 If you're scared a rotary buffer or higher-grit wet-sand papers will get away from you and get you into color and/or down to wood, these are pretty easy to use in a wet-sand style and get very good results. http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Supplies/Sanding_and_Polishing/Sandpaper_and_Finishing_Papers/Micro-Mesh_Soft_Touch_Pads.html You may want to follow with a high-grade shiner like the Meguiar's mentioned above or 3M Finesse, which is what I use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studio Custom Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 I am a 3M fan, I use their compounds and polishes. Their Imperial Hand Glaze is finishing polish used on most exotic cars, it gives you that soaking wet look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveL Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 I use meguiars... regular grade, then the scratch x... which is the finer stuff... If you are more ambitious... Stew mac sells a foam buff wheel with a bit that goes on your power drill... works very well but you have to be careful and have a steady hand. I was going thru a phase where I was removing Gibson min-etunes... the backing of the mini tune had a circuit pattern that got imprinted into the finish on the rear of the headstock... (if the whole monstrosity wasn't bad enough). wet stand and buff with that wheel worked beautifully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ting Ho Dung Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 This guy looks happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
currypowder Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Haynie Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 murkat has done some pro polish jobs with the same kind of buffer they use in guitar factories. You might want to send your guitar to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srvwannab Posted October 10, 2017 Author Share Posted October 10, 2017 On 10/9/2017 at 7:49 AM, DaveL said: I use meguiars... regular grade, then the scratch x... which is the finer stuff... If you are more ambitious... Stew mac sells a foam buff wheel with a bit that goes on your power drill... works very well but you have to be careful and have a steady hand. I was going thru a phase where I was removing Gibson min-etunes... the backing of the mini tune had a circuit pattern that got imprinted into the finish on the rear of the headstock... (if the whole monstrosity wasn't bad enough). wet stand and buff with that wheel worked beautifully. Thank you. I used the Maguires Scratch X with the polishing ball thingy and got great results. Again, I’d probably do it differently if I were going for perferct (frankly, if I were going for perfect, I’d send it to Murkat )- but, for what I was going for, this worked perfectly and relatively painlessly. Although, I don’t know how the guy avoided a spray pattern of a good twenty feet with the polish like I got...sorry, honey!) Edited to add- you can’t get around showing wear on a black guitar. You either look at them, or play them. And, if you are going to play them, it IS going to show. I prefer to play them. Again, thanks to all for the education! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texwest Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 I had this very same problem recently. I buffed out a scratch on my 92 hamer Sunburst and ended up with the milky haze. I had these polishing papers from stewmac and decided to try them. Did it with no wet sanding and it turned out great. Went from 1200 to 4000 to 6000 to 8000 and it looked like new. http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Tools_by_Job/Tools_for_Fretting/3M_Flexible_Polishing_Papers.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottcald Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 On 10/9/2017 at 10:05 AM, Ting Ho Dung said: This guy looks happening. I like the fire hazard/laundry pile/neck support on the "bench". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kizanski Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 How to buff a Heritage: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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