Polishing old nitro laquer

[tschebbi]

I'm just inspecting my 1980 Standard sunburst and wonder if there's anything I could try to glossen up the finish. All I ever did was the occasional cleaning with regular guitar polish. It got a lot of hard play in the 80s and it sure shows. Nowadays it's mostly showing its beauty hanging off the wall. I don't mind the normal nitro weather checking at all, but there are a lot of micro scratches all over the top and the finish is somewhat dull.

Tried to make a picture, but really couldn't make it show. It's somewhat like these tiny surface scratches on a car, which would go away after some polishing. Can someone recommend any products which are safe to try on nitro? Furniture polish might not be strong enough to actually remove some material. I would guess a light car polish might work, but I really don't want to experiment there, I'd rather leave it as is.

Cheers,

Juergen

[murkat]

with old checked finishes, you run in the possibilities using a liquid type polishing compound

imbedding, seeping into the checked areas which could yield an unpleasing affect.

Buffing compounds with a buffing arbor would do the trick thou when done properly.

Zymol is good stuff. http://www.zymol.com/

Stike?

[Stike]

with old checked finishes, you run in the possibilities using a liquid type polishing compound

imbedding, seeping into the checked areas which could yield an unpleasing affect.

Buffing compounds with a buffing arbor would do the trick thou when done properly.

Zymol is good stuff. http://www.zymol.com/

Stike?

I was thinking the same thing re. cracks and compounds.

[tbonesullivan]

have you tried using Virtuoso polish yet? Everyon seems to be raving about it's rejuvenation abilities. Or maybe the Gibson pump polish, which purports to be made specifically for nitro, and even has a small amount of lacquer mixed in to "seal" the finish.

My heritage H535 pickguard looked horrible (and had been removed from the guitar) when I got it. It wasn't shiny at all, and I thought I would have to get it refinished. A little Gibson pump polish and it now looks incredible.

[Jimbilly]

Virtuoso Premium cleaner is really good, - I'd trust their polish, I intend to buy some. I have been using Griots Garage fine hand polish, I've never had any problems, they use it on ridiculous value vintage race cars, so I think it's safe for a guitar with the same type of paint. www.griotsgarage.com

[Armitage]

I was talking to the Gibson rep with a bottle of Gibson pump polish in my hand... and he asked my what it was for, and I said just some Les Pauls and he said "Good, I don't recommend it for anything but Gibson guitars, the lacquer in it can may poly guitars look cloudy after a while." Of course it doesn't say that on the bottle.

[tschebbi]

All good comments, thanks guys. Haven't thought about the liquid compound thing, there are a lot of cracks for sure, so good point. Think I'll stay away from a buffing arbor for the time being...

Tried the Gibson polish, didn't really work for me. The Virtuoso stuff looks promising though, will give that a try.

[zenmindbeginner]

You should just get the 3M polishing papers and see what wearing out your arm will do for the finish.

At the very end, Murkat and Stike's advice on the buffing is the only sure way to get all of the fine swirls and micro scratches to go away.

I've not tried it, but 3M Finesse-It or Meguiar's ScratchX and a lot of elbow grease is supposed to work.

The problem is... who offers guitar buffing services? You'll probably have to do it yourself.

[murkat]

The problem is... who offers guitar buffing services?

I do

[G Man]

I've used then Meguire's Scratch X on an old acoustic to great effect. Did a great job at bringing back an old nitro finish that was really bad. I also know of people who have used it to gloss a satin finished guitar. Unfortunately, since that time I have read that there is a question as to whether or not Scratch X has silicone in it. If it does, or so they say, it can make any finish repairs down the road very complicated.

[ZR]

I use Meguires 3,2,1 system, not sure if that's what it's called now, but works pretty well although I'd probably try something different next time just to compare.

On the flip side, how would you "satinize" a glossy guitar?

[murkat]

Well, at first, the GCS would take a 3M doby pad to a nice finish, and call it "Custom Authentic".

Now, the special "VOS" treatment is just red wheel buff out and

the secret cocktail rubbed on it while the lacquer is still warm from the

red wheel buffing, But it all varies on the push for the number of that day.

Wet sand and red wheel buff will do a nice satin style finish.