Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: Dmoney on November 22, 2010, 12:15:50 AM
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so.
is there a good way, some easy steps, to go about buffing up say... a faded gibson SG finish into a glossy finish?
what polish/tools/method would be needed etc?
cheers!
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Some sort of car polish and a soft cloth should do the trick?
Best to do it by hand than use tools which may eat through the thin finish...
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I'm occasionally using Briwax on mine (maybe once every 3 or 4 months if I remember or feel like it).
If it is a Gibson faded, make sure you use a darker Briwax. I have two tins of it, the lighter of which which I used to use on bare maple necks. I used this on the SG once and I was left with annoying paler wax residue in the grain. Can't see it from a distance, but it's annoying anyway.
I got a darker tin to finish the Explorer I stripped, and when I used this on the SG it fixed the earlier problems. Coming along nicely now. I wouldn't say it's going to get me to a "glossy" finish, but it is developing a nice glow.(Incidentally, I use the darker one on maple necks as well now...)
And I'd definitely do it by hand - the original colour on mine is already wearing off the back of the neck from just playing it on and off for a year...
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Cheers for the help guys.
I'll get some pics of the guitar i want to work on put up later (NGD!)
I'm apprehensive about getting stuck in until i'm sure i have a good understanding of what to do, from what to use for what exactly, right down to just how hard i need to rub!
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T-cut will do the trick, but bear in mind that the matt finishes on things like Gibson Fadeds tend not to be 100% "flat", so it doesn't turn out looking quite like a proper "mirror" gloss finish - more like a slightly rippled pond!
And, like the wax Andy mentioned, the T-cut can leave a bit of residue in the grain if you're unlucky.
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sounds like I need one product to clean and maybe bring out some colour then another to polish up what gets revealed?
am I heading in the right direction?
I'm worried about getting something that is just too abrasive or something
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Use T-cut on a cloth first - shouldn't be too hard to get a shine, especially on a nitro finish like an SG, so there's not much danger of rub-throughs unless you're really aggressive.
http://www.carplan.co.uk/index.cfm?category=58 (http://www.carplan.co.uk/index.cfm?category=58)
Then use a clean cloth and silicone-free furniture polish to get rid of any residue and really bring out the shine.
That's what I do, anyway. :)
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T-cut in my mind, just feels like it would be aggressive, which is the main reason im concerned about using it.
I just found this, which might be a one stop solution as far as cleaning products goes...
http://www.dv247.com/guitars/fender-instrument-care-kit--41213
im gonna have a read through that tcut link.
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I've used T-cut many times over the years. Must admit I've had a few rub-throughs, but usually when I was doing some kind of spot repair and over-sanded the surrounding area. :roll:
It is fairly abrasive, but much gentler than something like Brasso (never used that on a guitar, but it will, for example, take gold plate off hardware quite easily).
That Fender kit might do the trick, never tried it, but it might be a bit too gentle to shine-up a matt finish.
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t-cut can be a bit too agressive if you use it too dry. It will definately be too agressive for a faded if used with a buffing machine - but thats normally an effective way to quickly buff up a finish
but t-cut should be fine for this if you keep it moist:
I use a damp cloth, usually a bit of an old t-shirt wrapped around some wadding so it fits in the hand nicely (similar to the way french polishers work http://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/img/prods/french-polish-big.jpg.)
i also spritz the surface with a little water first for lubrication - I buff just till it starts to drag which shows the t-cut is drying off and could start to leave bigger scratches. then i either apply another spritz of water and more t-cut or buff it all off with a cheap yellow duster to remove residue and see how i am getting on
change the buffing rag when needed
T-cut isnt really the best buffing compound but it does work - if you want better look for something like Meguiars, farecla, mezerna. they tend to do more 'grades', basically split into cutting compound and finishing compound
http://www.farecla.com/?screenID=125#/125
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thanks for the tips.
do you use the T Cut scratch remover? or the T Cut original?
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original - just because i am more used to working with it really...
but i am much preferring the more professional stuff i mentioned recently for the odd guitar i finish myself or need to polish up
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Ummm... Wez/Philly
A Gibson Faded doesn't seem to have any clear coats. What you got seems to be basically the colour coat... do you really want to be using a cutting compound to buff it up? :?
That was my reasoning, anyway, so I went the wax route instead.
By the way Dmoney - when I use Briwax, I do put it on with 0000 wire wool, but LOADS more gently than if I was doing a piece of furniture. In fact, next time I put it on the SG I'll probably use a cloth instead - I think mine's seen enough wire wool already :lol:
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the way i understand it is the TCut will remove the fine surface layer blemishes and restore some colour. Then you polish that up to a shine.
your 0000 wire wool will be cutting gentle into the finish right? Its just that wax doesn't have any cutting compound in it.
The finish is a thin nitro lacquer
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Ummm... Wez/Philly
A Gibson Faded doesn't seem to have any clear coats. What you got seems to be basically the colour coat... do you really want to be using a cutting compound to buff it up? :?
Ah, didn't realise. :oops:
I assumed it was the same as my old Pete Townshend SG - that was a satin finish but there were definitely clear coats!
Having said that, I think gwEm has polished a Faded V? Could be wrong.
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thats why i am suggesting much finer finishing compounds or at least thinning the t-cut a bit.... but i have not buffed up a faded so as always - test somewhere discreet if possible (not so easy on that guitar - underneath the finger rest maybe)
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Now I've seen the pics in the NGD thread - I think I'd lean towards a cutting compound instead. On the Faded I have, it feels like bare wood, waxing seemed kinda sensible. The pics of yours look like it's got more of a finish on it... and plonking wax on top of a finish seems a bit odd to me! :lol:
I suppose it all depends how glossy you want - I'd be tempted just to polish it with a soft dry cloth for a while to see what happens. But then, I'd only be after a "righteous glow" myself...
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Having said that, I think gwEm has polished a Faded V? Could be wrong.
yeah, i have..
theres no clear coats. the t-cut will polish it nicely, but since the grain is very open you'll get residue.. and i still haven't figured a way to remove it completely.
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this 333 is very smooth. no open grain. I think there is a thin coat
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The pics of yours look like it's got more of a finish on it...
cross posting with the other thread - but the different look is down to the fact the 333 has a maple body, not mahogany like the other faded series. Maple is smooth and does not have the open pores mahogany does
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so you can still expect it to be thin
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I've commented on the NGD thread but to be dull and repeat, I was recommended to use Virtuoso cleaner and polisher but then again, my guitar was in great shape already, I wanted something to get any gunge off a nitro finish and then to polish thereafter. If you google them you'll get their site easy enough. European distribution is not great but I ordered polish from their site and it arrived in 4 or 5 days. My Brother had got me some cleaner whilst he was in the USA but the shop he went to in Philly didn't have polish in stock on that day- hence my ordering. Just another thing to add to the conversation.