A repair magnet in the bottom of the cup holds it to the metal lacquer can so it won't spill. Buffing a guitar is often the favorite part of the whole guitar-building process. A quick wipe down with a microfiber cloth after each playing session goes a long way toward keeping your guitar clean. Start by wiping this away in the correct order with a damp cloth and let dry with a cloth. Will Kelly, VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE'S monthly repair columnist (Shop of Hard Knocks) shows you how to safely and successfully buff and polish the finish on y. FINE SAND THE CURED LACQUER SURFACE. Not a filler, cover-up, nor temporary fix. I also find that when the lacquer on the back of a neck is left uncleaned, it can feel increasingly sticky and slow after being played for a while. I'm Brad, and I make how-to videos. You will need to polish the lacquer very carefully so you do not rub through. Apply by hand and wipe off to restore your guitar finish like a pro! Nobody will ever agree on what to use. Put a small amount on the cloth and work the cloth gently in a circular motion in small areas on the surfaces of the guitar, then wipe off and buff with a soft, dry cloth. In this video we are covering how to polish your lacquer using th. Work in sections this way. Ian Davlin, master repair tech from Lark Street Music shows the right way to fix a guitar finish blemish on this R9 Gibson Les Paul. 2) Wet/dry sandpaper-- 400 or 600 grit to start, 800, 1000, 2000 to finish. If you're buffing a large surface, you can use extra polish as needed for other sections of lacquer. Then in between string changes, do a thorough clean with your favorite product on the chrome and body. 4) A bucket of soapy water. As soon as the lacquer needs to be cleaned, repeat the process in manageable sections. They don't fade or discolor, and are difficult to scratch or nick. . That's itquick and simple. Retail price: $5.50. If you have any stubborn dirt remaining, use Naphtha (available at your local hardware store). Polishing a gloss finish. To begin, fill a half-full gas tank half-way with lacquer thinner to clean your catalytic converter. Traveling at a fast rate of speed will take you roughly 150 miles. With a small artist's brush, I place a drop of . Here's the fix: I poured a nickel-sized drop of lacquer onto the bottom of a plastic dairy carton, and let it sit for an hour to thicken. In this video, he shows . Run the engine for around 30 minutes at 2500 RPMs if you don't want to pay someone else to do it for you. This really depends on how old the guitar is and what type of finish it has. Spray four consistent coatings of clear lacquer on the surface, allowing one hour between each application. There are a few steps to repairing a lacquer crack. Start with a coarse grit and work your way down to softer grits until you reach the desired level of smoothness. If you're using a polisher, feel free to apply the polish directly to the foam pad. Size: 4 oz. Poly finishes have a ton of advantages: Cured polyurethane finish is not toxic. Rubbing compounds and fine sandpaper can be found at automotive supply, home improvement, or craft stores. PRS Guitar Care Bundle. It's a great degreaser, and evaporates too so doesn't leave any oily residue on the guitar's hardware. After that, take a day trip somewhere. I put a small amount of acetone into a plastic mixing cup. Start your sequence with either 400 or 600 or 800, depending on how much orange peel or pebbliness you need to sand smooth. Traditionally, guitarists and techs have used automotive-style abrasive compounds such as T-Cut, Farcla G3 and machine polish to buff out lacquer finishes. Even better, polyurethane is easier and less time-consuming to apply than nitro. Lacquer, polyurethane, polyester (poly), even nitro / nitrocellulose finishes - for the best results ever. If there are a lot of light scratches and swirl marks in a gloss finish, you need to decide if it's worth buffing them out. 3) A sponge for a sanding block. Spread a pea-sized amount of correcting polish on the lacquer. Just wipe your guitar down everytime you use it. First, use 400-grit sandpaper to smooth out any major defects, and then go on to 600-grit sandpaper to sand the whole surface. Smooth down the surface using silicon carbide sandpaper while using water to lubricate the surface. If you're using a different kind of finish the steps will be the same. If you polish too hard, you could end up with bare wood. Take special care on the edges at the corners of the furniture. Solvent-based furniture cleaner, apply sparingly to a short section of wood on a dry rag, then wipe on a gently wiping surface. There may be a high gloss, a dull, flat finish, or somewhere in between ("satin"). If the scratch is in the clear coat, then you need to use wet sandpaper. Apply a small amount of epoxy adhesive to the overlap at the edge of the crack, making sure it spreads across it in an even layer. Seymour Duncan Guitar Pickups, Bass Pickups, Pedals 11 (8 new offers) Mohawk Finishing Classic Instrument Lacquer 1 Qt M610-1406 There are three common finishes: shellac, lacquer and varnish . Lacquer is one of the easier clear coats to polish if you have the right stuff for the job. Add the polish to the specific area or corner that you plan on polishing. They will last longer and sound nicer. I followed the usual steps: stripped the old finish, sealed the wood, grain-filled, sealed the grainfiller; and then I aplied 3 cans of primer, 3 of color and 3 of clear, all cheap Dupli acrylic lacquer (the number of coats might be overkill, but it's one of my first refinishes and I wanted to make sure I had some material on . Use a sanding block, not the flat of your hand. December 1, 2021 Peter. A water-based finish, penetrating oils, or natural violin varnish type is seldom used on standard acoustic guitars, which are usually finished with shellac, lacquer, or a catalyzed polymer today. You don't have to clean a lacquer brush if you use it only for lacquer because dried lacquer dissolves so quickly in lacquer thinner You don't have . Guitar Cleaners. Once the guitar is clean, go over it once more with a clean, damp cloth. PRS also makes a guitar care bundle for more comprehensive maintenance. Allow for overnight drying of the instrument. Legendary guitar luthier Dan Erlewine recommends using Naptha (Lighter Fluid) to clean your metal hardware. Clean the area around the crack with denatured alcohol and a lint-free cloth to remove all dirt and debris from the area. POLISH OR BUFF THE LACQUER TO A HIGH GLOSS Hey guys! 1. I do custom painting projects, guitar painting, airbrushing, spray can painting, wood working, and a variety of. 2. Easy to do, finish winds up looking CLEANER, BETTER, NEWER! PRS polish is a great buy for the price and quality! Wipe the soap along the grain of the wood. Rub the surface until it develops a consistent dull shine throughout the whole surface. 5) Rubbing compound. Third sanding - Wet sand with 2000 grit to further smooth the 1200 grit surface. WD40 or 3-in-one Oil are other options you could use here too. Pour some of the oil soap onto a clean soft cloth. Tip: If you see a run or drop in the finish, allow it to cure for 24 hours before leveling sanding the affected area. First sanding - Wet sand the entire instrument thoroughly with 600 grit paper; Second sanding - Wet sand with 1200 grit paper, remove all 600 grit sanding marks. Lightly dampen a clean cloth in warm water that has a little dish soap added to it. If there's no clear coat on your finish, then you need to wet sand your entire surface before attempting any other repairs. Pinch the strings and swipe back and forth to get the oil and crap off the strings. Hi! Here's a tip, if you decide to use a cleaner and polish: Do not spray or squirt it directly onto your guitar. Wring out the excess water and scrub the guitar, wiping it off with a dry rag. Buffing and polishing are the last steps of finishing after sanding the nitrocellulose lacquer is done with around 2,000 grit or higher. Using this polish on guitars with nitrocellulose lacquer finishes is not recommended because it might create haziness. Then mix up a slurry of pumice. Here is where the lacquer is usually thinnest. Clean Your Guitar. How to Clean Your Guitar's Finish. I've just refinished this little Gibson with acrylic lacquer. Before polishing, remove the built-up crud on the finish first. Then go to 1000 grit or 1200 grit, then 1500 grit, and then 2000 grit. These finishes are also far stronger and more durable than nitro. Remove guitar scratches for good! But once or twice a year, it's a good idea to do a proper cleaning it prevents residue buildup and gives you a chance to inspect your instrument in closer detail once in a while .