how to remove scratches from guitar?
- Thread starter G-String
- Start date
detroit_red
New member
A buffing machine ... Buffing uses those cloth but spun at freaking high speeds so that it like polishes like mad ...
detroit_red
New member
Actually i think if he has a drill + buffing cloth there's a good way to do it ..
jdawg
New member
How deep is the scratch? Has it exposed the wood? If it has, then buffing won't do squat. Since you mentioned that the lacquer has been dented, I'm assuming it's not the lacquer or finish that's dented but the actual wood beneath it. If that's the case, then you really need a pro to touch it up.
Only shallow, hairline-type of scratches and swirls that appear under flourescent light can be buffed off by hand or by an orbital or rotary polisher. Anything deeper usually requires a spot touch-up job.
Also, be careful with using rotary polishers or drills with a wool pad or buffing attachment. If you run the machine too fast or stay at a single spot for too long, you'll burn the finish and spend more time and money to fix your mistake.
Only shallow, hairline-type of scratches and swirls that appear under flourescent light can be buffed off by hand or by an orbital or rotary polisher. Anything deeper usually requires a spot touch-up job.
Also, be careful with using rotary polishers or drills with a wool pad or buffing attachment. If you run the machine too fast or stay at a single spot for too long, you'll burn the finish and spend more time and money to fix your mistake.
This is what I did for my prs - the finish is a poly acrylic substance if i'm not wrong. I ended up using polyurethane. But try to get something similar to the finish used on ur guitar. This method will not work for nitro finishes.
1. Using naptha (lighter fluid), rid the area of all grease/dirt.
2. Apply the polyurethane to guitar (i use a toothpick), try to use as little finish as possible. Leave it overnight to dry completely.
3. Using grid 1500 - 2000 sandpaper, wet-sand (just apply water and sand normally) down the mound which would have formed due to the excess polyurethane. PLEASE use a sanding block (or any block with a flat surface) to obtain an even sanding or will regret. If you accidentally sanded more than necessary, do not fret, just redo step 2 to cover up.
4. The surface will now have a matt appearance.
5. Using ur guitar polishing cloth, apply autoglym paint renovator and buff evenly in circles with the surface area of ur thumb, following grain of wood. This process will take some time (15-20 mins for a really really good buff). The finish will start to shine again. On close inspection under light, there will still be many many fine scratches left behind by the polishing compound.
6. Hence, using the autoglym super resin polish, follow the same technique in step 5 to cover up the light scratches.
7. For the ultimate protection of your finish, end off with autoglym extra gloss protection.
Note: autoglym products are available at most diy stores or petrol kiosks. the buffing instructions are already on the back of the bottle so please follow accordingly. =p and i am not advertising for autoglym i just found it really effective.
1 last thing. Guitars are meant to have scars. Don't be such a perfectionist like me that every minor scratch has to be buffed out.
Finally, using the paint renovator actually removes an ultra thin layer of guitar finish hence apply sparingly or the finish will wear off prematurely.
1. Using naptha (lighter fluid), rid the area of all grease/dirt.
2. Apply the polyurethane to guitar (i use a toothpick), try to use as little finish as possible. Leave it overnight to dry completely.
3. Using grid 1500 - 2000 sandpaper, wet-sand (just apply water and sand normally) down the mound which would have formed due to the excess polyurethane. PLEASE use a sanding block (or any block with a flat surface) to obtain an even sanding or will regret. If you accidentally sanded more than necessary, do not fret, just redo step 2 to cover up.
4. The surface will now have a matt appearance.
5. Using ur guitar polishing cloth, apply autoglym paint renovator and buff evenly in circles with the surface area of ur thumb, following grain of wood. This process will take some time (15-20 mins for a really really good buff). The finish will start to shine again. On close inspection under light, there will still be many many fine scratches left behind by the polishing compound.
6. Hence, using the autoglym super resin polish, follow the same technique in step 5 to cover up the light scratches.
7. For the ultimate protection of your finish, end off with autoglym extra gloss protection.
Note: autoglym products are available at most diy stores or petrol kiosks. the buffing instructions are already on the back of the bottle so please follow accordingly. =p and i am not advertising for autoglym i just found it really effective.
1 last thing. Guitars are meant to have scars. Don't be such a perfectionist like me that every minor scratch has to be buffed out.
Finally, using the paint renovator actually removes an ultra thin layer of guitar finish hence apply sparingly or the finish will wear off prematurely.
jdawg said:
it's possible to dent the lacquer and not the wood itself. However if the wood is dented, first cover it up with a wet cloth, then using a soldering iron, place the tip on top of the dent to cause the wood to expand, hence removing the dent. i cannot stress how CAREFUL you have to be with this method.
This is one of the best sites i've come across when it concerns guitar refinishing: http://www.reranch.com/
jdawg
New member
G-String said:
Perhaps you should post pics of the scratch so that we can make proper recommendations as to fixing it. I'm guessing that the Dremel with a polishing bit will be useful for the polishing and/or finishing step, but you may still need to touch up the scratch using the steps outlined by almondx.
G-String said:
hmmm i used a regular "RJ Acrylic Epoxy Spray Paint" - it's not meant to be used but i cudn find anything else. I just sprayed into a mixing cup and used a toothpick to obtain minute amounts of it. Anyway any laquer should do fine. Just make sure it dries clear!
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