Removing and restoring " Haze " from guitar finish

[junkiemanxl]

Hi friends,

I'm trying to restore one of my old guitars. It has patches of cloudy haze under the nitro finish. i have tried a few products but cant seem to have it removed.

I have tried these polishes but with no results.

• GHS Guitar Polish
• Sadowsky restore and polish
• Zippo Lighter fluid "naptha"

Some products that i have not tried:

• Virtuoso Cleaner
• Blush eraser

any softies have any success in this area of removing haze?
Pls share
Thanks

 

[skipper53]

Mind posting a picture of your guitar's condition?

 

[junkiemanxl]

I did try to get pics of it but it wont pick up on the haze up clearly "crappy cam". I'll try again tonight

Well, just a quick and rough reference.

notice some blurred spots of haze on this guitar "not mine" ? Just for reference

 

[junkiemanxl]

Oh yes,

and btw, the subject is a les paul with nitro finish.

 

[faekildare]

You tried brasso or car compound?

 

[AaronSoFat]

You tried brasso or car compound?

isn't car compound a bit too strong? thought they had some cutting compound inside

 

[faekildare]

It's for buffing. Smooth surface gives you gloss.

 

[empty71]

If you have the Virtuoso Cleaner, that would work. Brasso would be way too abrasive and if you decide to go with car compound; I have really good results with Autoglym Super Resin Polish.

 

[junkiemanxl]

Here it is.

Would love to give virtuoso cleaner a try but i dont think can get it locally. kind of a drag to have to make orders from ebay.

 

[junkiemanxl]

feakildare: i thought brasso if for metal parts? rather harsh to use on wood?

empty71: you had similar issues and Autoglym Super Resin Polish solved the problem?

 

[dodgethis]

Novus Polishing System You ehould be able to get it from Homefix.

 

[empty71]

feakildare: i thought brasso if for metal parts? rather harsh to use on wood?

empty71: you had similar issues and Autoglym Super Resin Polish solved the problem?

I would NEVER use brasso for metal parts on the guitar. They're WAY too abrasive and will remove the chrome/gold/nickel plating.

I don't have simlar issues but many of my clients do and the Autoglym Super Resin Polish cleared up the haze. Someone suggested the Novus system and they work too but I find the Novus a little more abrasive than the Autoglym.

 

[junkiemanxl]

I would NEVER use brasso for metal parts on the guitar. They're WAY too abrasive and will remove the chrome/gold/nickel plating.

I don't have simlar issues but many of my clients do and the Autoglym Super Resin Polish cleared up the haze. Someone suggested the Novus system and they work too but I find the Novus a little more abrasive than the Autoglym.

empty71: thx for the heads up! I'll give the autoglym a shot +1

 

[CaboWabo]

empty71: thx for the heads up! I'll give the autoglym a shot +1

Do keep us updated as to how the autoglym worked out haha im having similar problems too

 

[junkiemanxl]

Do keep us updated as to how the autoglym worked out haha im having similar problems too

will be heading down to pick up a bottle later on. NTUC perhaps..
*cross fingers* on the bright side, if it does not work, i can still use it for my car

 

[junkiemanxl]

*sighs*

Nope, Autoglym super resin polish did not work. Just tried it and did not do anything to remove the haze but its plenty shiny.
I'm almost to the point of not trying to restore it but to relic it instead.

haha

 

[fretless6]

You stay in the west?

I had a used bass with nitro finish that came to me with so much haze that it looked as if it was wrapped with white film. Managed to clean it all off with some Meguiars polish and some elbow grease.

If you stay in the west, u're welcomed to pop over with your guitar and have a go at it. Rather than spending $20-30 on a bottle of car polish that might not work. I stay in Bukit Panjang btw.

 

[MadWerewolfBoy]

maybe the lacquer is not in perfect contact with the wood anymore due to the difference in expanding and contracting with the wood. polishing only works to smoothen the surface, but i think the best bet to restore it would be to re-lacquer it, but that can be quite costly, so since it's only just the back of your guitar, i would say, just screw it and play it more!! =)

 

[CaboWabo]

*sighs*


I'm almost to the point of not trying to restore it but to relic it instead.

Dont say that!!!you're poisoning my thoughts to relic-ing my newly acquired strat!!!

 

[fretless6]

My guess is that if it actually is separation, it wouldn't look hazy, but more like opaque white chips. I had a PRS with a very bad case of hazing due to excess moisture in the wood, just cross your fingers that isn't the case on yours.

The plus point about nitro finishes is that new layers melt into the old, so you might not need to strip it down. The negative point is that it's soft and wears like hell. And good luck finding someone who would do nitro refinish for you locally.