Hey guys, this seemed like the appropriate place to post so..
i was wondering if there was a way to remove light to medium scratches in a finish. Mainly buckle rash.
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Originally Posted by JimmyM
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go pass out Ampeg catalogs to my neighbors.
I've had limited success with the various compounds (rubbing, scratch removal, polishing, etc.). Just purchased a sample pack of micro-mesh pads but have yet to give them a trial. Supposed to use soapy water (think Murphy's) as the medium / lubricant. The finer grades are supposedly capable of polishing opticals.
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Much of your success will depend on what kind of finish it is and what color it is. I try to discourage finish repairs - they almost never come out perfect. It's usually best to leave them alone.
Buckle rash tends to run pretty deep - generally through the finish, or at least through the clear. If you can post a pic of the damage, that'd be helpful.
Assuming you're talking about a sprayed clear poly finish, and the scratches are shallow (i.e. swirl marks and similar, ideally not felt when running a fingernail over the area), the best recommendation I can offer is Meguiar's Scratch-X. It's an automotive product that can be found at just about any parts store. It's a mild abrasive polish and will level the finish nicely. As with any abrasive polish, you don't need much product, but you do need to work it so it breaks down effectively. Rub with moderate pressure until there's very little residue, and then remove that with a dry (ideally microfiber) cloth.
__________________ -Jerry Mike Lull | Rob Allen | Roscoe | Sadowsky Genz Benz | Bergantino | Epifani
Run your fingernail over the scratch. If the nail catches, it is almost certainly deeper than can be repaired to and acceptable degree of certainty.
If it does not catch, it is truly a surface scratch. You can wet sand those scratches out of poly using progressively finer sandpapers (start around 800-1000 up to 1600 or so) and then buff it out with polishing compound.
^ FWIW...IME/IMO, of course. Don't use sandpaper. (And if you do...start with 1500 and move up from there. But again, don't. ) You can do much more harm than good. If you can't feel the scratch with your fingernail, a fine abrasive polish will do the trick. Sanding is for extremely hard...and usually quite thick clearcoats, neither of which generally apply to instrument finishes.
__________________ -Jerry Mike Lull | Rob Allen | Roscoe | Sadowsky Genz Benz | Bergantino | Epifani
Much of your success will depend on what kind of finish it is and what color it is. I try to discourage finish repairs - they almost never come out perfect. It's usually best to leave them alone.
Yep. Usually makes things worse.
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Instrument repair/setup, Bay area
so.. 
) You can do much more harm than good. If you can't feel the scratch with your fingernail, a fine abrasive polish will do the trick. Sanding is for extremely hard...and usually quite thick clearcoats, neither of which generally apply to instrument finishes.
