Polishing my Bass

[bejoyous]

I just polished my bass.

I used a powersander attachment on a drill. I took off the sandpandpaper and put on a circular foam and terrycloth carpolish pad.

I used a few drops of Hidersol around the edge. After applying the Hidersol with a fairly slow rotation, I used the flat part at a higher speed to polish it off. As for pressure, I barely touched the surface. I only did a small section at a time. The whole process took about 3 hours.

Using the drill really saved my hands and could provide more rubbing than I could do manually.

Wow, my bass looks like it was French Polished.

[Matthew Tucker]

3 hours!!!!!!!!

Now show pics!!!

[drurb]

Originally Posted by bejoyous

I just polished my bass.

I used a powersander attachment on a drill. I took off the sandpandpaper and put on a circular foam and terrycloth carpolish pad.

I used a few drops of Hidersol around the edge. After applying the Hidersol with a fairly slow rotation, I used the flat part at a higher speed to polish it off. As for pressure, I barely touched the surface. I only did a small section at a time. The whole process took about 3 hours.

Using the drill really saved my hands and could provide more rubbing than I could do manually.

Wow, my bass looks like it was French Polished.

Interesting-- but why? I have taken to heeding the advice so often given here that the less one applies liquid polish, the better-- especially on a carved instrument. Did your finish need some sort of serious restoration?

[bejoyous]

Why? Because a clean, polished instrument has no fingerprints, rosin, dust and other crap on the surface so it looks and sounds its best. A clean neck and strings also makes it easier to play. I was just stating the powertools makes the process a whole lot easier and gave great results.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by bejoyous

Why? Because a clean, polished instrument has no fingerprints, rosin, dust and other crap on the surface so it looks and sounds its best. A clean neck and strings also makes it easier to play. I was just stating the powertools makes the process a whole lot easier and gave great results.

Let me elaborate. I certainly understand the desire for a clean instrument. In fact, I'm rather fastidious about that. I wipe down the neck, fingerboard, and strings quite often. It was the use of polish about which I was asking. I do use polish when the fingerprints get excesssive or if something causes a nasty smudge. Once in a while I will even lightly polish the entire instrument. Otherwise, I try to avoid putting any on the body. I couldn't help but wonder if the use of power tools might increase the risks associated with using polish.