buffing out nitro finish..

SamJ · #1 11-04-2006, 06:56 PM

I was told a while back that one of the advantages to nitro vs poly is that it's easier to repair, and to polish out the fine hairline swirls from.

Is this true? and is it easily done? Can you simply buff a guitar/bass to a like new gloss with a buffing wheel and some compound?

Thanks in advance..

wilser · #2 11-04-2006, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamJ

I was told a while back that one of the advantages to nitro vs poly is that it's easier to repair, and to polish out the fine hairline swirls from.

Is this true? and is it easily done? Can you simply buff a guitar/bass to a like new gloss with a buffing wheel and some compound?

Thanks in advance..

yes, it is true that nitro is easy to repair and that you can make it look brand new simply by buffing to a high gloss. My understanding is that poly can also be polished to a high gloss when it has been scratched by usage. The repair thing is that you can easily blend nitro touch ups with the current finish. I don't know how poly would behave to this since I've never done it.

SamJ · #3 11-04-2006, 07:48 PM

Thanks Wilser.. can I expect to pay a lot to do it? Is it very time intensive, or a few minutes job? thanks again.

wilser · #4 11-04-2006, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamJ

Thanks Wilser.. can I expect to pay a lot to do it? Is it very time intensive, or a few minutes job? thanks again.

it all depends on your patience. me? I have plenty and here's my method:

micromesh $15 kit.
start with about 3600 grit, soapy water and go all the way up to 12000.
then meguiars polishing compounds #17, #10 and you're done.

It takes maybe a morning while watching tv.

FBB Custom · #5 11-04-2006, 10:24 PM

Polyurethane will have witness lines where the repair meets up with the old finish. Nitro melts in so no lines.

seekir · #6 11-04-2006, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Can you simply buff a guitar/bass to a like new gloss with a buffing wheel and some compound?

Bear in mind that buffing removes finish, and depending upon the thickness of the original finish and the amount of finish you must remove to achieve your "like new gloss," there is some danger of exposing raw wood. Fixing this kind of blunder generally requires refinishing the instrument. If the playing/handling wear is minor and the original finish in the worn area to be polished is reasonably thick, the risk is of ruining it is less (you may not need anything more than a very fine polishing compound). If you proceed slowly with patience, you should probably be okay.