Buffing Bartolini Pick ups?

[chinjazz]

Hi, I'm doing clean up on a bass of mine,...


Anyone out there ever buff your Bartolini pick ups? Mine are quite worn to a shine in a few spots and I'd like to get the rest of them down to that shine..

If so, what did you do?

Thanks,
Adam

 

[202dy]

Two products that come to mind are rubbing compounds or Micromesh abrasives.

 

[chinjazz]

Two products that come to mind are rubbing compounds or Micromesh abrasives.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look up Micromesh abrasives.

I thought maybe to start with 0000 superfine steel wool. Then use this since I already have it as a finisher: Invalid Link Removed

 

[Diego]

I've done it with 3M white pads (you want to STAY AWAY from steel wool for this particular purpose) and a bit of beeswax only. I found however, that you actually do not need the 3M pads unless there is material build-up on your PUs.

Diego

 

[202dy]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look up Micromesh abrasives.

I thought maybe to start with 0000 superfine steel wool. Then use this since I already have it as a finisher: Invalid Link Removed

As reported above, steel wool is bad juju for this particular application. Stick to abrasives and you will be safe.

Invalid Link Removed link.

 

[Terry Buddingh]

If you want to replicate the factory-fresh look and texture, find somebody with a light-duty sandblaster, have them shoot the pickups with some fine-grain sand, then give the pickups a light coating of Johnsons & Johnsons baby oil. They'll look brand new.

 

[chinjazz]

Hey 202dy, Diego, and Terry,

I appreciate you steering me in the right direction. I ended up going with something very similar to what 202dy and Diego mentioned. It was the easiest path and I had all the materials I needed on hand.

I took some 2000 grit wet/dry sand paper, and wrapped it around a sanding sponge I had, and taped off the PUs, and started sanding. In the end it was close enough for "rock and roll". I could have gone more crazy to make them perfect, but I'm happy with the results.

Here are some pictures for anyone else that wants to try it:

Prep

After 1st pass

Final

Thanks guys!!
Adam