Mildest grit scotch brite

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

Anyone know the mildest grit of scotch brite or abrasive pad? When I change strings I was using a 0000 steel wool to rub over the fingers on the guitar but the fibers get loose and make a mess.

Thanks,

Lenny

Barry Blackwood · Posted 26 Dec 2010 3:57 pm

Possibly, the ones that are advertised as "won't scratch Teflon," however, why would you do this to begin with? Confused

Paul E Vendemmia · From: Olney Maryland Mongomery

Why do you do this you could make a flat spot and make the string buzz or make a braking point.
I never herd of this!!!

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

There have been a few threads on this over the years - it is recommended by knowledgeable people to use fine sandpaper or emery paper periodically to dress the top of the finger surface, being very careful not to sand a flat spot - e.g.,

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=118670

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=141619

I don't see the really fine sandpaper grits at the usual Joe Q. Public do-it-yourself places like Lowe's or Home Depot. I usually have to go to a specialty shop to get the finer grits, and use Nevr Dull wadding polish to get a fine polish at the end.

I personally think it's a good idea to do this fairly frequently - again, very lightly and taking great pain to not make a flat spot - to avoid getting deep gouges in the top of the fingers. I think this problem gets exponentially harder to fix when as the gouges get incrementally deeper.

Robert Parent · From: Gillette, WY

Len,

Does this help?

Colour Code
Dark grey Blending/finishing of stainless steel, weld blending

Brown Blending, deburring, weld cleaning, oxide

Dark green Heavy duty cleaning, oxide removal

Light green Cleaning, equipment maintenance, blending, intermediate finishing

Maroon Fine finishing, cleaning, paint keying, light deburring, blending

Light grey Very fine finishing, light cleaning, die polishing, denibbing

White Light cleaning, will carry compounds very effectively

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

I think 600 is the highest grain ScotchBrite.

Im refinishing an old guitar, and got sandpapers dry/wet up to 800 grit at HomeDepot.
Wouldnt use sand on the changer though.

There are also microfiber finishing cloths from StewMac that are a bit expensive, but range in grades for polishing chrome etc. Work great on guitar frets when filing, or before changing strings too.

Clete

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

Thanks for the replies and info. The 0000 steel wool will not harm the changer finger but like I said, the fibers come apart and it makes a mess. I saw Joe Wright
in Florida several years back break a string and use some sort of abrasive pad to rub over the finger to clean it before he put the new string on.

Maybe I'll contact Joe to see what he uses.

Thanks,

Lenny

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

I use my wife's emery boards. Get one with fine on one side and even finer on the other side. You can cut them down to the width of the finger and they're flexible enough to follow the contour of the finger. polish just enough to remove burs and grooves caused by the strings. try a magnifying glass, you'll be surprised to see tiny grooves that might not show up otherwise.

Chris Lucker · From: Los Angeles, California USA

Len

Are your changer fingers in contact with the bottom of the case? If so, suspend the changer off the case. The weight of the guitar grinding strings into the fingers probably accounts for more worn fingers than anything else.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

Mr. Lucker speaks truth. If there are deep string grooves in the lining of the top of your case, well.... I made a few little felt-topped posts that sit on either side of the changer.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

When you talk about pad to clean fingers with. There are specalized cleaning pads used in factories that can not be bought commercially. The one you seen may have came from a friend or relative who got it some place. I have seen pads of some sort used by Pawn shops and jewelry to clean precious metals. My favorite thing to use and will polish metal till you can see your face in the shine is a set of great stones. They come from Wood Crafters,Parkersburg WV.(they are listed on the internet)
They are in a set of 4 with all shapes for precission sharpening and burr removeal. they are listed at 8000 Grit Yes Eight Thousand Grit. They are straight and hard so they are easy to control. I never found a scotch bright that did not make fine marks on stainless steel guns. I was a police armor for 15 years.

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

8000 grit! Very Happy

Id take that to the bank for making chrome shine like a mirror.

The Stew Mac cloths are ranged up to 12000 grit.
18 Micro-Mesh abrasive sheets (two 3" x 6" pieces of each grit):
1500, 1800, 2400, 3200, 3600, 4000, 6000, 8000 and 12000-grit

A buffing wheel on a drill works too for removing tarnish and fingerprints on the ends for a brand new look.

BTW these will work well on the changer too

Clete

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

If you go to an auto parts store, they should have "emery cloth". That is what I use.
It comes on a roll and is about 1/2" wide.
Just tear off a piece and it is very handy for going over the tops of changer fingers.
Kind of like buffing off your shoes.

Ron Funk · From: Ballwin, Missouri

Paul -

please look for an email I sent to you thru Forum.
(different topic)

Thanks -
Ron

Buddy Castleberry · From: HAWKINSVILLE GA USA - R.I.P.

GO TO A BEAUTY SUPPLY THEY HAVE EMERY BOARDS
OF DIFFERENT GRITS I USE THE ONE THAT POLISHES
THE FINGER NAILS ,IT HAS 4 DIFFERENT GRITS ON THE
SAME POLISH BOARD THEY ARE FLEXABLE AND EASY TO USE
AND ABOUT THE WIDTH OF THE CHANGER FINGER

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

I resurface my changer fingers the way Mike Cass taught me.

1] Remove changer and clean w/ solvent

2] clamp the fingers together on the axle and use 3/4" wide crocus clocus cloth. I use it like a shoeshine rag to avoid flattening the radius.

3] Buff the changer (still clamped) with Tripoli Brown compound and finish with White.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

[/i]

Tom Campbell · From: Houston, Texas, USA

Auto parts stores sell 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 grit for auto body refinishing. The 1000 grit and above will do a nice job and give a bright shine. You can buy a variety pack that include a couple sheets of each grit.

Dickie Whitley · Posted 28 Dec 2010 4:45 pm

Tony, just curious, how often do you go through that procedure? They look great after you're done!

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

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