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Topic: Need advice.... |
Willis Vanderberg
From:
Petoskey Mi
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Posted 13 Oct 2015 11:44 am |
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I don't know where to post this so I will give it a shot here. I have a very nice old Kalamazoo arch top that needs cleaning before I can polish it. What is the best way to remove dust and grime from laying around for years. Thanks for any and all advice..
Old Bud |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 13 Oct 2015 11:58 am
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I usually use Naptha (normally Ronsonol cigarette-lighter fluid) on a clean cloth to clean old gunk off a guitar. Depending on the state of the finish, I would be more or less careful about how hard I rub. If it has a lot of checking and/or flaking, I'd go real easy. If the finish is real solid without any checking, you probably can rub a bit harder. But I would not generally use a buffer on an old nitrocellulose finish.
On polishing, again I'd go real easy unless the finish is in real good shape. And even then, I wouldn't go crazy polishing and buffing out an old finish like this. It's pretty easy to mess up the finish. I generally avoid abrasive polishes on vintage guitars unless the finish is unusually clean and/or thickly applied, and old Kalamazoos are generally a nice thin nitrocellulose lacquer.
I understand wanting to get serious gunk off an old guitar like this. And that can generally be done without tearing up the finish if one is careful. But a heavily checked and/or flaking finish can be problematic.
My take, having owned and cleaned up a bunch of old guitars like this over the years, including a few 30s-40s Kalamazoo flat/arch tops. |
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Willis Vanderberg
From:
Petoskey Mi
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Posted 13 Oct 2015 12:49 pm
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| Thanks Dave.The finish appears to be very good with minimal checking. So I will go slow and easy on it. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 13 Oct 2015 6:00 pm
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| Hey, another note - whatever you use, start on a small inconspicuous place on the guitar to make sure nothing reacts with the solvent. I have never had issues with Ronsonol/naptha, but I always take that precaution. Any finishing 'expert' I've talked to has always told me the same thing. I'm no 'expert' at all, so I listen to those guys like Dan Erlewine and others very carefully. |
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Willis Vanderberg
From:
Petoskey Mi
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Posted 14 Oct 2015 1:14 am
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Thanks Dave.
I figured that was the proper thing to do. She is lovely but needs a little tlc. |
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Willis Vanderberg
From:
Petoskey Mi
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Posted 4 Dec 2015 9:12 pm
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| Close it up bob. I'm all set.thanks |
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