| Author |
Topic: Aluminum polish for my steel ? |
Wade Branch
From:
Weatherford, Texas, USA
|
Posted 14 Jun 2005 9:00 am |
|
| Ive got an 1981 S-10 BMI,I would like to polish up the aluminun part on it and make it look better.What kind of polish should I use and should I hand rub it or use some sort of buffing wheel ? |
|
|
 |
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 14 Jun 2005 9:37 am
|
|
You can try hand polishing.
Simichrome, which is slightly abrasive, is used by many steel guitar builders on the polished aluminum parts and will take minor scratches out. An alternate is "MAAS" which looks and works exactly like Simichrome. You can get Simichrome at most motorcyle shops.
Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish works about the same as Simichrome except it's not abrasive.
There are many posts on this subject. Do a search. |
|
|
|
Ron Carpenter
From:
Columbus, Ohio
|
Posted 17 Jun 2005 10:05 pm
|
|
Two other non abrasive oxide removers are; A blitz cloth (availabe at miltary surplus store) The Army used to issue them for cleaning buckle and buttons and a product called Never Dull. Both will restore luster if the finish is not scratched or pitted.
Take care
Ron C |
|
|
|
Paul King
From:
Gainesville, Texas, USA
|
Posted 18 Jun 2005 3:56 am
|
|
| Doug, where can you buy Semichrome? I had some a few years ago but no one in this town handles it. |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 18 Jun 2005 4:10 am
|
|
It usually is available at Motorcycle shops. However, I think Scotty's Music sells it and maybe Bobbe Seymour's and/or Carter Guitar co, too.
If you go to Walgreens you can find MAAS (or at least where I've bought it several times). It appears to be identical to Simichrome in color, both are a paste, and how it works (slightly abrasive). Both MAAS and Simichrome are made in Germany[This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 18 June 2005 at 05:13 AM.] |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 18 Jun 2005 6:15 am
|
|
Mother's mag polish works wonders on a guitars aluminum parts.
Erv |
|
|
|
Ron !
|
Posted 18 Jun 2005 8:18 am
|
|
Erv,you talk about the old days.What about polishing aluminum with ashes and an old newspaper.Won't cost a thing but works great.
Ron |
|
|
|
Joerg Hennig
From:
Bavaria, Germany
|
Posted 18 Jun 2005 12:49 pm
|
|
I got pretty good results with - guess what - Gibson Metal Polish. It came in a set along with Fretboard Conditioner and Finish Cream. I purchased it mainly for my Gibson ES 335 that I bought three months ago but since the metal parts on it are almost like new I decided to try the metal cleaner on my steel and it gave a real nice shine, it´s also not very abrasive.
Regards, JH |
|
|
|
Winston Street
From:
Laurel, Mississippi, USA
|
Posted 20 Jun 2005 5:41 pm
|
|
Wade, when I am polishing out new end plates or necks I get all of the tool marks out with 180 grit, go to 400 and polish the 180 grit marks out and then go to 1000 grit and sand out the 400 grit marks. Then I water polish with the 1000 grit until they are as slick as glass. Then I use Nevr-Dul with a hand held polisher to get the mirrow finish.. You can get the Nevr-Dul at Wal-Marts and most parts houses.. Leave the surface wet with the chemical inpregnated in the cotton before buffing.. Haven't tried this on some of the old endplates that are chrome over puter... Probably wouldn't work well.
Winston |
|
|
|
Carlos Polidura
From:
Puerto Rico
|
Posted 21 Jun 2005 11:04 am
|
|
here are two places where you can get everything you need to make the metal parts of yor guitar like new... again...
CASWELLPLATING.COM
BRIGHT-WORKS.COM
|
|
|
|
Carlos Polidura
From:
Puerto Rico
|
|
|
|
