What is the best way to make end-plates shine like mirrors?

Andy Eder · From: North Florida, USA

Hi Gang,

I was wondering if anyone can tell me what is the best way to make end-plates shine like mirrors?

Can a buffer be used without taking the guitar apart?

Thanks,
Andy Eder

Olli Haavisto · From: Jarvenpaa,Finland

I never go around mirrors, sorry.
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Olli Haavisto
Finland

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

A half hour with a couple T-shirts and Mother's Aluminum polish will do wonders.
To do the job right means removing the endplates and holding them against a wheel.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

David Nugent · From: Gum Spring, Va.

Was an avid user of 'Mother's' products for years, both for my steel guitars and my motorcycles. Through the Forum, recently discovered 'Purple' polish and cleaner by California Customs, best product I have ever used. Should be available at most auto parts places, or order the kit (cleaner and polish)direct from Amazon.

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

What David says!!!
IF you want to spend a lot of time and effort rubbing and rubbing and polishing .. then DON'T use the purple polish ..

If you want to spend more time playing instead of polishing then...

I used Purple polish on this when the cover I bought caused a chemical reaction and clouded the end plate..
I haven't had to use it again in a couple years..

If the end plate is really hazy,, then the DE-OXIDIZER is also recommended

Andy Eder · From: North Florida, USA

Andy Eder · From: North Florida, USA

Lane, Bo, and David,

Thanks guys for that info, will that stuff work on Mica or Wood also?

Thanks,
Andy Eder

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

If you are really serious about polishing up a bunch of parts, this is the rig:

Andy Eder · From: North Florida, USA

Erv,

I appreciate that info and pic. What do you use besides the buffer? The purple stuff?

Will it work on Mica?

Thanks,
Andy

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Andy,
There are different compounds you apply to the buffer wheel. It's kind of like using sandpaper, you start out with the most abrasive and then work into the finer, less coarse compounds. It's a time consuming, messy business.
And no, I wouldn't use it on mica.
They asked Bruce Zumsteg why he quite building guitars and he said: "I'm tired of buffing end plates".

David Nugent · From: Gum Spring, Va.

Windex works well for cleaning formica, don't actually need to polish it.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

If you have really dingy formica, I would try a polishing compound like they use on cars. Turtle Wax makes an excellent polishing compound. The reason your formica is dull is because of very tiny scratches and this compound will remove them.

Andy Eder · From: North Florida, USA

Erv and David, thank you both for your input.

Andy Eder

kyle reid · From: Butte,Mt.usa

Del Mullen Eliminated this problem many years ago!
He chrome plated them. Of course he did not use aluminum.

Andy Eder · From: North Florida, USA

Hi Kyle,

I appreciate that info but what about old Emmons PP, or other brands?

Thanks,
Andy

Jacob Hacker · From: Tucson, Arizona

Semicrome.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

If it's scratched/etched, the chemical polishes won't do it.
If it's just dull, yeah, the chemical ones will work fine.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Andy Eder · From: North Florida, USA

Thanks Lane and congrats on your Sho-Bud sale!

Best,
Andy

Dave Magram · From: San Jose, California, USA

Billy Murdoch · From: Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.

I asked Bruce Zumsteg about polishing with Simichrome and He said it was too abrasive.
I have had good results from using Mothers Mag.
Billy

Mike DiAlesandro · From: Kent, Ohio

Is there any way to fix this? A guy sold this steel to me via eBay and forgot to mention this...

Craig Baker · From: Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.

Mike,
My Sho~Bud Pro II had a similar scratch. I started with a very coarse wet and dry paper, using kerosene as a lubricant. Work your way up to the finest grit wet or dry paper. (2000 grit is available from auto body shops.) Then use mag wheel polish or perhaps the purple polish mentioned earlier. The process takes time, but it works.

All the best,

Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024
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"Make America Great Again". . . The Only Country With Dream After Its Name.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

On that power buffer I pictured, you can get some abrasive belts to use on it. As mentioned, you start with a coarser belt and work you way to finer belts. Then after that process you use the buffer wheel with different compounds. I have taken raw, rough aluminum and made it shine like a mirror.

Michael Yahl · From: Troy, Texas!

OWEEE!

Would a Superman bandaid help!
_________________
"Don't fergit to kiss yer horse!"
'72 Sho-Bud Professional D10, (in pieces .....), '78 MSA Classic XL D10, '69 Emmons PP, Fender 2000
Peavey Session 500 BW, Crate Digital Modeling Amp

PSG PARTS
http://www.psgparts.com/

Andy Eder · From: North Florida, USA

Thanks to Erv, Dave, Billy, for all of your input.

Thanks,
Andy

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