Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish

Paul Haley · 10-29-2009, 10:59 AM

Any good tips for removing light pick marks from nitro cellulose finish?

Big Joe · 10-29-2009, 11:09 AM

Depending upon how deep they are, they may be polished out, or could be professionally buffed. In any case, they may not be able to be removed. It all depends upon how deep they are and how thick the lacquer is. Just be careful with what ever you use because it will be an abrasive in some manner and that will remove finish. The last thing you want to do is remove too much finish in the process.

Paul Haley · 10-29-2009, 11:46 AM

Joe,

Any polish recommendations? The marks are very light.

Dale Ludewig · 10-30-2009, 07:14 AM

Paul,
Even if you remove these, more shall appear in the future. If they are light enough to be just buffed out I'd probably just leave them alone. They're part of the aging process.

sunburst · 10-30-2009, 08:33 AM

My favorite polishes for hand rubbing are MaGuires #7 (also sold as "Step 2" of a three step set) and Novus II polish.

Big Joe · 10-30-2009, 09:51 AM

I agree with John. That is a good polish.

mtucker · 10-30-2009, 01:35 PM

I have a lot of experience with paint on my street rods and what John and Joe said is true. Although I've never used Novus, Zaino Brothers makes great product. The Meguiars are wonderful folks and they make great products also but you should excercise caution or like Joe said, risk burning through the finish. Also, if you decide to tackle the job, you'll want to do the entire surface area, otherwise it will look spotty.

Paul Haley · 10-30-2009, 01:46 PM

Is this what you mean John?

mtucker · 10-30-2009, 01:52 PM

I don't think you have to get that rad!

sunburst · 10-30-2009, 02:43 PM

Paul, I don't think that's it, but MaGuires packages their stuff under so many labels it's hard to tell what product you have a lot of the time.
There is a set of products sold for car finishes, Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3. A Maguires tec told me on the phone that the Step 2 is the same product as #7 polish, and that it is a pure polish; no wax, no silicone, no left-over residue, just polish.
It is a very fine abrasive, it will bring up a mirror gloss on a good quality surface, and it is so fine and slow working that it would take a very long time to rub through an instrument finish of any normal thickness using it by hand.

Gail Hester · 10-30-2009, 03:08 PM

MaGuires #7 looks like this. Novus II is also excellant but a little harder to find. These are mild and unless you use them every day you shouldn't have to worry about damaging the finish.

NAS · 10-30-2009, 04:41 PM

The Meguiars Three step system goes by the name "Deep Crystal System", I've just been using it to finish off a repair to the lacquer on a guitar headstock. It is available in the UK, I bought the bottle from my local Auto Parts supplier. I have had more difficulty in getting the No7 equivalent, I used to buy it from a supplier of aircraft parts but the price was a bit steep. They sold it for polishing scratches out of acrylic windshields.

Neil

John Ely · 10-30-2009, 05:57 PM

Aren't light pick marks just going to show up again when you play the instrument? And then you have to polish it again. And then they show up again . . .

I'd leave it be if they were where pick marks belong.

sunburst · 10-30-2009, 06:30 PM

That pick marks will just show up again assumes that the OP put the marks there and will again.
It could be that he got the mando used with pre-installed pick scratches, it could be that he is going to install a pickguard after removing the scratches, it could be that he loaned the mando to a friend with a rather... free pick hand, it could be that he has improved his technique and no longer scratches the top even if he was the one who put the scratches there etc..
The advise on polishes is offered without assumptions, and with the hope that it will not lead to trouble.

Paul Haley · 10-31-2009, 02:01 AM

John,

You are absolutely correct in your assumption that the pick marks aren't mine. This is a brand new instrument which has received a little scratching in the shop. I have instruments which I have had for many years which have no pick marks on them at all. This is largely as a consequence of the styles of music I play. I have just traded in a fourteen year old mando which the shop is describing as in "as new" condition. I may be an obessive compulsive but I'm a happy one!! Thanks for the advice.

jlsmandolin1952 · 10-31-2009, 09:10 AM

The Maguires Scratch X 2.0 works very well, and you can get it at about any auto parts store, and wal-marts.

Philphool · 11-02-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlsmandolin1952

The Maguires Scratch X 2.0 works very well, and you can get it at about any auto parts store, and wal-marts.

I once converted an entire satin finished guitar to a semi-gloss by using this stuff. It works very well.

Paul Haley · 11-03-2009, 05:38 AM

Thanks for the advice John. I got some #2 polish, tried it and it worked a treat!

Tom C · 11-03-2009, 09:24 AM

Would this also help haze from one's arm? a damp cloth just does not do it.

Ed Lee · 11-07-2009, 06:32 PM

Nitro cellulose??? Why is anyone now using such a finish product. This was the base for the "talkie films" and is very fragile, very often exacerbating heat crackle appearance over years of aging.

Bill Snyder · 11-07-2009, 06:34 PM

Ed, it has been the most common fretted string instrument finish for decades.

10-29-2009, 10:59 AM	#1
Paul Haley ~~~~~~~~~~ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 19	Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish Any good tips for removing light pick marks from nitro cellulose finish? __________________ Paul Haley Last edited by Paul Haley; 10-29-2009 at 11:15 AM.

10-29-2009, 11:46 AM	#3
Paul Haley ~~~~~~~~~~ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 19	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish Joe, Any polish recommendations? The marks are very light. __________________ Paul Haley

10-30-2009, 07:14 AM	#4
Dale Ludewig Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: DeKalb, IL Posts: 1,736	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish Paul, Even if you remove these, more shall appear in the future. If they are light enough to be just buffed out I'd probably just leave them alone. They're part of the aging process. __________________ Dale Ludewig http://www.ludewigmandolins.com

10-30-2009, 08:33 AM	#5
sunburst Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 7,352	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish My favorite polishes for hand rubbing are MaGuires #7 (also sold as "Step 2" of a three step set) and Novus II polish. __________________ John Hamlett www.hamlettinstruments.com

10-30-2009, 09:51 AM	#6
Big Joe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Nashville Posts: 2,645	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish I agree with John. That is a good polish. __________________ Have a Great Day! Joe Vest Big Joe's Guitarworks www.bigjoesguitarworks.com

10-29-2009, 11:09 AM	#2
Big Joe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Nashville Posts: 2,645	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish Depending upon how deep they are, they may be polished out, or could be professionally buffed. In any case, they may not be able to be removed. It all depends upon how deep they are and how thick the lacquer is. Just be careful with what ever you use because it will be an abrasive in some manner and that will remove finish. The last thing you want to do is remove too much finish in the process. __________________ Have a Great Day! Joe Vest Big Joe's Guitarworks www.bigjoesguitarworks.com

10-30-2009, 01:35 PM	#7
mtucker Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 124	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish I have a lot of experience with paint on my street rods and what John and Joe said is true. Although I've never used Novus, Zaino Brothers makes great product. The Meguiars are wonderful folks and they make great products also but you should excercise caution or like Joe said, risk burning through the finish. Also, if you decide to tackle the job, you'll want to do the entire surface area, otherwise it will look spotty.

10-30-2009, 01:46 PM	#8
Paul Haley ~~~~~~~~~~ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 19	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish Is this what you mean John? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Paul Haley

10-30-2009, 01:52 PM	#9
mtucker Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 124	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish I don't think you have to get that rad!

10-30-2009, 02:43 PM	#10
sunburst Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 7,352	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish Paul, I don't think that's it, but MaGuires packages their stuff under so many labels it's hard to tell what product you have a lot of the time. There is a set of products sold for car finishes, Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3. A Maguires tec told me on the phone that the Step 2 is the same product as #7 polish, and that it is a pure polish; no wax, no silicone, no left-over residue, just polish. It is a very fine abrasive, it will bring up a mirror gloss on a good quality surface, and it is so fine and slow working that it would take a very long time to rub through an instrument finish of any normal thickness using it by hand. __________________ John Hamlett www.hamlettinstruments.com

10-30-2009, 03:08 PM	#11
Gail Hester Hester Mandolins Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Poulsbo, WA (Seattle) Posts: 1,518	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish MaGuires #7 looks like this. Novus II is also excellant but a little harder to find. These are mild and unless you use them every day you shouldn't have to worry about damaging the finish. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Gail Hester

10-30-2009, 04:41 PM	#12
NAS Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK / Co Mayo, IRL Posts: 13	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish The Meguiars Three step system goes by the name "Deep Crystal System", I've just been using it to finish off a repair to the lacquer on a guitar headstock. It is available in the UK, I bought the bottle from my local Auto Parts supplier. I have had more difficulty in getting the No7 equivalent, I used to buy it from a supplier of aircraft parts but the price was a bit steep. They sold it for polishing scratches out of acrylic windshields. Neil

10-30-2009, 05:57 PM	#13
John Ely Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 110	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish Aren't light pick marks just going to show up again when you play the instrument? And then you have to polish it again. And then they show up again . . . I'd leave it be if they were where pick marks belong.

10-30-2009, 06:30 PM	#14
sunburst Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 7,352	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish That pick marks will just show up again assumes that the OP put the marks there and will again. It could be that he got the mando used with pre-installed pick scratches, it could be that he is going to install a pickguard after removing the scratches, it could be that he loaned the mando to a friend with a rather... free pick hand, it could be that he has improved his technique and no longer scratches the top even if he was the one who put the scratches there etc.. The advise on polishes is offered without assumptions, and with the hope that it will not lead to trouble. __________________ John Hamlett www.hamlettinstruments.com

10-31-2009, 02:01 AM	#15
Paul Haley ~~~~~~~~~~ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 19	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish John, You are absolutely correct in your assumption that the pick marks aren't mine. This is a brand new instrument which has received a little scratching in the shop. I have instruments which I have had for many years which have no pick marks on them at all. This is largely as a consequence of the styles of music I play. I have just traded in a fourteen year old mando which the shop is describing as in "as new" condition. I may be an obessive compulsive but I'm a happy one!! Thanks for the advice. __________________ Paul Haley

10-31-2009, 09:10 AM	#16
jlsmandolin1952 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Myrtle Beach,SC. Posts: 73	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish The Maguires Scratch X 2.0 works very well, and you can get it at about any auto parts store, and wal-marts.

11-03-2009, 05:38 AM	#18
Paul Haley ~~~~~~~~~~ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 19	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish Thanks for the advice John. I got some #2 polish, tried it and it worked a treat! __________________ Paul Haley Last edited by Paul Haley; 11-03-2009 at 05:39 AM. Reason: ambiguity

11-03-2009, 09:24 AM	#19
Tom C Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Nanuet, NY Posts: 3,011	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish Would this also help haze from one's arm? a damp cloth just does not do it.

11-07-2009, 06:32 PM	#20
Ed Lee Retired Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 71	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish Nitro cellulose??? Why is anyone now using such a finish product. This was the base for the "talkie films" and is very fragile, very often exacerbating heat crackle appearance over years of aging.

11-07-2009, 06:34 PM	#21
Bill Snyder Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Central TX Posts: 4,040	Re: Removing light pick marks from Nitro cellulose finish Ed, it has been the most common fretted string instrument finish for decades.