"buffing out" a Highway One, Faded LP, etc

[RickC]

So I've read many times online about how you can buff out the finish on Highway One's and other similar dulled stock finishes to give them more of a gloss look. I've got a couple of guitars I'd like to do this to. Can anyone give me some pointers - what to use, how to use it, what works best? Consider that I'm pretty much a novice at this sort of thing. Thanks

/rick

 

[CharAznable]

My faded SG became glossed out just from use.

 

[ryan80]

I would love to know if anyone has an answer on this too. My Highway one is getting glossy in ertain places where my arm rests and such, but I would rather it was even.

 

[CitizenCain]

My faded SG became glossed out just from use.

The neck of my Mahogany LP Studio got a great sheen to it from playing. So much so that I Tru-Oiled the rest of the body to get it to look as cool. Turned out pretty nice and was pretty easy to do.

 

[baimun]

Just start rubbing the finish until it feels comfortable..........

... regardless of how deep you need to go.

 

[RL in Fla]

and elbow grease .

 

[pickaguitar]

meguiar's buffing products

 

[RickC]

meguiar's buffing products

well, yeah... but any one in particular?

I've heard lot of things, from "just rub it" to complicated, multi-stage processes. Just looking for some input what's worked particulary well in other's experience.

/rick

 

[gkoelling]

The neck of my Mahogany LP Studio got a great sheen to it from playing. So much so that I Tru-Oiled the rest of the body to get it to look as cool. Turned out pretty nice and was pretty easy to do.

I STILL haven't started that!!!!!!! I want to do it outside and it's too cold.

Guys, do not try to buff out a "faded" or Vint. Mahog. SG/LP. The surface is too pourous and your buffing compound will build up on the surface of the guitar. Not nice.

That is what I did and I now have to go over the guitar with mineral spirits to remove it and then use Tru Oil.

Buffing compound works fine on the Hwy 1 guitars, though.

 

[paintguy]

If the grain is filled and just the finish is satin, 3M #39002 Rubbing Compound followed by 3m #39007 Hand Glaze should do ya just fine.

 

[RickC]

I STILL haven't started that!!!!!!! I want to do it outside and it's too cold.

Guys, do not try to buff out a "faded" or Vint. Mahog. SG/LP. The surface is too pourous and your buffing compound will build up on the surface of the guitar. Not nice.

That is what I did and I now have to go over the guitar with mineral spirits to remove it and then use Tru Oil.

Buffing compound works fine on the Hwy 1 guitars, though.

good info - one of my projects *is* a faded LP. So is there anything that works? I have seen some nicely shined up fadeds

/rick

 

[dkals]

well, yeah... but any one in particular?

I've heard lot of things, from "just rub it" to complicated, multi-stage processes. Just looking for some input what's worked particulary well in other's experience.

/rick

I used Maguires scratch x on my highway 1. Nice gloss finish.

Be carefull buffing the highway 1 it has a thin finish. My nails are short and I put a scratch in the back of the body buffing it out.

Since it is buffed out now I don't have to learn how to play it.

 

[straightblues]

Many of the ones I have done have had lots of orange peel (the surface looks like the surface of an orange). In order to get rid of the orange peel, you need to sand it with some fine wet/dry sandpaper (about 1,200 or 1,500 grit). Then you can go ahead and do as Paintguy recommends and you will have a great looking finish.

 

[Scott Peterson]

Trolling remark moved, response posts removed.

Back to topic please.

 

[Fuchsaudio]

http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=0990508000

This Fender kit is made by McGuire's, and includes compounds, polishes, waxes, and works great !

 

[buckwild]

my best results on this were from lightly sanding with 1800 and 2000 grit sandpaper and then using 3m Finese it and then 3m Perfect it. You have to go real slow with the sandpaper but it helps to get the surface to smooth out.

TAKE YOUR TIME

 

[Big B]

Charlie's did my LP Standard faded...I have an SG getting some work with them right now, I'll ask what they used on the LP when I am in there this week. I know part of the formula was a buffing wheel.

 

[HHB]

I buffed out a hwy1 tele body and got a bit of orange peel ( I used buffing compound ) afterwards I did a search and found some tips to avoid it, my usual sequence LOL

 

[gkoelling]

I used Maguires scratch x on my highway 1. Nice gloss finish.

Be carefull buffing the highway 1 it has a thin finish. My nails are short and I put a scratch in the back of the body buffing it out.

Since it is buffed out now I don't have to learn how to play it.

On a Hwy 1 Tele body I used the Scratch X and Turtle Wax Polishing Compound with the green label. The both got the same results but the Scratch X took less effort.

I'm thinking of using a power buffer on it.

Oh, I've been not learning how to play for 42 years now and it hasn't hurt me one bit.

 

[CitizenCain]

I used 3M FinesseIT and 3M Rubbing Compound to finish up the Tru-Oil finish I put on my LP Studio. Then I used Virtuoso polish to give it that final rubout shine.