This isn't a comment about this video in particular, but more in general I wanted to take the time to tell you that you are my number one go to information source with respect to working on guitars, the only exception being perhaps Dan Erlewine, as I purchased his Guitar Player Repair Guide circa 1993, so he has been helping me for almost three decades! I watch videos from literally dozens of different guitar building and repair folks, and I must say that time and time again, your videos, IMO, are some of the best out there. That's all - I just wanted to express my sincerest appreciation for your generosity in sharing so much knowledge with the rest of us. Thanks so much!
I used to polish my guitars by hand and would usually end up with aching hands and arms. I switched to a random orbital sander with a polishing pad attachment and it works ok. Your finishing looks fantastic !
Love how you explain everything in detail, and why you do it the way you do it. As a young guitar player/luthier, I really appreciate your skills, and there's a lot to learn from your videos. Keep it up! 🤟🏻
Incredible as always. I would love to see how you fix mistakes. Maybe you don't make mistakes at this stage in your craft but for those of us just starting out it would be very instructional to see how you avoid or fix mistakes.
Excellent info as always. Could you do a video showing how to get the best results with some of the other techniques you mentioned? For example, with an orbital car polisher? I know a lot of people don't have the room for a large polishing machine (such as...me :D ), but I would like to be able to get a nice finish on my own guitars with other non-pro methods.
Best videos out there! I have same set up as you but struggling to get my buffing machine [1000 rpm] to buff the clear gloss brite tone to high gloss, The most i get is a satin finish, why do you think that is, I level and polish sand til 1500 then take it to buffing machine with menzerna compounds, could it be i didnt wait long enough or too little finish on it?
Hey @studio1818, thanks for the tip! There are a lot of possible reasons. Are you using one wheel for coarse compound and one for fine compound? How long did you wait for the clear coat to cure? With Brite Tone, it needs to cure a couple of weeks depending on your humidity levels. Also, between coarse and fine compounds, you need to wait at least 30 minutes to allow for the surface to cool and you should clean off the coarse compound residue with a soft cloth before buffing with the fine compound. 1000 rpm may be a bit fast (700 to 900 rpm is better) although I doubt 1000 rpm would be the issue. Make sure you're using P grade sandpaper and maybe try sanding to a higher grit like 2000 to 3000.
I'm a kinda of guitar builder and the paint and clear coat has always been a problem. Can you attach your links for the paint and clear coating a guitar
Brilliant. Thank GOD I found your series! Airway? Never heard about that. Do you have a video on JUST the buffing machine? I'm kind of inexperienced, with just enough knowledge to get myself in big trouble. Unless I could convince everyone that it's not furniture or guitars, but a fine piece of modern art. I can't find any classes here on the eastern shore of Maryland. Can you point me to any good programs in my area? That is if there are any.
Here's the video about my buffing machine. Be aware, the plans I offer were updated from the machine I use in order to improve performance: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qHvHcbOtg3s.html BTW, I don't know anything about classes anywhere.
Would you use this same abrasive kit to polish Solarez “I can’t believe it’s not lacquer”? I have been using the Solarez finish on various small wood working projects (ukulele holder, bandsaw box) and sanding to 600 grit then waxing and hand buffing. I even built a ukulele tanning booth with uv lights and a rotisserie. It works great. No solvent odor in my basement shop, multiple coats with sanding between each in a few hours. But I think buffing wheels are in my future. A ukulele is next.
I love your videos, they're always very helpful. Would this clear coat product work on a swirl finish? I used Humbrol paints, they are enamel based. Thanks and keep up the good work! :)
Great tutorial as always. The one thing that you didn't talk about is the care in avoiding the burn through on the edges. There is less finish that settles on the edges and it can burn away pretty quickly. What is your advice for preventing that from happening when buffing?
The buffing wheels should be turning at around 1000rpm but no higher than 1,500rpm. Anything faster will cause burn through. Also, keep the part moving. Buffing is friction and friction is heat and heat is bad for finishes. One last thing, the use of airway style wheels reduces frictional heat.
Was hoping to see how you work around the cavities. Are you concerned the wheel grabs one of those sharp corners and pulls the guitar out of your hand? Or pulls a chunk of wood off?
Hey again, Chris. Do the 2 Menzerna compounds have a shelf-life? I'll be lucky to do a guitar here and there, and not as frequently as you. So I don't want to spend the money and then only get one use out of the stuff because I haven't used it in a year or something. Thanks again!
Thanks for the video! Why do you touch the weel after applying buffing medium compound? Looks like if you are checking if you put enough, in that case, How do you know it is enough?
Great vid Chris! Beautiful work! I will be doing my first level sanding and polishing job on a guitar within the next few weeks. I have 4 different grades of cutting compound and planned to do it with foam polishing pads and a cordless drill. Anyone ever tried that method?
I do that, you have to be VERY careful that when the pad does grab, it does not pull the spinning chuck onto your precious workpiece! Ask me how I know :-(
Great great great info!! Thank you so much. You might have said it but is there an RPM you recommend for the wheels? You said 900-1500 in passing but do you know what yours run at? Thanks again and please keep it coming!
First you have to determine if the buffing machine is causing the light scratches of if the scratches are leftover from your level sanding effort, which is more likely.
How would you advise avoiding wearing through a painted finish at edges but still polishing up to the edge? Especially where there are angles on the top surface, like a BC Rich?
Do you use soft flannel on both wheels? I use with the medium compound the stew mac canton flannel which is not very soft and I sometimes end up with wearing through the painting in the borders of the pick up cavities and and electronics cavities and too much scratches that did not stay in the wet sanding procesd...
