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Post new topic Remove Scratches on Emmons endplates?
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Author Topic:  Remove Scratches on Emmons endplates?
Tommy Everette


From:
Whitakers, NC
Post  Posted 19 Dec 2014 2:20 pm    
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I bought a used LGII and it has some scratches in the metal parts and some other stains that NevrDull won't remove.

Last edited by Tommy Everette on 21 Dec 2014 4:05 pm; edited 3 times in total
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 19 Dec 2014 3:20 pm    
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I'm sure there's metal polishing outfits near you. It should be not too expensive to have it polished.
If you can't find someone near you, Blue Mountain Metal Finishing in Bethel PA is reasonably priced.
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Bob Hoffnar


From:
Austin, Tx
Post  Posted 19 Dec 2014 7:08 pm    
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Careful! You can make a big mess out of your steel if you don't take the endplates off before buffing out scratches.
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Tommy Everette


From:
Whitakers, NC
Post  Posted 19 Dec 2014 7:10 pm    
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Bob Hoffnar wrote:
Careful! You can make a big mess out of your steel if you don't take the endplates off before buffing out scratches.


Are the endplates difficult to remove?
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Tony Glassman


From:
The Great Northwest
Post  Posted 19 Dec 2014 7:40 pm    
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Bob Hoffnar wrote:
Careful! You can make a big mess out of your steel if you don't take the endplates off before buffing out scratches.


Just what I was thinking!
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Bob Hoffnar


From:
Austin, Tx
Post  Posted 19 Dec 2014 9:36 pm    
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I have never taken end plates off a steel so I don't know how hard it is to do.
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 19 Dec 2014 10:16 pm    
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I've never done it to a LeGrande (just Bud and MSA), but you should be able to see all the screws holding it in. You might have to remove all the pull rods and return springs to get at the screws for the changer end. You shouldn't need to pull the changer.
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More amps than guitars, and not many effects
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Bobby Boggs

 

From:
Upstate SC.
Post  Posted 19 Dec 2014 10:21 pm    
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Quote:
Are the endplates difficult to remove?


Not my intent to be a smart a$$. But if you have to ask. It's likely more than you need to get into. The key side is easy. The changer side involves a little work. But, if you have a dedicated work area? And your the kind of guy that's not afraid to overhaul your lawn mowers engine. You'll do fine.
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chris ivey


From:
california (deceased)
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2014 12:03 am    
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i wouldn't advise it in this case.
the steel should play just fine as long as you don't take it apart.
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2014 12:27 am    
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They're aluminum. I don't think ANYONE has used anything else.
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2014 8:44 am    
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It's simple, just remove the end plates and have at it with something like this, that's what I do!

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Jim Pitman

 

From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2014 6:08 pm    
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If the scratches are deep you might want to sand it first. Lostso work but doable. I've seen over done polishing to the point one can detect a wave in the normally flat surface.
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Micky Byrne


From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2014 6:22 am    
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Tommy you could always come to England and let me do a cover up like I did on my 2 univesal steels, Sho-bud and Carter...kinda like a "Tattoo"
Make over Laughing ..and have a vacation at the same time Very Happy


Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.

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Tommy Everette


From:
Whitakers, NC
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2014 10:39 am    
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Maybe I could use a drill mounted buffing wheel and some polishing rouge...
Anyone tried that?
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Bill Ford


From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2014 11:01 am    
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Tommy,
Tape off the parts (body) before you try polshing, if the scratches are deep, try some #600 wet paper, then polishing/rubbing compound, then semichrome polish. Be careful and go slow..Bill


Micky....That is too cool..love it.
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Micky Byrne


From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2014 11:40 am    
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Thanks Bill ....perhaps the finish on the "Magnum" steels were a good idea..I don't think they would show scratches, although they weren't too pleasing to some eyes. Have a good Christmas Very Happy


Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.
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Bill Ford


From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2014 2:35 pm    
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Micky, the last one I/we built, I beadblasted the endplates...looked OK but didn't like it after it was put together, rebuilt it later and polished everthing, still showed scratches, just not as bad as polished.

BF
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Steeling for Jesus now!!!
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Micky Byrne


From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2014 3:10 pm    
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Hi Bill....I'd like to see a picture of your CLR....I'm always interested in S-12's ... maybe mail it to me micky2hearts@hotmail.co.uk or show it on here...Thanks Very Happy



Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.
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Bill Ford


From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2014 3:59 pm    
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Micky, This one I built around 1985 for my son(lefty) converted it to righty about 1999,used a Marlen changer,pedals,etc that was leftover from a previous job. Added two changer pulls, made a 12 out of a 10 changer with the help of Charles Reese, a builder friend of mine. I built and finished the cabinet, did most of the machine work, Chas. did the final assy, & setup.I used red leather dye for stain. The keyhead looks like a Sho Bud gumby in the picture, but is the shape of a cowboy boot(my idea/design)This is the best picture I could find..computer crashed, haven't recovered all my pics & stuff yet..Bill


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Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!!
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Micky Byrne


From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2014 6:08 pm    
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Look great and well built Bill. I like the matching "Pakka seat" too. Thanks so much for posting it. Send me your e'mail address Bill Very Happy


Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.
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Bobby D. Jones

 

From:
West Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2014 8:15 pm     Remove scratches from emmons end plate
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First how deep are the scratches? Deep scratches can take some major work, May be worth removing the end plates and let a Pro do the work. If the scratches are rather small. Mask off and cover to protect the rest of the guitar. Take a good polish compound and 0000 steel wool till you get the scratches gone. clean up area. Take polish compound and put it on a piece of heavy Brown Paper Shopping Bag, Smooth down till scratches are completely gone. Clean up area. Now use the polish compound and a soft cloth to bring it back to a shine. Using the brown shopping bag with polishing compound is an old Army Engineer trick to get scratches out of brass belt buckles. Works good on cruddy plastic head light lens too. Good Luck.
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Micky Byrne


From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
Post  Posted 22 Dec 2014 2:11 am     Re: Remove scratches from emmons end plate
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Hi again Bill, that's a Fessendon fretboard isn't it? .... I can now see the shape of the "Cowboy boot" Nice idea...standing from the side of the guitar, the toe area is to the left and the heel is on the right Smile


Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.
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Tony Glassman


From:
The Great Northwest
Post  Posted 22 Dec 2014 5:52 am    
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To properly (and safely) sand and buff the changer-side end plate. I know you must remove the endplate.

Having only removed P/P changers, I'm not certain (but probably Billy Knowles, Lynn Stafford, Mike Cass or Jack Stoner could chime in here) if whether or not the changer must first be removed. That entails de-rodding, removing the drops-crew spring assembly and aluminum necks (which overlie the front pillow block arm) etc. So if that's the case, you might as have the changer axle turned and changer fingers polished and do an entire rebuild.

The other option is whether just the split tone bar screws can just be removed and the endplate slipped out alone. That could be relatively easy.

My guess is that trying to truly polish the changer side end plate in-situ can cause damage to the mica or laquer fibnish + get the changer assembly all gunked up with buffing compound.
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Tommy Everette


From:
Whitakers, NC
Post  Posted 22 Dec 2014 6:13 am    
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I'll just leave it assembled and use a drill mounted polishing wheel and tape off the other parts.
One day maybe I'll pay Billy Knowles to restore it.
The scratches aren't horrible but they bother me. I like it to gleam.
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