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

Andy Eder · Post by **Andy Eder** » 24 Apr 2015 8:47 pm

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 · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 24 Apr 2015 11:31 pm

I never go around mirrors, sorry.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 25 Apr 2015 12:20 am

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.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 25 Apr 2015 4:16 am

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 · Post by **Bo Borland** » 25 Apr 2015 4:54 am

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 · Post by **Andy Eder** » 25 Apr 2015 6:07 am

Olli Haavisto wrote:I never go around mirrors, sorry.

Thanks for the Saturday morning humor!

Regards,
Andy

Andy Eder · Post by **Andy Eder** » 25 Apr 2015 8:17 am

Lane, Bo, and David,

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

Thanks,
Andy Eder

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Apr 2015 8:20 am

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

Andy Eder · Post by **Andy Eder** » 25 Apr 2015 8:24 am

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 · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Apr 2015 8:29 am

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 · Post by **David Nugent** » 25 Apr 2015 8:35 am

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

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Apr 2015 8:39 am

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 · Post by **Andy Eder** » 25 Apr 2015 9:50 am

Erv and David, thank you both for your input.

Andy Eder

kyle reid · Post by **kyle reid** » 25 Apr 2015 10:06 pm

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

Andy Eder · Post by **Andy Eder** » 25 Apr 2015 10:18 pm

Hi Kyle,

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

Thanks,
Andy

Jacob Hacker · Post by **Jacob Hacker** » 25 Apr 2015 10:24 pm

Semicrome.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 25 Apr 2015 10:43 pm

If it's scratched/etched, the chemical polishes won't do it.
If it's just dull, yeah, the chemical ones will work fine.

Andy Eder · Post by **Andy Eder** » 25 Apr 2015 10:45 pm

Thanks Lane and congrats on your Sho-Bud sale!

Best,
Andy

Dave Magram · Post by **Dave Magram** » 25 Apr 2015 11:30 pm

Jacob Hacker wrote:Semicrome.

The name is “Simichrome Polish” made by Happich, a German company.
http://www.simichrome-polish.com/

It’s available at some auto parts stores, and online from Amazon, etc..

You don’t need very much--a small tube will last a long time.

Dave

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 26 Apr 2015 12:18 am

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 · Post by **Mike DiAlesandro** » 26 Apr 2015 5:32 am

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

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 26 Apr 2015 6:00 am

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

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 26 Apr 2015 6:05 am

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 · Post by **Michael Yahl** » 26 Apr 2015 6:45 am

OWEEE!

Would a Superman bandaid help!

Andy Eder · Post by **Andy Eder** » 26 Apr 2015 8:34 am

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

Thanks,
Andy

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

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

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