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Topic: Polishing out a bar ding? |
Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 18 Oct 2018 7:31 pm |
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I have a very shallow ding (really more of a "scrape" than a "ding") in my chrome bar, from having dropped it on a concrete floor (ouch!). I can play with it fine, but it rubs a bit on the strings when it gets turned around to that spot, and I'd like to polish it out, if I can. I don't have any suitable power tools (unless I can borrow some from Roger Rettig  ), but I've been using Wizards Metal Polish on it and I think it has improved somewhat. Not 100% yet, though. Here's the best photo of it I can get:
Is there something better I could be using (Simichrome, Mothers, McGuire's, etc.), or do I really need to have it done by machine?
Thanks in advance,
Jim
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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Billy Murdoch
From:
Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 1:57 am
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Hi Jim
I remember speaking to Bruce Zumsteg about polishing end plates(not scratched ones) Bruce said Simichrome was a little too abrasive for his liking.
I would try it as a starter and then use mothers as a finisher since it is non abrasive.
Good luck
Billy |
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Barry Coker
From:
Bagley Alabama, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 5:09 am Bar ding
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Hi Jim
Polishing out a ding like that is going to be little more than just using a rag and polish if you work on just the area of the dent it will make low spot that will cause a buzz if it gets over the string. You need to polish down the bar to make it even with the low spot and keep it flat.
Find some 2000 grit wet/dry sand paper and a very flat surface sand paper on flat surface (sand Up) and bar flat on paper a little water will help the cutting but just a little. Then just work the bar in a "X" while slowly rolling it a little from side to side this will keep the bar flat. after the dent is gone then use your metal polish to finish it out and smooth out any scratches from the sand paper. (Sand paper can be found at home center or auto parts)
Barry |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 5:43 am
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| Have the Manufacturer send you an identicle replacement, when it arrives, send the dented one back for rehab? |
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Bruce Bjork
From:
Southern Coast of Maine
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 6:05 am
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I went to my local jeweler, he polished my bar up in a few minutes, no charge.
_________________
Banjo, Dobro, Guild D-40, Telecaster, Justice Pro Lite 3x5, BOSS Katana 100, Peavey Nashville 112 in a Tommy Huff cabinet, Spark, FreeLoader, Baby Bloomer, Peterson StroboPlus HD, Stage One VP.
"Use the talents you possess; the woods would be very silent indeed if no birds sang but the best" |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 7:13 am
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You can polish a bar like that but I have my doubts about removing a dent.
Erv |
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Barry Coker
From:
Bagley Alabama, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 8:30 am
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Your exactly right Erv you can't remove the dent you can only remove the material around it until it is level and smooth again. The biggest concern is how deep it is the deeper the dent the more that needs to be removed and the wider the area you need to lower. If it were very deep it would need to be turned in a lathe and the entire circumference reduced Then polished.
Barry |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 8:32 am
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My advise is to just buy a new bar.
Erv |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 8:36 am
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Time for the Dremel tool with just the right accessory..  |
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Bill Fisher
From:
Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 9:45 am Bar
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Just throw it away, Jim.
Bill |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 11:20 am
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Chrome plate? Depending on the quality and thickness of the plating you run the risk of going through the chrome into the base metal way before you get to the defect, requiring a re-plate.
You can try as an experiment to polish with a dremel but be prepared to $$ for a replacement bar.
fwiw
Howard
_________________
Howard Parker
03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
Listowner Resoguit-L |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 11:25 am
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Jim,
I'd just donate it to someone here on the Forum.
Erv |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 11:46 am
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If it's chrome plated, you're probably out of luck, because the actual chrome layer is extremely thin - normally measured in millionths of an inch. Polishing that area (using an abrasive with soft backing) or sanding will normally remove material from around the damaged area, as well as material from the damaged area itself. And, if the underlying nickel plating is exposed, it won't hold up very long.
But if it's a stainless steel bar, it can be either sanded/re-polished, or a skim-cut can be taken off to remove the damage, and then it can be re-polished.
Lesson learned.  |
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Tim Herman
From:
Alberta, Canada
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Posted 19 Oct 2018 8:37 pm
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| Do you use different bars for different tones? You could send it to Kyle Scott and have him powder coat it. He did 2 old bars for me. Gave them a new life. They have just a slightly different tone than my other bars. Very subtle difference. Nice for when you are searching for a specific sound. |
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Butch Mullen
From:
North Carolina, USA 28681
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Posted 20 Oct 2018 9:20 am
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| I use heavy leather for things like that or try to find an old leather razor strop. |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 20 Oct 2018 9:29 am
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| Put a mark or a dimple of glue on it, something to let you know to keep that area away from the strings. Or you could sand the whole length flat enough to use as a sitar bar. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 20 Oct 2018 9:30 am
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Jimbeaux
You can sand a flat spot 5/16" wide down the entire length of the bar and use it as a sitar bar.
Handy if you need to play Brian Jones' riff in "Paint It Black." 
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 20 Oct 2018 9:43 am
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Herb, like minds think brilliantly   |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 21 Oct 2018 12:43 am
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Couldn't you just mark the dent with a hint of nail polish so you know to keep that part of the bar up off the strings using the "good" side down?
_________________
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 21 Oct 2018 7:55 am
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| Wow. There’s another echo. Or maybe my comment is invisible. |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 21 Oct 2018 8:22 am
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| Fred Treece wrote: |
| Wow. There’s another echo. Or maybe my comment is invisible. |
I put paint marks on everything Fred. Seconding the motion is all. 
_________________
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 21 Oct 2018 8:26 am
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My advice would be to either mark the blemish (in order to keep it on top) or have it converted to a sitar bar.
_________________
Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande
There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.
Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 21 Oct 2018 8:27 am
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LOL. It’s turning into a movement!
Godfrey, next time I’ll add a cut-and-paste function to my comment |
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