Buffing out a satin finish?

BluesBop Harry

I own a great Dupont guitar with satin finish (I assume nitrocellulose). Over time some spots on the top have acquired a glossier finish due to my arm rubbing. Is there a way to buff it out and give the whole top an even shine? Could this be done by myself or is an expert absolutely required?

Thanks

Shawn

Hi there,

You should be able to buff it out yourself; I'd get some 2000 grit automotive sandpaper from Wal-Mart and go to town on it. It will give you a pretty scratch free shine and save you the cost of having it done professionally. However, it's pretty laborious, so I guess it depends on how much time and energy you want to put into it.

crookedpinky

I need to do something similar after acquiring a Dupont Busato with a satin finish. There was a small crack in the finish and I thought that T Cut would flatten it out, instead it turned the section I treated from a satin to a gloss finish but only when the light hits it a certain way.

I'm left with the choice of treating the whole top to match this one small area OR finding a way to return the gloss patch to the original satin...........wish I had just left it alone in the first place...............

Alan

Ken Bloom

Hi guys,

A glosy surface is smoother and reflects more light. A satin surface is acutally "rougher" and so light breaks up when it hits it. To turn glossy inot satin it needs to be "scuffed up". I would start with a finer grit paper like 1000 and work back until you get the amount of non-shine you are looking for. I think 600 grit would do it but if you start finer and work back you stand a better chance of achieving what you're after. You might evern get the satin effect with just using 0000 steel wool.
When I'm going the other way, on new lacquer I would go from 0000 steel wool to 320 grit wet and dry paper, then 400, 600, 1200, and then 2000. Let it sit and rub it out. Sincer you want to go from glossy back to satin you need to go the other way until you achieve the degree of non-reflection you are looking for.

Ken Bloom

BluesBop Harry

Sorry for the delay...
In the end I was too chicken to do anything to my Dupont... maybe someday I'll have a pro give it some shine or revert it to satin.
Anyway thanks to all who replied