carnuba wax on guitars

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rickm

Posts: 446
Joined: Jan. 23 2004

carnuba wax on guitars

what to put on fine guitars? carnuba? some folks say dont put anything on them. Lemon pledge etc has too much cleaner in it to put on a french polish finish eventually it will erode the finish. Anyone know?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 16:13:28

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: carnuba wax on guitars (in reply to rickm)

You shouldn't put any wax or oils on your guitar. Unless your eating TV dinners on it(I swear I'v'e never done this

) , it should just be dusty and you should just wipe it with a cloth.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 19:34:43

GuitarVlog

Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: carnuba wax on guitars (in reply to rickm)

If your guitar has a polyurethane finish, you can just use this. It works just as well (if not slightly better) than most of the "specialty" guitar polishes and costs less per ounce.

I have not researched what are the better cleaners/polishes for lacquer or French polish and cannot recommend anything at this time.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 19:41:20

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: carnuba wax on guitars (in reply to rickm)

The idea behind wax on polyurethane is to fill the scratches, right?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 20:01:28

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: carnuba wax on guitars (in reply to rickm)

Do your guys's guitars really get that beat up and dirty????? I have a neighbor that polishes his guitars more then he plays 'em.........

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 20:02:03

GuitarVlog

Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: carnuba wax on guitars (in reply to Sr. Martins)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rui Martins
The idea behind wax on polyurethane is to fill the scratches, right?

Yes.

Express shine is just a cleaner-polish though. It's not a wax. I don't use waxes on any of my guitars that have poly finishes.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 20:07:28

rickm

Posts: 446
Joined: Jan. 23 2004

RE: carnuba wax on guitars (in reply to rickm)

haha I have a friend who is quite professional he literally plays the top off his guitars, in a year it will look like willie nelsons, but he plays at least 8 hrs a day plus performs.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 20:22:25

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: carnuba wax on guitars (in reply to rickm)

It says on the label that it is "car wax".. and how could it make scratches disappear if it wasnt filling them? Iam asking just to know about this, I never use anything besides lemon oil on the fingerboard.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 20:34:55

estebanana

Posts: 9374
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: carnuba wax on guitars (in reply to rickm)

The kind of plastic polish you can get at stores like Tap Plastics called 3M plastic polish works.

You just need a nickel sized spot of polish on a soft cloth. Maybe every third time you change the strings you might give it a light polish, if that.

There are several auto polishes that you should not put on a guitar. Really after you play while the guitar is warm wiping the guitar down with soft clean cloth will remove the moisture and oils form your body. That keeps it clean. Most guitar makers don't recommend putting different products on guitars. There are a lot of reasons why it is not good, but you can only voice an opinion.

What actually drives me more wild than seeing a dirty greasy guitar is seeing one that has waxy grey polish build up in niches and corners.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 22:43:50

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: carnuba wax on guitars (in reply to rickm)

You guys play naked all the time?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 22:52:28

jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005

RE: carnuba wax on guitars (in reply to rickm)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rickm

what to put on fine guitars? carnuba? some folks say dont put anything on them. Lemon pledge etc has too much cleaner in it to put on a french polish finish eventually it will erode the finish. Anyone know?

I wouldn't put anything on French polish other than a little gentle wiping with a soft cloth. It's known to be quite sensitive to cleaners, sweat, etc.; however if it's lacquer, some of the modern synthetic auto polishes are great. I use "windex" as a cleaner followed by a product called "finish first" on our guitars. It is absolutely amazing. I apply it with finger tip in tiny amounts and it lasts for months. There are many other similar products that are probably just as good or better. Finishes like polyester don't need anything but a damp soft cloth but polish of any kind certainly won't do any damage. For minor scratches a plastic polish works well on polyester.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2013 23:00:28

RobJe

Posts: 731
Joined: Dec. 16 2006
From: UK

RE: carnuba wax on guitars (in reply to rickm)

For FP and other finishes with sweaty fingermarks on the surface, I flick a few drops of water onto a soft cloth before cleaning.

More dangerously, I have had success in removing small surface scratches from FP finish by rubbing vigorously with a soft cloth - I think that the polish melts and spreads! Don't try with major dings or you will probably end up with a bare patch.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2013 9:49:39

keith

Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston

RE: carnuba wax on guitars (in reply to rickm)

carnuba wax works great on automobiles but for guitars?? martin guitars makes a polish for poly finishes which has a nice cedar aroma to it. actually, the stuff makes a nice room spray--pricey but the cedar aroma is nice.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2013 11:50:54