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Post by silverslider on May 8, 2006 22:33:41 GMT
Hi Michael
I've just bought a second hand 90s 'Continental' Style N which is finished in German Silver. Could you please advise me about what to clean the metal with? It could do with a bit of a shine up.
Thank you
'German'silverslider
;D
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Post by Richard on May 9, 2006 19:50:14 GMT
I'll beat MM to it  I use his highly reccommended and exclusive guitar polish ... original Turtle Wax as in car polish - it's great on both metal and wood bodied guitars  |
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Post by Michael Messer on May 10, 2006 10:02:58 GMT
Hi Silverslider,
Richard is right about car wax to protect the shiny finish. But before that, bevause your guitar needs a bit of a shine-up, I would advise you give it a good going over with a gentle metal polish. Then after you have polished it, give it a good covering of car wax to protect the finsh from moisture.
Shine On (now you know why it's my signature!!!)
Michael.
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Post by silverslider on May 11, 2006 18:03:40 GMT
Hi Michael I'm now too scared to use anything on my guitar!  My wife got some 'Hagerty' silver polish from our local jewellers' this is what they recommended. Did they know what 'German silver' was? Nope.  Don't these people have to do a metallurgy course? Maybe I should do one! Can I use that before the turtle wax?  Many thanks for your help! silverslider ;D |
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Post by LouisianaGrey on May 11, 2006 19:31:57 GMT
What are the tonal differences between using Turtle Wax and Meguiars?
Oops, sorry, for a moment there I thought I was on the Acoustic Guitar Magazine forum ...
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Post by silverslider on May 11, 2006 22:08:35 GMT
Pete I admit *sound* is the most important thing, but I don't want to muck up the finish. It may sound daft to you, you're an expert guitar-maker. I, on the other hand, am a complete klutz! I am making sure I am doing the right thing. silverslider |
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Post by Michael Messer on May 11, 2006 23:45:42 GMT
Hi Silverslider,
Your Continental Style N is not a fragile object. Take a look at the finish of a 1928/29/30 National and you will understand what I mean. I agree that one should not use a Brillo Pad (wire wool) to polish your guitar, but with care and a sypathetic approach, you can't harm your guitar. If it needs a polish - then polish it. I have a 1930 National Style 4 Tricone and every once in a while I use Silvo or similar and give it a polish. Sometimes I use 'Mer' (Check out Mer, its excellent stuff - Highly recommended) and then if you want to protect the finish from blood, beer, sweat and tears - give it a good coat of car wax (Turtle is fine) and then finish it off with a touch of the old elbow grease, and your guitar will be fine. If you are worried, do a test on a small area, but I am sure it will be fine. I have owned dozens of shiny silver Nationals and over the years have used just about every polish you could name, and I haven't damaged a guitar yet.
Shine On,
Michael ;D
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Post by LouisianaGrey on May 12, 2006 7:43:33 GMT
Sorry, Silverslider, I was just being generallty facetious, I wasn't trying to get at you at all, your question was a perfectly valid one. I was really taking the mickey out of the people who (usually on the Acoustic Guitar Forum) have heated debates about things like the tonal differences of fossilized ivory versus ebony bridge pins. I could equally well have asked the question about different brands of tea bags used for staining bone nuts - perhaps I should have done that instead.
Metal polish is a mild abrasive in some sort of liquid, so basically any mild abrasive in liquid will work and as long as it's mild it won't do any damage unless your plating is phenomenally thin. As well as the usual metal polishes I've also used Turtle Wax scratch remover, T Cut and a buffing liquid sold to wood turners. Usually I find most fingermarks will come off with regular guitar polish, though. The best tip is the car wax because prolonged contact with sweat will eventually discolour the finish, especially if it's nickel. As Brozman points out in his book, once the finish has gone cloudy there has been a chemical reaction that goes all the way through the plating and no amount of polish will get it out.
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Post by Alan on May 12, 2006 11:17:23 GMT
I quite like the clouding.
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Post by silverslider on May 12, 2006 16:08:53 GMT
Hi Michael & Pete Thank you very much for your valued input. Guess what I'll be doing this weekend! Shining on ( before I wear out my welcome! ) Cheers silverslider |
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