Official Luthiers Forum!

Yesterday I ordered the Caswell Wood & Acrylic Polishing Kit you can see here: http://www.caswellcanada.ca/shop/produc ... =95&page=1

It comes with plastic fine and ultra-fine compound. Has anyone tried this compound on lacquer or polyester?

Thanks,
Pat

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There are three kinds of people:

Those that make things happen,
those that watch things happen,
and those that wondered what happened.

They're OK, but Menzerna compounds work better. Leave the wheels a little bit loose so they'll slip on the axle instead of snatching the guitar out of your hands if you get a bad angle. For polyester (Axon) I use Menzerna coarse, then medium, then fine. I use (separate) 12" wheels for coarse and medium, but use 14" wheels for fine. On Varnish I use 12" wheels for all the compounds. Use different wheels for each compound.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

You know Pat, I looked at that for a long time. However, that 3/4 hp scared me. The motor speed is right if a tad high. But the torque in that thing will be large. Just make sure you have a strong grip on your guitar when you buff it! There are people here who use it so it can't be all that risky. I will say their wheels are awesom! But I use the Menzerna polishing compounds.

Mike

Hi Pat,

I have one of these... for a very short time it was sold by StewMac...

It works like a charm. Since it is the only one I ever owned, I cannot compare! But I have buffed more than 100 electrics with it and none left my hands!!!

I use Mezerna medium and fine.

Thanks, I ordered the Menzerna compounds.

Pat

_________________
There are three kinds of people:

Those that make things happen,
those that watch things happen,
and those that wondered what happened.

I've never used one, and I only based what I said on lots of other threads. Acoustics tend to have sharp body edges and soundholes, of course, where the wheels like to grab. In my mind's eye, I can see how there would be less concern with an electric body. I once converted my 1 hp drillpress into a "vertical" buffer. With 14" wheels. Worked great except for the lack of maneuvering space. But holy cow did it have grab power!!

Pat, sorry. I should have kept quiet... you already bought it. You are a pretty experienced builder... just watch those edges. My little 1/3 hp motor can grab an edge, but not throw it much. It can also burn an edge if the conditions are just right.

Mike

Like I said earlier, leave the wheels a little loose. That way they'll slip instead of grabbing the guitar.

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I kind of thought "grabbing" would be kind of all the same once you were at about 1/2 hp and above. That is, once the motor has enough power to grab, that's it regardless.

Woody, sounds like good advice to set the wheels a little loose. I will do that.

Thanks,
Pat

_________________
There are three kinds of people:

Those that make things happen,
those that watch things happen,
and those that wondered what happened.

I guess it depends on your definition of "grab". At 1/3 hp, it can grab, but not yank out of my hands. It still surprises me. The other downside to "grab" is burn (or melting of the finish).

Yes, loosen the wheels, maybe get some of those collar nuts (thin) so you can lock the big nuts at a "loose" position and not worry about them coming off.

Mike