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| Menzerna and Buffing http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=57128 |
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| Author: | Kbore [ Sat Jul 12, 2025 1:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Menzerna and Buffing |
Currently using the StewMac branded polishing compound bars; Medium then Fine. I see that SM recently started carrying Menzerna and I want to give it a whirl, literally. I'm not in love with the SM ones. I've just started using the Super Assilex, up to 1500 (thanks everyone for the posts regarding Super Assilex). With two wheels as my limit, I 'm considering Menzerna FINE then SUPER. Does Mez FINE followed by SUPER cut sound reasonable on WB lacquer? Hoping not to need a swirl remover with FINE then SUPER, but its always an option. From https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/supplies/sanding-and-polishing/buffing-and-polishing/menzerna-buffing-compounds/?queryid=77915da789bd01831b3c9ebb2f1fa687 : MEDIUM Menzerna P204 / Medium Cut (pink) Removes 600-800 grit sandpaper scratches FINE Menzerna GW16 / Finish (tan) Removes 800-1000 sandpaper scratches Lubrication level: Greasy 2.6lb (1.2kg) bar #3174 Extra Fine SUPER Menzerna P175 / Super Finish (ivory) Provides an ultra-high gloss look Lubrication level: Dry |
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| Author: | Kbore [ Sat Jul 12, 2025 2:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Menzerna at StewMac |
I'm answering my own question with a post from J De Rocher from February under a "ROund Table" thread. His post is so pertinent that I pasted it here: J De Rocher wrote: Here's the final result and it's the best finish I've produced to date. Happy camper and I'll be using Assilex and Buflex from now on. Endurovar over SilverTip epoxy, sanded with Assilex 800, 1000, 1200, & 1500 and Buflex 2000 & 2500, buffed with Menzerna P204 & P175, and polished with Meguiar's Mirror Glaze #10. I sanded the top and back to 2500 and the sides to 1500 and then went to the buffer. I got much better results on the top and back (2500) than on the sides (1500) maybe because I went to the medium cut P204 Menzerna. Brad goes to the buffer from 1500 but he buffs starting with the coarser GW18 Menzerna. Attachment: Shiny shiny.jpg THanks again J for posting your results and MOW. |
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| Author: | J De Rocher [ Sat Jul 12, 2025 9:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Menzerna and Buffing |
Karl - Like you, I have just two buffing wheels so I wanted to use just two Menzerna compounds if possible. I adopted the P204 and P175 based on recommendations from other OLFers. In case you haven't run across it, this old thread I started when I was having trouble with my first attempt at buffing has some useful info in it regarding Menzerna compunds and buffing wheel prep. https://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=53056&hilit=p204 |
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| Author: | Tim Mullin [ Sun Jul 13, 2025 9:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Menzerna and Buffing |
Not sure why one would have just two buffing wheels. Skipping grits with any abrasive system is generally a no-no — you end up with shiny scratches. I have 4 sets of wheels: 3 for my Menzerna compounds and 1 for fret polishing. Wheels are clearly labelled and only used with one compound. If you really wanted to skip a grit, I would use micro mesh carefully to 12 000, then go directly to GW16. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk |
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| Author: | Hesh [ Sun Jul 13, 2025 5:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Menzerna and Buffing |
Most repair shops only have two buffing wheels if that. We have two, we can have four, six, whatever but we get our work done with only two and always have for nearly 20 years now. We run fine compound on both of them and have a "light" wheel and a "dark" wheel. This practice of a light and dark wheels is common. For buffing frets we have the Collins fret buffer that will take frets from 320 to the highest polish we've ever seen in 5 minutes or less. The fret buffer uses 3M abrasive impregnated wheels where the abrasive is molded into the fingers of the wheels. The light wheel is used for buffing finish and the dark wheel is used for buffing wood such as bridges after repairing them from say a crack or milling in string ramps to improve break angle for neck reset candidates where the price point of the instrument will never justify the cost of a reset from a very busy shop. The dark wheel we don't use compound on so it does not get into the pores of bridges and unfinished parts that we buff. We do at times use medium compound on the same wheel )light wheel) and dress the wheel with the rake in-between and we might even use sacrifice boards to remove most of the compound on the wheel before switching from medium to fine and back. Sure there remains some old compound but it works fine. One of the first things I learned in the commercial world of guitar repair is that what we read on forums.... or the StewMac catalog be it paper RIP or on-line is not always true or even a best practice. If we have to after buffing and this is rare we might follow up with McGuires compounds such as fine cut cleaner, polish, swirl remover, etc. depending on what the case is. We are buffing all manner of finishes, whatever a maker once used from poly that can be tenacious as Joe White will verify to lacquer which again seems to be a great finish for guitars in it's ease of use. So that's why most people only have two wheels, it works. |
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| Author: | Kbore [ Tue Jul 15, 2025 12:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Menzerna and Buffing |
J De Rocher wrote: Karl - Like you, I have just two buffing wheels so I wanted to use just two Menzerna compounds if possible. I adopted the P204 and P175 based on recommendations from other OLFers. In case you haven't run across it, this old thread I started when I was having trouble with my first attempt at buffing has some useful info in it regarding Menzerna compounds and buffing wheel prep. https://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=53056&hilit=p204 J, that thread was a SCORE! Thanks for starting it, and to everyone that contributed there. Menzerna had a product data/ selection chart that lists the finial sanding finish grit then the recommended buffing schedule for the finish desired. Your P204 & P175 schedule was there as was GW16 ---> P175 : https://www.menzerna.com/fileadmin/ns_t ... EN_web.pdf Menzerna also spec'd the elusive buffer speed* for painted surfaces- 6-24m/s. If you know your RMP, it's easy to convert back and forth** based on the buffer pad diameter. Thanks for the discussion everyone. * https://www.menzerna.com/fileadmin/ns_t ... EN_web.pdf ** https://turn2engineering.com/calculators/RPM-Calculator |
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| Author: | Kbore [ Wed Jul 16, 2025 4:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Menzerna and Buffing |
I just ordered a three-pack of Canton cotton wheels after re-reading Jay’s post. Buy once cry once |
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