Non-aggresive / Best Bet to Remove Scuff on Nitrocellulose

**Dennis D** · 09-07-2020, 04:13 PM

I've been fitting / fooling around with clipping - attaching a mic to my archtop. I somehow put a scuff mark on the top, either from the plastic mic coating or the mic clip. What should I use to try to remove this mark, without leaving any more permanent marks to this poor guitar. ? : ) It's an orig. '50's Gibson so it's nitro, right ?
I've heard naptha, or fingernail polish remover - or is denatured alcohol safe ?? I have mineral spirits - -do I dare try that ?

Thanks.

**gitman** · 09-07-2020, 04:59 PM

I've been very happy with "Virtuoso" Polish and Cleaner, used it on my 60's Gibson's to remove dulled spots and grime. Polishes nicely depending
on your stamina and elbow grease .....

**rabbit** · 09-07-2020, 05:59 PM

Avoid alcohol. Don't ask how I know.

Try a bit of conventional toothpaste on wet flannel, gently.

**Gitfiddler** · 09-07-2020, 06:25 PM

A tiny bit of spit works if a very minor scuff. That's typically my initial remedy. If the scuff doesn't go away then I use a tiny bit of Virtuoso Cleaner. Never tried toothpaste, but sounds reasonable as a non-abrasive cleaner.

**neatomic** · 09-07-2020, 06:37 PM

naptha is safe on nitro..but a scuff might be better served by a light liquid abrasive...

cheers

**SoftwareGuy** · 09-07-2020, 06:41 PM

StewMac has polishing compound for $20. You might want to use the official stuff.

**sgosnell** · 09-07-2020, 07:22 PM

Do not use fingernail polish remover. It's acetone, and will remove nitro as efficiently as it removes nail polish. I cannot emphasize that enough. One possibility is the stuff they sell to renew CDs. It's a very very fine abrasive liquid. The Virtuoso cleaner is the same stuff, AFAICT, but the CD goop is easier and cheaper to buy, and generally comes with a microfiber cloth to apply it. You should find it in most electronics stores, WallyWorld, etc.

**wintermoon** · 09-07-2020, 07:30 PM

Virtuoso polish for minor marks.
Virtuoso cleaner for heavier jobs.

**Jabberwocky** · 09-08-2020, 01:09 AM

Black residue from the plastic microphone mount? I ASSUME that the lacquer is not checked. You could try dabbing at the scuff mark with the sticky side of 3M Scotchtape. A quick dab and pull off motion. The adhesive side picks off stuff that chemical cleaners sometimes smear about.

**Gitterbug** · 09-08-2020, 01:29 AM

Toothpaste is not non-abrasive. People ruin their silverware with it.

**rabbit** · 09-10-2020, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Gitterbug

Toothpaste is not non-abrasive. People ruin their silverware with it.

I feel toothpaste is safe to recommend because it worked great on my
black lacquer Gibson when she was accidentally exposed to a bit of isporopyl alcohol & clouded up.

**sgosnell** · 09-10-2020, 12:02 PM

There are many brands and types of toothpaste.

**fep** · 09-10-2020, 12:12 PM

This is a thumbnail scratch! It's an Eastman and is my only nitro guitar, I've heard the early Eastmans have a fragile finish, I'd guess this guitar is maybe a 2008.

Will the Virtuoso polish fix this?

**rabbit** · 09-10-2020, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

There are many brands and types of toothpaste.

I used "bog-standard" Colgate.

Thinking about trying some Virtuoso stuff.

**Dennis D** · 09-10-2020, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by fep

This is a thumbnail scratch! It's an Eastman and is my only nitro guitar, I've heard the early Eastmans have a fragile finish, I'd guess this guitar is maybe a 2008.

Will the Virtuoso polish fix this?

..FWIW I ordered the Virtuoso Polish / Cleaners.....I also found this YT vid very interesting !!

Good luck !

**Jabberwocky** · 09-11-2020, 02:30 PM

For what it is worth and it is just scuttlebutt, some guy at The Gear Page reported using Virtuoso Cleaner on his Guild the other day and it made the nitrocellulose sticky! I know that Virtuoso Cleaner is powerful stuff so tread cautiously with that stuff.

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/in...inish.2180958/

**Jabberwocky** · 09-11-2020, 02:32 PM

The best solution for treating scratches and scuff is not to look at them closely.

**neatomic** · 09-11-2020, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by fep

This is a thumbnail scratch! It's an Eastman and is my only nitro guitar, I've heard the early Eastmans have a fragile finish, I'd guess this guitar is maybe a 2008.

Will the Virtuoso polish fix this?

probably not..as that scratch is down to bare wood...often a polish will darken the exposed natural wood, so the scratch will be as obvious

and yes early eastmans had very light, prone to scratch, finishes....

cheers

**smallie_stalker** · 11-08-2020, 09:17 PM

Dumb question maybe but how do I tell if the finish on a guitar is nitrocellulose?

I am waiting on delivery of an Epiphone ES-335 Dot and a guitar stand. I noticed today that the info for the stand says "Do not use with instruments that have a nitrocellulose finish."

All that the Epiphone webpage says is that the finish is a gloss finish if that helps.

Don't really want to ruin the finish on a new guitar so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks all.

Sent from my LM-V600 using Tapatalk

**guitar1303** · 11-08-2020, 10:51 PM

Epiphone es-335 dot has a polyurethane finish. Your guitar stand will be fine to use with it.

**smallie_stalker** · 11-08-2020, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by guitar1303

Epiphone es-335 dot has a polyurethane finish. Your guitar stand will be fine to use with it.

I really appreciate the info. Thank you.

Sent from my LM-V600 using Tapatalk

**skykomishone** · 11-09-2020, 06:42 PM

Vinny has the best looking guitars on planet earth, and he told me Novus 1, 2, 3. I tried it and I think Vinny knows.

**skykomishone** · 11-09-2020, 06:48 PM

Non-aggresive / Best Bet to Remove Scuff on Nitrocellulose-20201109_144601-jpg

No affiliation. Just info.

**Max405** · 11-10-2020, 10:14 AM

Dennis,
I use Meguires 101 Compound/Polish to get out the big scratches. Then to do a final polish, I use Menzerna PO85rd (which is I believe is now called Final Polish). The Menzerna is the same stuff used on Maybach, Aston and Rolls Royce before they leave the factory. Its really good stuff.
Dont be afraid to polish out your guitars. If you are using a Random Action orbital buffer, just keep it moving. Let the polish do the work. No heavy pressure. You dont want to build up too much heat as that might heat up the clear too much and cause it burn or orange peal.
I wish we lived close, I'd do it for you!
JD

**Dennis D** · 11-10-2020, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Max405

Dennis,
I use Meguires 101 Compound/Polish to get out the big scratches. Then to do a final polish, I use Menzerna PO85rd (which is I believe is now called Final Polish). The Menzerna is the same stuff used on Maybach, Aston and Rolls Royce before they leave the factory. Its really good stuff.
Dont be afraid to polish out your guitars. If you are using a Random Action orbital buffer, just keep it moving. Let the polish do the work. No heavy pressure. You dont want to build up too much heat as that might heat up the clear too much and cause it burn or orange peal.
I wish we lived close, I'd do it for you!
JD

Hi Joe

I know you'd do it for me if we lived close ! But I also know darn well if we did, we'd suddenly be guitars in hand and I'd be saying things like : "Ok - Joe - -hold it - -what was that thing you just did - -do that again. "..... : )

Then after about three hours - - -

Anyway, I did buy that Virtuoso Polish and Cleaner and they worked great ! And my luthier put in a drop of lacquer retardant on a gouge and that is a good tip too ! But man you have to buy a way too much, unless there's product I haven't heard of that's available in perfume sizes ..

Otherwise hope things are ok Joe, and thanks.

Dennis