These well made copy guitars were more than likely built in the Matsumuko plant in Japan. Also you have dissolved and wiped away the dyes that make the plastic black at the surface. Determine if the material you wish to polish needs to be sanded first. It's common heritage with Teisco and Kawai is pretty obvious, but they were allegedly made by Aria.I'll quote some info from the 'net. The first application fills large scratches. Spray Silver works better on plastic than Pouring Silver. As it begins to thin and dry, you'll feel more resistance. A gentle, circular sanding motion is fine. My only other thought now would be to be careful about over-sanding on edges and raised details, because that's always a danger. Similar to the previous stage, the goal is to get a mirror-like finish, but this time, polish it with the grain of the metal. To achieve a reflective surface with mirror finish the preparation Use Century Clear Urethane, not Century Clear Lacquer, to create a clear protective backing for your plastic mirror. Dab it on the plastic and then rub it on in a circular motion. Hit the finish with some 400 then some 000 steel wool then a buffing pad. Get a soft cotton cloth, and apply a small amount of liquid polish. You will need to work methodically to get this shiny finish. I’m ready to buff by hand! I cannot speak to it's accuracy:Sekova was a brand name for the Musical Merchandise Company of New York. Start with a light spritz of the water vinegar solution on the glass. Dull material may just be dirty. This is a good way to keep polishing costs down when a part needs to be shiny but not flawless. Follow with ultra-fine grit sandpaper (600 grit). However, if any woodgrain texture remains, best to sand with the grain. Work your way up in grit from the coarsest applicable paper to the finest. Begin by smoothing out the edges of your acrylic with 180 grit sandpaper and wet sand the edges. Each approach has it’s merits and drawbacks. Even for cars, this should be done indoors.I used a old workmate portable bench, and covered it with old towels. Acrylic paints, urethanes, etc. This is a MIJ (made in Japan) instrument. To finish your project and achieve a mirror like finish, use the finest applicable compound with the loose single stitched buff. A "polishing compound" can be substituted here. The work should now have a scratch-free 'sheen.' Diamantine is a very fine powder used primarily by watchmakers to produce a mirror finish, scratch free on hardened steel pivots and jewels. Probably 1200 to 2000 grit is a good idea. And sanding alone won't do it. Don't, under any circumstance, use any masking tape on fresh lacquer, even the blue "easy release" tape. As the edges level and smooth move onto the sandpaper with the grit of 320 - 360 to give a more polished finish. Matte, however, tends to hide surface defects. How you light glossy surfaces becomes an art form itself...(it's always about light; we don't see things, we see light bouncing off things). (note: loose single stitched buffing wheels are primarily for finishing and working with fine compounds). The following steps can be followed for most reflective surfaces including metals, plastics, rubber and even wood. But for small things, it's great. NSK Electer – speed range from 1000 to 35,000 rpm NSK Espert 500 Torque System – speed range from 1000 to 50,000 rpm In such cases it is of utmost importance to choose a proper tool material and establish a suitable surface preparation tech-nique. I'd appreciate any comments or insight on having such a surface finish involved in the combustion chamber. Dry your work piece with a soft cloth or chamois. This is how I think about it (I was trained and worked as a photographer for 35 years). But it's very pretty, so I wanted to show it off. These very fine compounds are the last abrasive step in the process. I've not used every type of rubbing compound out there. )It's just to show the finished, reassembled guitar. Viewing angle matters. I wetsanded a section until it felt soft and smooth, ( and wiped off the excess dust. The company imported Japanese guitars into NYC, USA in the late 1960's and early 1970's. (It's not always necessary to go all the way to the finest applicable compound. If grain remains in the piece, sand with the grain. (This step was added later, about a week or so after initial publishing. What can i do to achieve the gloss mirror-like effect you have on your guitar? I'm under the impression that if you wet sand your color coat to a matte finish, the clear will bring back the sheen due to light refraction? Let dry and repeat the spritz with the vinegar solution and … Certainly glossy photographic prints have a greater tonal range than matte prints. The final step is to make that matt finished surface to mirror finish, we start by applying 3M Polishing compound on the metal and rub it in a circular motion as shown in the Image. Polishing with an abrasive can help to remove stubborn dirt on any type of glass. Thanks--. I loved that guitar until it was stolen I am rebuilding a strat Copy I have had for 30 years. Think of watching a big-screen TV with a picture window right behind you. If using a different buff for each compound is not possible then remove the previous compound by "raking" the buff thoroughly. Then apply to your 3D print surface in small circles until all the polish is rubbed into the surface. Be especially careful during this step, as sanding through the finish is easy with the coarser paper. In addition, I buff titanium for sporting goods. This was taught to me by an auto painter, on my own truck as he sanded a beautiful black paint job to an almost grey color. You must rub the compound dry, and off the surface for the full effect. I do think how (and how well) the clear bonds to the paint pigment can have an effect also, but the surface of the completed work has a larger effect, IMHO. I cannot guarantee they all work the same, yet I was able to develop a "feel" for it's use, and that final bit of physical resistance seemed to be where the compound did the most work. All surface defects are removed. I've been working on it slowly for years- it's 24 years old. Work the compound into the surface evenly. A good rule of thumb … Use 400 or 600 grit wet-dry paper. Inspect visually. Plays nice, too.The guitar is a late 60's Sekova thinline hollow-body electric. Polishing metal to a mirror finish is a relatively simple process, involving sanding down any imperfections and then buffing it. The procedure here is as follows: Mount the fine flannel polishing attachment to the drilling attachment Switch on the drill Hold a square object against the … Next, spin the coated buff or felt bob onto the surface to be polished. Mirrored Polycarbonate Sheeting. Metals appear dull when there are scratches or dirt preventing the light from reflecting directly off the surface. Rotary Tools, Attachments, Chucks & Mandrels, jewelers rouge and polishing compound chart, For Wholesale and Large Quantity Discounts Call (631) 940-8550. Chrome did not work. Metal polishing is part art and part science. Just polishing won't remove any scratches. Nice looking deep shine on your Sekova. I currently directional sand titanium for the aircraft industry. Lots of rags. Fill the grain with an oil-or water-based wood grain filler. High gloss polishing To ols for plastic moulding do require a high surface finish especially when extreme transparency and/or high gloss are aimed for. This is a common finish in preparation for chrome plating. 3) A sponge for a sanding block. Please don't forget to hit that LIKE button and SUBSCRIBE for future videos. There are different levels of mirror polishing the highest level looks just like a glass mirror and is used for lens parts. Best results are obtained at 3,000 RPM or less. Polishing compound grades and colors are not consistent between manufactures. Apply plastic cleaner and polish the surface to remove stains, repair light surface damage, and maintain a protected, water-resistant finish on your headlights or interior trim. Thanks. Participated in the The Instructables Book Contest. Next, sand with finer grit sandpaper (400 grit). You'll have to start all over...These techniques aren't limited to lacquer, of course. Use the compounds sparingly as you only need a small amount for them to work properly. Any real hardware store is also a good source. Cycle through 800, 1000 and finally 2000 grit paper. hi again- so this morning I checked on my car and everything that seemed shiny last night is now covered in white streaks of the rubbing compound. I am a cosplayer, and have used this tutorial multiple times on our weapons props to give them that beautiful mirror shine without them being real metal. Make sure that every part of the metal is covered with polishing compound. Inspect the work visually, but also be aware of the tactile 'drag' you feel while sanding. To begin polishing start with a stiffer buff such as a felt bob or felt cone, sisal buffing wheel, specialty buff, or spiral sewn buffing wheel. It can add gloss and protect the finish, but doesn't remove any finish in the process. But I'm not certain it's wrong, either, depending on how the auto painter was using the language, etc. Clean thoroughly, and if your work piece is still dull then proceed to polishing. Clean the plastic with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and then Glass Cleaner before mirroring even if it is covered with a protective film. But am I going to missing a lot of that glossy quality if compared to buffing with hand drill+pads? You may also want to protect surfaces and tools with tape or padding to prevent accidental gouging. Hi gentlemen I had just recently completed a port and polish on my 1.8T 5v head. Wet, it can be tricky to not sand through your finish layers, though. This example is a vintage thin-line hollow-body guitar that needed several structural repairs.... Supplies for this project are basic and inexpensive: #8 Mirror Finish "Mirror" bright finish with clear reflection - No haze. Share it with us! The paint was sanded where repairs were made to the original finish, then a little prep sanding was done overall before the clear. To "rake" the buff, carefully spin it against a buffing rake or sharp metal edge to remove the residue. How to apply a high-gloss finish by hand, using abrasive polishing. For further help on using Diamantine have a read of the late George Daniels book 'Watchmaking'. ), even though I usually use it wet. Be sure the polish is formulated for guitars, though. A rubbing compound is now applied. Do you know if it's possible to get a #8 mirror finish on stainless steel by hand? Any major scratches need to be dealt with before clear, of course. Continue polishing until visible scratches are removed and the desired luster is achieved. I looked at chrome finishes, but I need it to be as close to a mirror as possible. Hi there- i've tried everything to make my spraypainted (metal) car look glossy. It's important to progress up through the finer grades of paper. Insert the buff you wish to start with into any standard electric drill, bench grinder, or buffing machine and choose the coarsest applicable polishing compound by consulting the jewelers rouge and polishing compound chart. Getting Rid of Scratches Use toothpaste for very soft plastics. The reflection makes it difficult to see the image. Coat the buffing wheel or felt bob by lightly spinning the buff against the polishing compound. I know this is an older thread, but I wanted to say thank you!! Rub the polish firmly onto the surface in smooth back and forth motions. will work just as well (and not have the long drying time of nitrocellulose lacquer.). Polycarbonate mirror plastic easily outclasses glass for environments requiring high impact materials while maintaining a high level of crystal clarity. Toothpaste buffs the plaque off your … Do you know what I may have done wrong? 4) A bucket of soapy water. 7) Polish Any thoughts? Q. I need to put a mirror finish on ABS plastic. Preparation (sanding, filling, painting), and multiple coats of lacquer help to insure the finish is free of woodgrain texture. The wet sanding does that. This will help gauge your progress.Sand only until any uneven surface texture is removed.Note:If you drop the sponge, sandpaper or wiping/drying rag on the floor, START OVER WITH A FRESH SPONGE, SANDPAPER, ETC.You're likely to scratch the work, if you don't. Polishing is similar to sanding. And for beginners, hand-sanding and rubbing is less likely to burn or sand though paint and clear--it's a safer route... Rubbing compound wasn't the last step. Mirror Finish Polishing. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. First, the surface of the paint or clearcoat must be sanded to remove any imperfections (deep nicks and scratches must be filled before lacquering, however. Apply the polish to the scratches at a right angle. on Step 7. Were the multiple color coats wet sanded then clear top coats applied then again a wet sanding routine? I've been trying to figure this out for so long. But don't work with a clean part of the rubbing cloth until it's nearly all rubbed out. Saturate the soft cloth with the first step of plastic polish. What to do: Take the glass out of the frame and clean. Using nail polish may be another way but this is more to make it look less bad than good again. I applied the rubbing compound with a microfiber cloth, and then I applied the polishing compound. I know this is an old thread, but I wonder if you could give me advice on finishing a motorcycle tank. Most plastics are too soft to polish and abrasives can ruin the glass-like surface. Colorful Wrapped Rope Macrame Knot Necklace. Has anyone else ever done this?-- St Augustine FL, Experience is the sum of our mistakes! Use a soft cloth--an old tee shirt works well, or a terry cloth towel. If grain remains in the piece, sand with the grain.Exercise care when sanding hard edges. Repeat the process with the next finer polishing compound as shown on the chart. The clad is .003-.004 thick. 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Or insight on having such a surface finish involved in the piece must be sanded.! Grit to start, 800, 1000, 2000 to finish your project and achieve a mirror.. Reflection makes it difficult to see the image the plastic black at the end ( as it drys.. Anything -- furniture, automobiles, guitars, though ) instrument, over the surface polishing, I suppose dull... The spritz with the coarser paper insight on having such a surface especially. Works for just about anything -- furniture, automobiles, guitars, though metal edge to remove the.. Polishing ( the same as if you could give me advice on finishing a motorcycle tank and... Circumstance, use the wet/dry paper dry ( why they call it wet/dry even.!