Micro-Mesh Soft Touch Finishing Pads... You tried 'em?

[CBA]

GUYS.

THESE:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_s ... _Pads.html


I believe Elwood recommended these to me a few months ago, and I was wondering if anyone else has tried them or could chime in a bit on their function. Suppose it's not much of a risk if I just buy the damned things. A lot of the comments mention fretboard work, but I want them to touch up some scratches on the bottom of my P-Bass.

They aren't just surface scratches like you'd get from normal wear or a pick, but they aren't that deep either. They're kinda like dirt scratches, and you can feel them with your finger, but juuuuuuust barely.

Would these work, or would I be taking off a lot of the finish/paint if I used them on these scratches?

C

[eatyourguitar]

buffing wheels work too. you dont have to go all stew mac. unless you dont have a bench buffer.

[CBA]

Yeah but like

[Achtane]

I don't think at 1500 grit you'll be taking off much of anything. It'll prolly work fine for the scratches.
Shit, it took hours and hours and hours of sanding with 220 to break through the sealer on my bass.

[CBA]

Both guitars in question are white, a Jazzmaster and a P-Bass, and they both have scuffs on the bottom from falling off my goddamn guitar strap. I wonder if I should even bother. I could probably get those types of sandpaper at a hardware store, couldn't I? Or is that too specialized?


C

[greyscales]

You could probably find that type of sandpaper at an autoparts store. They also have plenty of colors and types of spraypaint if you need to go that far.

[dubkitty]

i've bought packages of sandpaper strips approximately the size of an A4 page cut in half lengthwise down to 2000 grit made by Miyata at a hobby shop that deals in plastic models, model railroading, radio-controlled airplanes, and similar things. IIRC they come in 800, 1200, 1500, and 2000. i wouldn't start with anything larger than 1200 for what you're doing. i recommend testing on an area under the pickguard to see what size grit works best...i still have some aggravating scratches on one of my guitars because i foolishly started sanding with 600 grit.

[CBA]

i've bought packages of sandpaper strips approximately the size of an A4 page cut in half lengthwise down to 2000 grit made by Miyata at a hobby shop that deals in plastic models, model railroading, radio-controlled airplanes, and similar things. IIRC they come in 800, 1200, 1500, and 2000. i wouldn't start with anything larger than 1200 for what you're doing. i recommend testing on an area under the pickguard to see what size grit works best...i still have some aggravating scratches on one of my guitars because i foolishly started sanding with 600 grit.

Good advice. I'll slip the pickguard off and see what works best. I've had a few scratches on different guitars that reaaaally bug me. Like playwear is fine, but mistakes that I make are hard to get over.


C

[CBA]

Hi again!

Welp, I got the Micro-Mesh pads, and I've been reading up on them where I can. Hard to find specific details on how they should be used. They didn't come with directions either... or like "hints" at least. Haha.

So both of my situations are for moderate finish scrapes... both are results of a fall. By "moderate" I mean they ain't just pick scratches... they're actual like brushing the cement floor scratches. The P-Bass has some scratches across the bottom, and the Jazzmaster has a bonk on the lower butt. Both white.

What I've found that I need to do is get a little bowl of water to soak the pads in. It is recommended that some dish soap is added... just a bit... which I have! Then you just start with the coarsest pad, 1200, and LIGHTLY sand for a minute or so. Then what... you wipe it off, like dry it with a t-shirt or something? Then repeat the process with the lighter grits until the last one, which should provide a mirror-like finish depending on the job you've done.

Sound good?

C

[Achtane]

Oh yeah, wet sanding, forgot about that. I had to do that to the nitro finish after it cured. Leave the pad in the water for a few minutes before you start and don't let it dry out. A microfiber cloth would be handy for wiping it off but I don't think it matters really, as long as you aren't using something rough.
Sounds like that should work just fine. I wonder if buffing it with polishing compound afterward would help or even be needed.