Official Luthiers Forum!

I've been thinking about ditching my pedestal buffer for a 3" polisher and an automotive polishing system like 3m's Perfect It. Anybody here have an opinion one way or the other? I use nitro lacquer most of the time if that matters.

another user here once reported they felt that 3M 1500 grit finesse it II left the surface kind of 'rubbery' feeling, and I can report the same type of experience when using it on lacquered furniture, though in my case I found waxing it (after the product had fully cured) seemed to do away with it...dunno...

I've used an air powered 3" automotive buffer and 3M perfect-it on 40 instruments now and love the versatility and quickness of this system. I can buff out a guitar from the 1000 grit paper state to finished product in about half an hour.

Happy camper here!

Mikey

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The Biggest Little City, Nevada
www.hammondguitars.com
I love building guitars!

Do you use the Trizact sanding discs too? Basically I hate how much real estate my buffer takes up plus all the room you need around it while actually buffing. The 3" polisher and compounds seems a more elegant solution.

Have done both, for guitars I won't go back from my pedestal buffer.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

I use a B&D orbital polisher + 3M products with good results on lacquer but I have to say if you get something similar you will need to somehow anchor the guitar to your bench or get another pair of hands to hold it so it doesn't move around all over the place.
The B&D polisher is a hefty tool, nice slow speed, but too cumbersome for one handed use.
If I had the room I would get a pedestal or wall mounted buffing wheels.

Hey Michael, I did a search for 3M Perfect-it and came up with a number of products, from machine polishes to rubbing compounds to waxes. Which one do you use? Nice to see you here again!
Wendy

I haven't tried both but it would seem like a step backward switching to a 3" polisher. I could see it if you had a 100 sg ft shop and 0 free space though. Me, I'm saving up for one of these.