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I usualy sand my briges to 1200, then finish them off with 0000 steel wool. Today I took a bridge to the buffing wheel and really like the buffed out look a lot. What do you do?

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

sand to 600 and then put it on the buffing wheel with a small amount of polishing compound. You can get it as shiney as you like.

I like to go to 800-1000 grit, then put butchers wax on it, then wait 15
minutes or o then take it to the wheel. with very fine menerza.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

On an ebony bridge I rarely sand higher than 180, or 240 at the most.
Then to the course buffing wheel, wipe off the residue and I'd call it
perfect. I generally think of anything higher than 240 as excessive for
wood, and reserve 320 and up of metal or finish.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

I do what Hesh does, and go all the way to 12000 grit. I also use the micro mesh on saddles and nuts to polish. I love these little pads you can get from Stew Mac. Very handy!
Tracy

I like to sand to 800 or 1000 then buff. They come out great.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I sand to 400 or 600, then hit it with some 0000 non-oiled steel wool, and buff with an old T-shirt. Cheaper than micromesh, results are pretty similar. Warm, deep glow.

[QUOTE=Mattia Valente] I sand to 400 or 600, then hit it with some 0000 non-oiled steel wool, and buff with an old T-shirt. Cheaper than micromesh, results are pretty similar. Warm, deep glow.[/QUOTE]
Is this before or after applying the finish? Or, is the bridge left as bare wood, with no finish ?

Phil

[QUOTE=Phil Marino] [QUOTE=Mattia Valente] I sand to 400 or 600, then hit it with some 0000 non-oiled steel wool, and buff with an old T-shirt. Cheaper than micromesh, results are pretty similar. Warm, deep glow.[/QUOTE]
Is this before or after applying the finish? Or, is the bridge left as bare wood, with no finish ?

Phil[/QUOTE]

Bare wood, unfinished. Ends up looking like this:



Not a great picture, but you get the idea.Mattia Valente38851.3810185185

I sand to 600 and polish with minwax. Think I'm going to try those micro mesh pads Hesh and Tracy are talkin' about. Always lookin' for better ways!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Sand to 400, then on to the buffer with medium compound for a nice semi gloss.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I have never tried compound (I use micromesh then oil them). Doesn't it get stuck in the pores?

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I do mine up to 0000 steel wool and the lightly wipe on fingerboard oil! it works great!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

I sand mine to about 600P or so and then wipe on several coats of shellac. Once that has dried a few days I sand it down with OOOO steel wool and then take it to the buffer.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

180/220, or whatever's handy(I'm not fussy...), then buff with the StewMac 3169. Takes all of 2-3 minutes. It doesn't have to be complicated to be good.

I do essentially what Mario does, with the exception that I go to at least 800 when I'm doing ebony because it seems to show the little scratches more. But just a few minutes on the wheel with some Menzerna 3168 (medium) and then 3167 (fine)...

Usually I don't need the fine unless it's a piece of ebony and I want it to shine...

Works great...

-Paul-

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-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] [QUOTE=tl507362] I do what Hesh does, and go all the way to 12000 grit. I also use the micro mesh on saddles and nuts to polish. I love these little pads you can get from Stew Mac. Very handy!
Tracy[/QUOTE]

I was surprised that they last nearly forever too. My first set is still in great shape - great product![/QUOTE]

I don't know what the grit's are, but a handy substitute for the micromesh pads are the nail buffing boards found by the nail polish and such at the drugstore. If you look around in that aisle, there's other useful items as well.

CrowDuck

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Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

Hesh: That's an intersting photo. Is that an acoustic keyboard?

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Hesh, start buying them from Micro-Surface direct and save money exspecialy on sheets and ROS pads. Here is the link
Micro-Surfaces