Removing wax polish from guitars

Subject: Removing wax polish from guitars
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Oct 03 - 06:21 AM

I have a guitar the body of which a previous owner has lovingly polished for 30 years - with wax furniture polish.

How do I get the wax off without damaging the lacquer underneath?

Subject: RE: Removing wax polish from guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Oct 03 - 07:53 AM

I think I remember using a product called Libnet Wax Remover or Libnet Cleaner to remove wax from a table that had also been treated in such a loving fashion.

Subject: RE: Removing wax polish from guitars
From: GUEST,HiHo_Silver
Date: 04 Oct 03 - 06:28 PM

You might try a soft cloth with some turpentine to wipe the guitar down and then buff it with a clean soft cloth. I have had reasonably good succes with this. However, not knowing what you have for a guitar cannot guarantee that turpentine will not affect the finish. Turpentine will not react on synthetic laquer finishes and am quite sure it will not affect egg shell laquer. Urathane finishes is a different matter Most any good guitar polish and cleaner, such as Martin or Hidersol should remove the excess wax quite effectively with a couple applications. Good Luck. Hope this helps

Subject: RE: Removing wax polish from guitars
From: DADGBE
Date: 04 Oct 03 - 06:49 PM

There are two kinds of turpentine. Steam-distilled turpentine leaves a residue when it evaporates. Instead, get gum spirits of turpentine which dries cleaner. Another useful solvent for this job is V. M. & P naphtha which works well and evaporates quickly.

Once the old wax it off, the surface will probably look somewhat dull. A good cream instrument polish like the stuff Martin sells should do the job.

Remember to do this in a well ventilated area.

Subject: RE: Removing wax polish from guitars
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Oct 05 - 04:09 AM

The answer was found after some experimentation - fine silver polish (without chemicals in). It's a very very fine abrasive, and with many goes with a soft cloth you can actually see the film of the wax polish coming off (and hear the dullness caused by the non-resonant film of wax going away). Repeat, do not use the stuff with ammonia in!

Subject: RE: Removing wax polish from guitars
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Oct 05 - 07:27 AM

Yep great stuff that and Brasso are similar, you can polish fine scratches off a perspex watch 'glass' using it, toothpaste is a step up in the abrasive scheme of things, powder kind like Eucryl best, and that brings a lovely clean finish to your greasy traffic filmed car windscreen. Just make sure you rinse it off well otherwise it dries in the cracks and is harder to remove!
Giok

Subject: RE: Removing wax polish from guitars
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Oct 05 - 08:28 AM

Brasso is too abrasive and too chemical for guitar finishes. Restrict it to metal parts.

Subject: RE: Removing wax polish from guitars
From: The Walrus
Date: 09 Oct 05 - 08:57 AM

From a 'conservation' point of view, the method for removing waxes is to use white spirit (turps substitute) applied with swabs (cotton buds?).

Check the effect of the W/S on an unobtrusive area. If there is no effect on the lacquer, go ahead with neat W/S.
If there is an effect on the lacquer, check the effect of methylated spirits on the finish, there should be no effect (polar and non-polar solvents)therefore mix the W/S & meths until the mixture only just dissolves the wax and remove with swabs (see above).

W