I just got back from a two mile and walk and had more thoughts to share.
The information that you read on forums and what works in the real, professional world of Lutherie is not always the same. Seems that some people take certain assertions literally and perhaps without attempting to reason out for themselves what the true intent is. I'm not intending to be unkind or diss anyone but it really is a disservice to tell part of the story and neglect the rest.
Silicon can cause fisheyes and that can be a problem in the refinishing game. True. Silicon has been problematic for some people but I've never known anyone personally and can't comment on their set-up or knowledge of what they are doing.
Lots of guitar polishes over the years including Dunlap 65, Martin, Gibson and others have all contained small amounts of silicon. Why? Because it makes for a better, more effective polish that flashes off nicely and does not leave smears.
I have two full bottles of Stew Mac Preservation polish that we won't use because we think it sucks. It smears and takes longer to remove from the instrument and we have found smears the next day too that reemerge. It may not have silicon in it but it also does not work up to commercial standards in my experience.
Please remember we are the people who did a study of paper towels and examined how they scratch under a microscope..... We can be wrapped too tight too ya know...
It's polish folks and not intended to hose down a guitar in the white before finishing it or to be sprayed on bare wood that someone intends to finish in time, please let's use some common sense..... It's also not intended to be sprayed in the air of the shop like air freshener landing on and contaminating other surfaces.... Its guitar polish.
In around 2007 someone recommended McGuires Quick Detailer as pictured. I immediately bought some and and have been using it ever since. I save it for the higher end stuff I work on such as the I-35 and L-5 I did yesterday. I also use it on my personal instruments.
McGuires the experts in when to use silicon and when not to since part of their claim to fame is producing silicon free products choose to use some silicon in Quick Detailer.
This recommendation to use this product was made by one of my mentors and perhaps yours too, Mario. Mario's right too it's a great product and I also use it on my car with a clay bar. My car may need refinishing if I get in an accident.... Am I concerned? No.
Where people get into trouble with silicon is not segregating the refinishing/spray booth and prep area from where the silicon may be used. In the automotive world brake cleaner is commonly used with 1,000 times the silicon in it that gets atomized and into the air in a facility that may wrench your car on Monday and respray an area on Tuesday. That's a finish contamination nightmare.
A clean, well set-up Lutherie shop is not an auto repair or paint shop nor should it be.
In fact I use many things that someone here without the experience of a working in the trade professional would push back against and be wrong. From steel wool near pick-ups to solvents near finishes we are careful, we take precautions and we give a dang about the valuable personal property of others and you always should too.
So back to the OP and hoping to elevate this seemingly academic and off the mark discussion back to what was originally asked some silicon in polishes is fine and we use it too. Don't spray on bare wood or in your mouth or in the back of your amplifier, it's not intended for that....... Use these products as intended and keep a clean shop and think for your self what the warnings that we all received were really intended to mean and you will be fine.
