Official Luthiers Forum!

Please look at attached pics.

I suspect one of these or a combination of them are the problem:

1.) The lacquer (Mohawk instrument lacquer) hadn't dried enough & wasn't ready to be buffed.

2.) The wheels need those little stringy ends trimmed off.

3.) I was pushing too hard when buffing.

Or maybe there are other problems.

Thanks in advance.
Kevin Looker

p.s. yeah, I know that knot hole needs filled, this is just a test panel

_________________
I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Hey Kevin,

Your main problem is the stringy buffing wheels. Get a good pair of shears and trim those wheels down nice and flat. Rake out the buffs a few times to pull any other loose strings to the surface and trim them again.

Steve

My guess is a bit of all three.

First the lacquer is definitely soft if a wheel with light compound did that.

Yes you must keep your buffs trimmed, no little whipper strings , they leave lines. Though typically not anywhere near that deep.

The big problem was pressure though as it looks like you were trying to buff out a ding or dent of some type without level sanding first. The buffs will only polish and shine, if the surface you are working on is not dead level except for sanding scratches you will not get a flat, mirror like surface no matter how much or hard you buff.

_________________
Brian

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

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/