Nu-Finish

garycost · Post by **garycost** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 5:54 am

Mark;
Many folks have recomended a product called 'Nu-Finish' to use on guitars. Would there be a problem with using this on a Rickenbacker? I was wondering because the factory recomends that you use only a RIC polishing cloth v.s. another brand. I have used carnuba wax before but folks say this 'Nu-Finish' is the cats meow! Opinions?

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 6:45 am

Gary: The safest rule in polishing your Rickenbacker is to use a wax that is PURE Carnauba. The last time I read the label on Nu Finish I noted that silicone was an ingredient. My advice is to stay way from this product when your Rickenbacker or any other guitar finish is at stake. No cleaner will get this NU Finish stuff off once it takes hold. Stick to carnauba wax or other mild polishing products which will be commented on when folks read this topic.

rhp335 · Post by **rhp335** » Thu Jul 19, 2001 8:48 am

This is the subject of a current thread over on Voxtalks - several people over there think it's safe and not silicone. I looked at an old bottle in my garage and it didn't have an ingredient list, but I know if it's silicone you're pooched if you ever want a refin. If it is poly based like they say does that have the same implications.

glennlewis · Post by **glennlewis** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 2:29 am

Hey y'all,
I am a research chemist in my other life, and work with automotive care products EXTENSIVELY....

First off, NuFinish isn't even a good car care product in my opinion, and most people I've counseled over the years who have used it on dark colored cars usually have one question right after they apply it, and that is "how do I get this @#$* off?". It streaks like crazy.

It does contain silicones. Contrary to the statement about removing the silicone..... Sure you can. There are a couple commercially available products, like Ditzlers which are used to prepare a cars painted surface to be repainted, and they will strip the silicone, as well as some of the paint behind it. Also you can use (if you can get your hands on any) methylene chloride, which will also strip the paint surface.... so bottom line, keep that **** away from your guitar, and go with a carnauba wax, paste or liquid, I prefer liquid.

davidj · Post by **davidj** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 10:28 am

Hello there,

I'm new to writing but I have been following the Forum for quite a while and I enjoy it immensely. Anyway, on the subject of cleaners and waxes, are all these products that contain petroleum distillates a hazard. I have used "lemon oils" on my classical guitar's ebony fingerboard with no ill effects. But the glass-like finishes on my Rics just seem to reject them. Are these things bad for guitar finishes? I also have a bottle of polish that only says "Natural Ingredients." Lemon oils or not?

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 10:47 am

David: Lemmon oil is fine for non-laquered fingerboards of the type you describe and my experience and research leads me to conclude that it will not harm the fretboard of your instrument in any way. There is no benefit to using lemmon oil on a lacquered surface. By the way, a few drops of lemmon oil will poison a child and has led to baby deaths so it has to be well out of reach. For the surface of Rickenbackers Glenn Lewis is correct as far as I am concerned. PURE Carnauba wax only, not products that contain other compounds one of which may be Carnauba, is the way to go. Others use Meguiars wax and polishing products with success and used properly they are safe.

4003seagreen · Post by **4003seagreen** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 3:47 pm

What are some of the brand names of carnauba wax on the market? Where could one get some?

4003seagreen · Post by **4003seagreen** » Sat Sep 01, 2001 5:19 pm

Well, I was at Target today and I happened along the car wax section. There were all kinds of wax that had carnauba but they all had silicone mixed in with them. However, there was one (by Turtle Wax) that claimed it was 100% carnauba, but in tiny letters it stated that it had some kind of petroleum mix in it. Is this ok, or is there another brand out there that is truly 100% carnauba that I can get?

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat Sep 01, 2001 7:56 pm

Sea Green: I don't pretend to be the expert of all things waxing, however, my take on this is as follows.

The wax in question, Carnauba, comes from the fronds of the "Tree of life" (Copernica Cerifera) native to Brazil. It is often described as nature's hardest, purest, and most transparent wax and is sought after as it is seems to produce a deep "three-dimensional" shine. Carnauba waxes bead water nicely, absorb the acid content in rain and hide minor swirls. On the downside, for some, is that it breaks down more quickly than the synthetic waxes. For us, however, it is gentle to our instrruments finish and therefore desirable. My hunt has led me to several brands including, but not limited to, Meguiar's No. 26 Pure Wax Mothers California Gold Eagle One Pure Carnauba Paste Wax Pinnacle Paste Glaz
I have had very good luck with Meguiars and Mothers. I have spoken with those who have used the Turtle Wax product of which you speak and they have had no problem with it. There is much waxing and waning on the subject of polishes. With these comments, I have only scratched the surface. Shine on. By the way, you may thank my teenage son, for this response, as he has me up at 3:00 am this morning. I'll wax poetically with him later today.

4003seagreen · Post by **4003seagreen** » Sun Sep 02, 2001 1:17 pm

Peter, thanks for the response, as well as the sense of humor

jdma · Post by **jdma** » Fri Sep 07, 2001 4:17 am

After using Nu Finish, is the finish ruined? What specifically is done to the finish that makes Nu Finish a "bad actor"? Is there any recovering from the use of Nu Finish? Thanks.

rickbass · Post by **rickbass** » Sat Sep 08, 2001 4:23 am

quite simply, why not just use the guitar polishes marketed by the guitar companies? martin, gibson, fender, and rickenbacker i believe all market a guitar polish--i have used these over the years, and do not seem to have any problems with them on my fenders and rickenbackers. instead of CAR polishes, would these be a cheaper and just as good alternative ??

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Sat Sep 08, 2001 8:35 am

Actually, we don't offer a polish. But let me say that plain old liquid Turtle Wax, diluted with water to about 50/50 works as well as anything I've ever seen. Mind you, that's not what we use in the factory- what we use is too harsh and too demanding for home use.

Just don't let the Turtle Wax dry and as you rub you'll find a nice groove where everything polishes out smoothly, the added water beading up a bit on the surface. If the cloth drags or the surface is smeary, there's not enough water and you may have to dampen the cloth a bit to remove what you just put on.

Once you've got the feel, it's quick, easy, and cheap.