Which scratch-x and zymol to use

[1STNAMEBASSIST]

Wow, thanks everyone! The blue bottle in the pic is the one I saw at autozone. I'll run by and grab it after work. I think I saw the Scratch Dr also. I may check out walmart and walgreens first to see if I can find the Swirl-x. Much appreciated!!!

[jingle_jangle]

Caution: Do NOT apply to scalp!!!

[ajish4]

I ordered my Zymol at Ace AND TRUE VALUE...they only charged me $13.00 a bottle! I ordered 5....yeah, the kids wanted it for their cars.....go figure!

[SMR 78]

Welcome to the forum, Glenn!

Paul W said that the Kit Scratch remover was another good replacement for the old Scratch-X formula. I think he also said his latest fave to replace the old Scratch-X formula is NuFinish Scratch Doctor for Clear Coat.

+1 The NuFinish Scratch Doctor followed by Zymol really lit up my '78 4001 FG. Dunlop 65 guitar polish & cleaner followed by their carnuba is also great on newer finishes that aren't showing much wear. You can buy the Dunlop 65 in a two-piece kit.

[jingle_jangle]

Once again I'd like to clarify the differences between Zymol and any other protective system or product available, when it comes to preserving a finish and enhancing gloss, for polyurethane and nitrocellulose finishes.

There are a couple of differences.

First: Zymol contains no silicone (virtually all guitar polishes contain silicone as a flow and gloss enhancer. Musicians theoretically want to play, not polish, so they make it easy on us. Thanks, guys.) Most car waxes also contain some silicone; Stuff like "NU-Finish" polish/wax are nothing but polymers. It's not just silicones that make guitars tough to touch up and refinish, it's polymers , too. In fact, there's nothing worse to refinish than a guitar that's been waxed with Johnson's Pledge spray, or treated with Armor-All.

However, NuFinish Scratch Doctor, while it has a trace amount of silicone for ease of application, remains recommended. ALL of these microabrasive swirl polishes have a bit of silicone in the formula.

Second: Zymol is the only wax available for these types of paint that is water-based. That means no petroleum solvents. You don't want petroleum solvents if you are interested in maximum gloss, as solvent-based waxes will strip the previous coat of wax as they apply the next coat. Zymol allows you to apply, buff, apply, buff, etc, building one coat on top of another.

In my experience, nothing looks better and this treatment makes Jetglo (especially factory-new JG) look absolutely wet and clear.

[Ric Chick]

Anyone ever try 3M Finesse-It II # 39003? Maybe I'll try some on my modded pick guard tonight. I'm sure I used it on an old Epiphone Les Paul from the pawn shop that was covered in surf, skate and banana stickers when I got it.

[1STNAMEBASSIST]

I ended up getting the Scratch Dr and the Zymol along with some diapers. I'm ready to go! I may start tonight, but i'm driving to Orlando in the morning and I won't be back until Sunday night, so Will probably finish Monday. I'll keep you posted on the progress. Thanks again everybody!

[jingle_jangle]

Anyone ever try 3M Finesse-It II # 39003? Maybe I'll try some on my modded pick guard tonight. I'm sure I used it on an old Epiphone Les Paul from the pawn shop that was covered in surf, skate and banana stickers when I got it.

Shelley, Finesse-It is part of 3M's line of rubbing and polishing compounds. Technically, it's known as a swirl remover, or some call it a glaze. It fits somewhere between Perfect-It II (which is a rubbing compound, coarser) and the Swirl X / Scratch Remover type of product (which is a micro abrasive). For the softer finishes used on Rickenbackers (especially Jetglo, which shows everything), you'd still need to use a micro abrasive for perfect gloss, and a wax for surface sealing and protection.

[1STNAMEBASSIST]

So I just polished my bass with the Scratch Dr and waxed two coats of Zymol. From a distance it looks great, but up close I can see the lines fron where I polished with the Scratch Dr. Is that normal on a jetglo bass or did I miss something? I did small areas using a diaper (4" x 4"). Should I use heavy pressure or light pressure? I also polished in one direction. It definately removed the swirl marks, but it seemed to replace it with straight lines instead.

[1STNAMEBASSIST]

I did the whole process again and it looks incredible!! Thanks everyone!

[rickenbrother]

I did the whole process again and it looks incredible!! Thanks everyone!

Now you have to post pictures of the "after"!

[thevince]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but... Which variant of Scratch-X/Swirl-X is the current recommendation? I have Rics ranging in years from 2005-2022 This includes a no-finish fretboard, so I'm open to recommendations on how to clean that as well.

[rickenbrother]

NuFinish Scratch Doctor for scratch removal and Zymol for waxing.