Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

jingle_jangle wrote:Back to the original topic:

Today I used Kit Scratch-Off to prep a rosewood acoustic that ships tomorrow. My usual scheme is to buff it with two grades of Menzerna (medium and extra-fine) and use Scratch-X to remove the buffing wheel hazing. Today, I used the Kit (yellow bottle). Did a terrific job; Zymol as usual--three coats--over it and the guitar's finish looked wet.

So, I do recommend the Kit brand. There's one other I'm going to use later this week on a guitar I'm completing for JDog...stay tuned.

Paul,

I used the KIT paste on a black Peavey, and it was HORRIBLE...it left all kinds of swirls that took two applications of the ORIGINAL SCRATCH X to remove them, then Zymol and it's good as new.....

Did I do something wrong, I've never had that happen to me before.

jingle_jangle wrote:Sounds like Scratch-X 2, labeled more conservatively (as some USA manufacturers do in European markets). Why not try it out and see?

Actually - they have scratch-X 2 listed in meguiars europe so I don't think it's a branding thing, according to a guy in their forum the original scratch-X1 has changed a while ago, before scratch-X 2 was introduced. I simply don't know the effect of this interim version...
I am afraid to try it out as I'll have no idea how to fix it if it goes wrong (is it fixable at all??)

kiramdear wrote:That first picture looks just like the bottle I bought a few months ago. Is that the old or the new formula?

Good question! if you bought it before jan 2009 then there is no way this is scratch-X 2.
Did you try it? did it work well?

kiramdear wrote:That first picture looks just like the bottle I bought a few months ago. Is that the old or the new formula?

Good question! if you bought it before jan 2009 then there is no way this is scratch-X 2.
Did you try it? did it work well?[/quote]

I've used it several times on my cherry Gibson and my jetglo 320 and the results are glass-like. I follow up with zymol of course, per formula. Shoot, I used it to take fine swirls and hazing out of both those guitars.

That sounds pretty encouraging actually...
B.t.w - there is a seller in Canada who is willing to send up a minimum of 6 scratch-X packs (original version) in a really good price.

Tony, the kit stuff is not a paste, it's a liquid in a small yellow bottle. It should be used sparingly, just like Scratch-X. A little bit on a 4" square of diaper, rub (circular rubbing is a waste of motion if you've got real work to do) a small area at a time, move on.

I've no idea what that Peavey is finished with. If it's nitro, though, it will smear as you've described, especially if you're rubbing in circles.

The reason is that rubbing in circles makes you think you're being efficient--after all, look at the area you're covering with one circular stroke! However, it's difficult if not impossible to keep pressure consistent in a circular path (we tend to apply more pressure when pushing away from our bodies!)

I usually rub parallel to an edge or parallel to the center line of the instrument, or at a right angle to it. This keeps pressure consistent and delivers the best results.

jingle_jangle wrote:rub (circular rubbing is a waste of motion if you've got real work to do)

Frank Zappa didnt think so...

jingle_jangle wrote:So, I do recommend the Kit brand. There's one other I'm going to use later this week on a guitar I'm completing for JDog...stay tuned.

Paul, any thoughts on this other brand yet?

The "other product" is Nu-Finish Scratch-Doctor:
I used it on several projects last weekend and it's superior (IMO) to both Scratch-X 2 and the Kit stuff. Most important thing to remember on application is that a little goes a long way. It's a good idea to apply compounds and waxes with small scraps (4" X 4") cut from a cloth diaper, rather than use a corner of a whole diaper. The little guys soak up material and as it builds, you use less material and effort. They launder well, too. I've got a quart mixing cup filled with them and as I go through them on projects, I launder them and refill the cup.

Thanks Paul! I was hoping you'd have good things to say about the other product. I know what I'm shopping for this weekend.

When I went to pick up a bottle of Nu Finish Scratch Doctor, right next to it was a 3M Clearcoat Scratch Remover, but I'll go with the Scratch Doctor for now.

Any further reveiws folks?

When I complete my plan to buy up every last tube of Scratch-X, you all will be doing my bidding. My whim will be your command ... just wait and see.

Kira, did you find the whereabouts of returned overstock of Scratch-X?

No, but I've got my flying monkeys working on it.

Maybe my parrots can team up with your flying monkeys?