I made several Bone and Ivory saddles and nuts for my guitars. But I can never puff them to high gloss like those from the factory.

I use 220 grit sandpaper for my final sanding.. but it is still semi gloss..

Is there any polishing compound I have to apply for a high gloss?

I use a buffing wheel, but you can also use a series of fine abrasive cloths (available from Stewart MacDonald, www.stewmac.com) called Micro Mesh.

Here's how I go about making a new nut:

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Setup/NewNut/newnut1.html

Cheers,

Frank Ford
www.frets.com
Gryphon, etc.

I follow the 220 with 600/800 grit WET paper, then follow this with Mequiar's #2 (available at auto parts stores, wherever fine jumper cables are sold). Then, I use a buffing wheel (dry) for the last polish. Truth is, though, I don't like it too shiny- looks new. I like the "old" look better, and I'll relic saddles by dipping them in strong tea for awhile.

Bryan Kimsey
http://www.bryankimsey.com

I'd like to thank the experts for posting here. You can't get any better. Thanks a lot guys!

...is that he gets better results with 1/4 the work.


Bryan Kimsey
http://www.bryankimsey.com

Having some of the most respected people answering my question!! I am thilled!!

Thanks!!

I'm an amateur all the way, but what has worked for me is going from 220 sandpaper to 0000 steel wool. It takes a few minutes of light sanding with it, but it will put a subtle, classy shine on a bone nut or saddle.

Also works great on smoothing out picks that you've reshaped with sandpaper....

Gary Collier
Atlanta

Ed, shouldn't use 220 grit for final sanding, its too rough. Work down the sanding to 600 grit, followed by 1000 grit in wet sanding & u shud get that shine surface. If u want to, remember that polishing stone fm Vintage Venture, that's useful for further polishing. Hope tis help!

I've found those foam nail files designed for acrylic nails to be very useful in shaping and polishing saddles and nuts. You can get them in all different degrees of coarseness. You can use the coarse ones for shaping and the fine ones for polishing to a nice sheen. Very low tech but they work.

[UPDATE, 7/24/05] After the steel wool, a Dremel (on slow speed), 1 inch cotton buffing disk, and some red buffing compound (for non-metallic) do wonders. This takes the gloss a step beyond what I can do with fine steel wool. KK

No. 0000 steel wool, available at any hardware, will give you a nice high gloss on bone. Rub it just enough to shine it up - don't take off too much material - on the saddle especially - you don't want to thin it out to where it wobbles in the bridge.

Fortunately, 0000 wool takes off material a very little at a time.

Best,

Ken

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kens OM3,

Two more easy ways to polish

Bob at guitarsaddles.com recommends toothpaste, which has mild abrasive.

I have also used a plastic polish to good effect.

Speed rub on the leg of your jeans, for the final polish.
Yup.
Works good.