Good Aluminum Polishing Co?

About Steel Guitarists and their Music

Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn

Post Reply
User avatar
J D Sauser
Moderator
Posts: 2808
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Wellington, Florida
Contact:

Good Aluminum Polishing Co?

Post by J D Sauser »

I am looking to have some vintage cast aluminum Steel Guitar parts repaired (scratches) and polished to the highest standard.

Any good recommendations as to WHO to entrust them to?

Thanks!... J-D.
__________________________________________________________
A Little Mental Health Warning:

Tablature KILLS SKILLS.
The uses of Tablature is addictive and has been linked to reduced musical fertility.
Those who produce Tablature did never use it.

I say it humorously, but I mean it.
User avatar
Larry Allen
Posts: 1321
Joined: 5 Apr 2004 12:01 am
Location: Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii

Post by Larry Allen »

This the standard for any metal....steelGuitars, Harleys, etc... :D
Image
Excel steels & Peavey amps,Old Chevys & Motorcycles & Women on the Trashy Side
User avatar
Richard Sinkler
Posts: 17067
Joined: 15 Aug 1998 12:01 am
Location: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Post by Richard Sinkler »

Larry Allen wrote:This the standard for any metal....steelGuitars, Harleys, etc... :D
Image
Sounds like he wants to send them out to a professional polisher to get a heavy-duty polisher job to remove deeper scratches. That polish will not get rid deeper scratches.
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 53 years and still counting.
User avatar
J D Sauser
Moderator
Posts: 2808
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Wellington, Florida
Contact:

Post by J D Sauser »

Yes, I need a PROFESSIONAL polishing service.

Thanks!... J-D.
__________________________________________________________
A Little Mental Health Warning:

Tablature KILLS SKILLS.
The uses of Tablature is addictive and has been linked to reduced musical fertility.
Those who produce Tablature did never use it.

I say it humorously, but I mean it.
User avatar
Erv Niehaus
Posts: 26797
Joined: 10 Aug 2001 12:01 am
Location: Litchfield, MN, USA

Post by Erv Niehaus »

I was rebuilding an old ZB and I wound up buying this:

Image
User avatar
Sonny Jenkins
Posts: 4376
Joined: 19 Sep 2000 12:01 am
Location: Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx

Post by Sonny Jenkins »

Any high speed (3500 rpm) 1/2 horse motor, and spindle, and polishing buffs (most available at harbor freight) will do the job. I've been using an old grinder for 25-30 years that I bought at garage sale for 5 bucks. Best fast cutting coumpound is Tripoli,,,then some polishing rouge. Probably less than 75 bucks for everything,,,then when finished sell to get most back. YMMV
George Kimery
Posts: 3691
Joined: 23 Feb 2002 1:01 am
Location: Limestone, TN, USA

Good aluminum polishing company

Post by George Kimery »

There is one in TN that the steel guitar builders use. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name. Try google.

I have polished aluminum for over 50 years and have a polishing machine with 12 inch x 2 inch thick wheels. Polishing is a two step process, cutting and polishing. The cutting is done on an airway wheel using Tripoli. The polishing step is done with a loose stitched wheel and either of two white compounds, depending on whether you want a satin or mirror finish. If you need scratches polished out, send it out to a polishing shop. I can polish out light scratches, but not deep ones. If you polish long enough with lot of pressure on one area, you will polish a groove or valley in that one area that will look worse than the scratch. The cure is worse than the disease. Save yourself a lot of work and agony. Send it out to a place that knows what they're doing.

BTW, I don't polish anymore. Too bad of a back.
John Macy
Posts: 4264
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Rockport TX/Denver CO
Contact:

Post by John Macy »

Buds Polishing Shop, Inc

4513 Circle Drive
Pegram, TN 37143
(615) 646-6371
John Macy
Rockport, TX
Engineer/Producer/Steel Guitar
User avatar
Erv Niehaus
Posts: 26797
Joined: 10 Aug 2001 12:01 am
Location: Litchfield, MN, USA

Post by Erv Niehaus »

George,
It's a dirty job too! :whoa:
Erv
George Kimery
Posts: 3691
Joined: 23 Feb 2002 1:01 am
Location: Limestone, TN, USA

Need a good polishing company

Post by George Kimery »

Yes, Bud's is the place. They are very experienced with with steel guitar parts.

Erv, most people have no idea how dirty the job is, or how physical it is. I wore a dedicated shop apron, a mask, a face shield, welding gloves (due to the friction heat generated), long sleeve shirt, and a ball cap. Anybody that does this for a living has one of the worst jobs in the world and if they don't get paid at least $50.00 an hour, they should find another job.
User avatar
J D Sauser
Moderator
Posts: 2808
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Wellington, Florida
Contact:

Post by J D Sauser »

Erv Niehaus wrote:George,
It's a dirty job too! :whoa:
Erv
... and unhealthy, unless you do it rally outdoors. I won't do it.

thanks!... J-D.
__________________________________________________________
A Little Mental Health Warning:

Tablature KILLS SKILLS.
The uses of Tablature is addictive and has been linked to reduced musical fertility.
Those who produce Tablature did never use it.

I say it humorously, but I mean it.
User avatar
J D Sauser
Moderator
Posts: 2808
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Wellington, Florida
Contact:

Post by J D Sauser »

John Macy wrote:Buds Polishing Shop, Inc

4513 Circle Drive
Pegram, TN 37143
(615) 646-6371

Thanks John!... J-D.
__________________________________________________________
A Little Mental Health Warning:

Tablature KILLS SKILLS.
The uses of Tablature is addictive and has been linked to reduced musical fertility.
Those who produce Tablature did never use it.

I say it humorously, but I mean it.
Clyde Mattocks
Posts: 2992
Joined: 26 May 2005 12:01 am
Location: Kinston, North Carolina, USA

Post by Clyde Mattocks »

It really is a dirty job. I don't do much of it anymore, but if I have to, I wait for a windy day and do it outside with the wind blowing away from me.
LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Harlow Dobro
Tom Vollmer
Posts: 252
Joined: 23 May 2003 12:01 am
Location: Hamburg, Pennsylvania, USA

Polisher in Penna.

Post by Tom Vollmer »

I have had nunerous steel parts done and their work was always good. Blue Mountain Metal Finishers.
137 Kline Road
Bethel Pa.
19507 NW Corner of I 78 & Pa Rt 419
Phone 717 933 1643
If you have a truck driver friend get them to deliver,
The Interstate drivers probably know right where it is next interchange East of Midway Diner off I 78
User avatar
Liam Sullins
Posts: 276
Joined: 3 Oct 2020 12:37 pm
Location: Brookville, Ohio

Post by Liam Sullins »

Erv Niehaus wrote:I was rebuilding an old ZB and I wound up buying this:

Image
How well did that work out? Asking for myself..
'66 Sho~Bud Fingertip, Sho~Bud amps, Fenders, old cars and Tinkerin with steels!
User avatar
Erv Niehaus
Posts: 26797
Joined: 10 Aug 2001 12:01 am
Location: Litchfield, MN, USA

Post by Erv Niehaus »

It really worked out great.
I got a kit from Eastwood that included the buffer, several different buffing wheels, dust mask, leather gloves, several different grades of buffing compounds
and the pedestal. This was back in 2014 and it cost me $339.99 :D
Erv
Bob Guichard
Posts: 155
Joined: 21 Aug 2007 9:50 pm
Location: Central Texas, USA

Post by Bob Guichard »

I have a Eastwood 10 inch buffer that does a great job. One horsepower two speed, 1850 and 3600 rpm. It is a dirty task but worth the effort when you see the new finish on your parts
User avatar
Erv Niehaus
Posts: 26797
Joined: 10 Aug 2001 12:01 am
Location: Litchfield, MN, USA

Post by Erv Niehaus »

Bob,
Yes, you are correct. :D
Erv
User avatar
Rex Wiseman
Posts: 126
Joined: 6 Jul 2000 12:01 am
Location: Cottontown, TN

Steel guitar parts polished

Post by Rex Wiseman »

The absolute best I've see at polishing steel parts is Doug Moss in Pegram, Tennessee. PM me for phone number.
Post Reply