Can scratches in Nitro be buffed out?

[tlsmack]

I finally decided to attempt a "Partscaster" build. Unfortunately my dog jumped up on the table and scratched the body before I even did any assembly. The scratches are not deep, but long and noticeable when the light hits them.

It's a musikraft body with a "Thin NITRO Lacquer Mary Kay Blonde" finish. Just wondering if this can be fixed or am I stuck with a relic that hasn't even been built yet.

[Vizcaster]

My favorite products for buffing wood finishes are the Menzerna brand which you can get from Homestead Finishing or Target Coatings, but you can also try the micromesh abrasive sheets to get out the scratch and work up to a gloss. MeGuiar's car polishes are only okay if you promise never to try to recoat that piece or any other piece that was in the room at the time that you used the buffer - there's silicone in auto waxes that will contaminate the finish and make it difficult to recoat or refinish. If you burn through (sand too much) then you can get into spot recoating it with an airbrush or a little Preval disposable sprayer. Contact Musikraft to figure out if what you have available to you (Behlen's musical instrument nitrocellulose lacquer or McFadden's nitrocellulose, or Re-ranch rattle cans, or Colortone) is compatible with their finish. Otherwise read up on buffing or "rubbing out" a finish and you should have no trouble tackling this. Last resort you could find a furniture touch-up outfit in the yellow pages and it shouldn't be expensive if you take it to them (they're used to pricing for house calls).

[kb1rcefn]

Yes - as long as it isn't "too deap". May need to use 1200 sandpaper (wet), on a block, to get the scratch out - then use something like 3M "finesse it" polishing compound (get at any auto paint store) to then buff out to a high sheen. Should be fine.

[Gary in Boston]

The good news on Nitro is that it is about the easiest of all the finishes to buff. It's a little softer than most and it can be worked on after its "dried"

Gary