Tor-Tis Pickguards

The Achilles' Heel of Luthiery
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RnB
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Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:44 pm
Location: Bay Area

Tor-Tis Pickguards

Post by RnB »

Has anyone had any luck re-polishing a Tortis Pickguard back to looking 'like new' after beveling the edges? I ordered a sheet from LMI to make a couple of guards. One as a replacement guard & the other for a build I'm working on. On one of them, I slightly beveled the edges, but ended up scuffing the face of it. I tried sanding it back w/ various grits of sandpaper up to 2000 grit then applied 3M's rubbing/polishing cmpds, but I still can't bring back the original high-gloss shine it came with? It now has a more of a satin sheen w/ visible scratches. I did read somewhere that they are made of an epoxy, which makes them impervious to a lot of compounds.

In the past I've ordered Tor-Tis guards that came w/ a nicely beveled & polished edge, so there's got to be a method that brings them back to retaining that 'wet look'...?
Last edited by RnB on Mon Feb 27, 2012 7:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Ben-Had
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Re: Tot-Tis Pickguards

Post by Ben-Had »

I've not tried it on Tor-tis but I would think Micro-Mesh pads would work. It's what I use on all types of other guards. This is just one place to get them, others are probably cheaper. Don't get the phonies,

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/200523 ... g-Kit.aspx
Tim Benware
tippie53
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Re: Tot-Tis Pickguards

Post by tippie53 »

it takes time but it can be buffed up. Try scraping it first then sand with water and about 600 grit on the edges when your angles it , then buff through the grits.
John Hall
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RnB
Posts: 210
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:44 pm
Location: Bay Area

Re: Tot-Tis Pickguards

Post by RnB »

tippie53 wrote:Try scraping it first then sand with water and about 600 grit on the edges when your angles it , then buff through the grits.
I went to Woodcraft, got the Micro-Mesh pads & gave it another couple rounds of fine grits & elbow grease. It' s a little better, but still not like it was b4 I went to town on it. Although, it does have a pleasant sheen to it that I can live with. Ultimately, a buffing machine might be the answer...?

I used the MM pads on the top of the guitar also...it shines real purdy now! Thx Ben-Had.
Darryl Young
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Re: Tor-Tis Pickguards

Post by Darryl Young »

You have to start at 400-600g........then treat just like a finish and work through all the grits then buff then polish. If you start at too high grit you may not get all the scratches removed so still shows scratches after working through the grits and buffing and polishing.
Slacker......
Ben-Had
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Re: Tot-Tis Pickguards

Post by Ben-Had »

RnB wrote:
tippie53 wrote:Try scraping it first then sand with water and about 600 grit on the edges when your angles it , then buff through the grits.
I went to Woodcraft, got the Micro-Mesh pads & gave it another couple rounds of fine grits & elbow grease. It' s a little better, but still not like it was b4 I went to town on it. Although, it does have a pleasant sheen to it that I can live with. Ultimately, a buffing machine might be the answer...?

I used the MM pads on the top of the guitar also...it shines real purdy now! Thx Ben-Had.
You're welcome. PM sent.
Tim Benware
John S

Re: Tor-Tis Pickguards

Post by John S »

On my last guitar I had to trim a bit off a Tor-Tis pickguard and re-bevel the edge. After sanding (to 3200 MM) I buffed it with a pneumatic polisher using Meguiar's #9, then #7 (same as I do on the finish). Looked brand new.

John
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