Wonder Wipes Instrument polish - Safe for Nitro finishes?

[thindave]

Are they? Is silicone an ingredient?

D

 

[pjc812]

I think they're safe. I remember using them on new Gibsons and they seemed to do fine. Spot check it in a small place on the back first if you're concerned, then let it sit for a while and come back and check later.

 

[thindave]

The concern is that if it has silicone, it can effect the nitro if there's ever a need for a repair. I'd like to get a definite answer from EB...

 

[TonyEVH5150]

email them at [email protected] .

I don't think the fretboard conditioner wipes are safe for finished necks, but I think the polish wipes are safe.

 

[Jodizzle]

Hey Dave,
there is silicone in the polish.

 

[thindave]

Ok, there you go - thanks, Jodi. What I've heard is that silicone and nitro finishes do not go together. Not that it will damage the finish, but that if a repair is attempted, the new nitro will not take.

No WW Polish for me, then...

 

[DrKev]

What I've heard is that silicone and nitro finishes do not go together. Not that it will damage the finish, but that if a repair is attempted, the new nitro will not take.

1) Who said that silicone and nitro finishes don't go well together? Why is that likely to be correct when silicones are regarded as quite unreactive chemically?

2) Why is a repair situation likely enough to happen that you are avoiding Wonder Wipes over some other product which will contain many other potentially more reactive chemicals with or without silicone?

With so much snake oil and BS in the guitar market as it is I'm always sceptical, especially when something seems counter intuitive. so I did a little web digging...

...and found this quote on caring for nitro finishes (over here)...

"[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If your guitar stand doesn't have surgical tubing covering the parts that come into contact with the guitar (most don't), lay a piece of clean 100% cotton old t-shirt or toweling over the stand. Guitar stand "bras" are also very useful for protecting the finish on your guitar."[/FONT]

Foam rubbers and nitro don't go well together, this is true. But surgical tubing is SILICONE! Silicone may be the only thing safe for nitro finishes!

Now, what the hell is a "guitar stand bra"?

 

[thindave]

I read a lot of this over on the Martin forum (UMGF) - silicone not recommended (just in case). I'm going to use virtuoso cleaner instead...

 

[Quarter]

The issue with silicone in polishes and wax, on any finish, it that it often can cause "fish eye" when applying the new finish, even when sanded down to bare wood.

There are ways to contain / correct it, a shellac seal coat or a commercial fish eye remover additive are two of the most common solutions.

 

[whitestrat]

I have a nitrocellulose finished guitar. I actually used the wonderwipes on it once. The polish actually made the nitro so smooth, I almost dropped the guitar when I put it on my lap. Then I accidentally used the fretboard conditioner on the nitro finished maple neck. It's still fine, but when I read the fine print I felt kinda stupid... Hahahaha...