Guitar Collector Forum

Hi all,

I want to do a good clean-up job on my newly-acquired 1976 Shergold Meteor Deluxe (see here: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=356).

All the screws are rusty and tarnished... what's the best remedy?

Replace them? If so, recommended suppliers??

Clean them up? If so, recommended technique/products?

I'm sure there's lots of experts out there who have been through this before, so I look forward to your tips!

Cheers,
Paul

I've heard coke (the cola) works really well for removing rust, or perhaps try soaking them in wd-40 or penetrating oil of some sort.

Thanks, I might give it a go just out of interest... although it sounds like an urban myth to me.

WD40 will prevent rust and help cleaning grime, but I don't think it will remove rust.

I did wonder whether I could just unscrew a few turns (clear of surface, but still attached) and polish the heads with a Dremel and some sort of metal polish?

I've been looking at Stew Mac for replacements - http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardware,_p ... es#details

PS: Shashing - no updates on your Les Paul resto lately... any progress??

Nah, no real progress the nut is about halfway done but it's waiting until the paint is finished. Ran into another pain in the neck, turns out the bridge is the wrong type so the strings are all leaning about 1/4" towards the bass side of where they should be on the neck. Hopefully I can find a source of income soon so I can get the correct bridge soonish.

Oh and i think the dremel method you mentioned would work, might want to take them all the way out though and hold them (with paper towel or something) in a vice to do it just to make sure you don't damage anything on the guitar.

Unscrew the fastenings one at a time and screw them into a bit of wood. This will hold them firmly without damaging the thread. I find the brass cup wheels and Dremel are great for clearing rust, then a coat of clear acrylic will stop the rust reforming.---

Thanks Geoff, I gave this a go tonight - see viewtopic.php?f=20&t=382

The brass wire brushes work very well, good results acheived very quickly.



I'm glad I didn't try it in-situ, you could easily do a lot of damage to the guitar body or scratchplates with a small momentary slip.

Yay....result....---