NOTLguy - Posted - 06/04/2017:  07:52:28

Does anyone know if you can use Jubilee Polish on a vintage instrument with decals? I am wondering if it will have any affect on the decals like the manufacturers logo etc. 

Thanks,

Bill

Nick Danger - Posted - 06/04/2017:  10:24:28

I got the following off a dated (year 2007) Mandolin Cafe forum...

mandolincafe.com/forum/archive...8822.html

Big Joe

Mar-04-2007, 9:36am

DO NOT USE JUBILEE FURNITURE POLISH ON YOUR MANDOLINS. Johnson and Johnson make a fine product for kitchen floors, but not your mandolin. Dave's polish is not even closely similar.

Never use commercial furniture or floor polishes on your instruments. Most wood polishes will harm your instrument. Some of these polishes can even tear the finish off your instrument.

Many guitar or instrument polishes will hurt your finish if it is nitro cellulose or varnish. They are designed for poly finishes and not high quality mandolins. They will also harm your instrument or remove the finish.

At best some of these polishes will plug the pores on your wood and not allow them to breathe. Kind of like dipping them in plastic. At worst, they will ruin your finish and leave you very unhappy.

There are only a few polishes recommended for such. The Gibson polish is acceptable for nitro finishes, but not varnish. Make sure whatever polish you use does not contain wax or silicone. If you have a varnish finish it requires a special polish, such as Dave Harvey's Jubilee polish. These are specially designed to work with the varnish and not harm it or your wood.

Most cleaning should be done with a damp, not wet, soft terry rag. Once it is cleaned then dry the instrument with a dry soft terry rag. Most often that is all that is needed to restore the finish. If you really need to add polish, just be very careful what you use. Thank you.

Old Hickory - Posted - 06/04/2017:  12:59:12

If you're talking about Jubilee Polish invented by a luthier, it contains no wax, silicone, petroleum distalltes or smelly chemicals, so it may well be safe for what you want to do.

To be sure, you might contact the people at the site I linked above.

Nick Danger - Posted - 06/04/2017:  13:27:27

quote:

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Originally posted by Old Hickory

 

If you're talking about Jubilee Polish invented by a luthier, it contains no wax, silicone, petroleum distalltes or smelly chemicals, so it may well be safe for what you want to do.

To be sure, you might contact the people at the site I linked above.

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Yeah, Ken, that's the GOOD stuff, made by Dave Harvey.

Old Hickory - Posted - 06/05/2017:  14:53:44

I use Ken Smith Pro Formula Polish.  I don't own any vintage instruments with decals, but I have used this on a 1972 Martin D-35 that has a decal (which I don't know if it's sitting above or below the finish).

NOTLguy - Posted - 06/06/2017:  05:00:06

Thanks for your replies. I have sent an email to the Jubilee folks and they responded. They couldn't say for sure if it would affect decals.

Thanks also for the lead on Smith Pro Polish.

Regards,
Bill

NOTLguy - Posted - 06/08/2017:  04:56:55

I ordered a bottle of the Jubilee polish and will test it on some surfaces prior to using it on an instrument. Thanks for all the replies,

Bill

Nick Danger - Posted - 06/09/2017:  09:16:35

quote:

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Originally posted by NOTLguy

 

I ordered a bottle of the Jubilee polish and will test it on some surfaces prior to using it on an instrument. Thanks for all the replies,



Bill

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Well, don't forget to let us know how well it worked, okay?! 

NOTLguy - Posted - 06/09/2017:  09:42:02

I will do tht for sure.

Bill