Walk into any guitar shop and pick up a bottle of guitar polish. There's a good chance silicone is in there — often listed as dimethicone, cyclomethicone, or simply "silicone oil." It's cheap, it produces an instant shine, and it feels good on the cloth. So why don't we use it?
Because silicone causes problems that aren't immediately obvious — and by the time they are, it's often too late.
What Silicone Does in Guitar Polish
Silicone is added to polishes and detailing products because it's extremely slippery and produces a high-gloss, water-repellent surface quickly. It's easy to apply, easy to buff, and gives an immediate visual result.
The problem is what happens next.
The Silicone Problem: Contamination
Silicone is a very small molecule that penetrates into wood grain, finish pores, and even into the lacquer itself over time. Once it's in there, it's extremely difficult to remove.
This becomes a serious issue if the guitar ever needs refinishing or touch-up work. Silicone contamination causes a phenomenon called fisheye — where new finish or lacquer beads up and refuses to adhere properly, leaving circular craters in the surface. Luthiers and refinishers dread silicone-contaminated guitars because the only reliable fix is extensive sanding and degreasing, which adds significant time and cost to any repair.
The Silicone Problem: False Protection
Silicone doesn't actually protect your guitar's finish in any meaningful way. It sits on the surface, repels water temporarily, and looks shiny — but it doesn't bond to the finish, doesn't fill micro-scratches, and doesn't provide durable protection. The shine fades quickly, encouraging more frequent application, which accelerates the contamination problem.
The Silicone Problem: Masking Damage
Because silicone fills in micro-scratches and surface imperfections temporarily, it can mask damage that should be addressed. You might think your finish is in good condition when it's actually developing wear that needs attention.
What We Use Instead
Our LORE® Instrument Polish is formulated with carnauba wax — one of the hardest natural waxes available — combined with plant-based conditioning agents. Carnauba:
- Bonds to the finish surface rather than penetrating it
- Provides genuine, durable protection against fingerprints, light scratches, and moisture
- Produces a deep, warm gloss that enhances the natural figure of the wood
- Is completely safe for nitrocellulose finishes
- Contains no silicone, no petroleum, and no synthetic polymers
It takes slightly more effort to apply and buff than a silicone spray — but the protection is real, the finish is beautiful, and you're not creating problems for any future luthier work.
Silicone in guitar polish is a short-term solution with long-term consequences. If you care about the longevity of your instrument — and especially if you ever plan to have it repaired or refinished — it's worth knowing what's in your polish. We chose to formulate without silicone because we think your guitar deserves better.
If you're ready to switch to a polish that actually protects, try LORE® Instrument Polish → — petroleum-free, silicone-free, and made in small batches on Dartmoor.