Difficulty removing a poly finish

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

I'm thinking about tackling this during the weekend or hell even in a few hours. I have a heat gun, some sand paper, naphtha, and curiosity. I've sanded down poly before on a Squier ha! Just wondering what I should expect. Any tips would be appreciated. I saw the stew-mac article for stripping with a heat gun. If I scorch (knocked on the j bass) the body, how would I remove that? I'll be sending the body to be painted with Nitro/Olympic White. I'm saving $150 by doing this myself.

A few minutes later:

This is what I'm aiming for.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...e=&network=g&gclid=CIjNycXAnc0CFRSPfgodkSkAYw

 

[Zarg]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

I've seen three methods mainly. First is just use paint stripper, seems to be very effective and you dont need to sand much after it. Second is to use a heatgun and try to get the finish off in chips, but I'd rather try the third option, if you can use a power tool grinder sandpaper thing (dont know how to call it ) and strip the thing, careful not to sand much of the wood away.

I'm really interested in this too, I want to get rid of the black on my les paul and refinish it with tru oil myself, but that's a pretty ambitious plan (for me anyways).

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

Hmm. Paint stripper might work on this since it's a MIA bass. Option 3 is a no go, since I don't have a belt sander (is that what you meant maybe?). It doesn't seem like that'll take contours well either.

I'm a little iffy myself about this, but if I don't commit, this bass will sit around dismantled. Luckily, this bass was gigged almost weekly for 5 years. It's got some chips where I can start. The shop where I'm sending this also gave me the "okay" to strip it myself. Will post pictures when I start

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

Sand with a block and if you have to use your hand make sure its flat. I would use a heat gun,paint scrapper and orbital sander.

 

[Taz Rules]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

Took me 45 minutes to strip a body, an hour and a half total including the neck and headstock.
Heat gun and putty knife, no damage to the wood. (The trick is to keep the heat gun moving, and do small sections...heat, strip. heat, strip.)

Final bits and bobs stuck in dents in the wood will be sanded out by hand (with a sanding block) with 320 grit.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

I got started. At first, I was like "wtf, why isn't this going faster?". Well, it turns out I was only peeling the top layer and not the clear coat lol. I finally got the technique down, but I decided to stop and properly setup to get it done right. I also need to go pick up my girlfriend haha. Should be done tomorrow.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

Thanks for the tips by the way


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[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

When I stripped the poly finish off my Fernandez strat, I used aircraft stripped. Brush it on, let it set and then use a scraper and off it came. Then sanded the body down with 100 and 120 grit to remove what imperfections were left behind.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

Job is done gents. It's actually fairly simple once you get the "technique" down. Thanks for again for the input.

 

[Taz Rules]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

Nice job. Congrats.

What happened just above the ferrules? Looks like it was preexisting?

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

Ah, that's the route for the ground to the bridge.


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[daan]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

I heat-gunned 2 Squier bodies (and a "Saga" kit body). One of the Squiers was easy, like an hour for most of it. The other Squier fought me tooth and nail the whole time, and looked like poo when I was done (the 96-piece body didn't help either, most of the veneer over it got trashed when I scraped it) The kit guitar ended up having, like, 1/4" of sealer on each surface, so I gave up and just Bondoed the gouges I made flat again. Some of these seem a LOT easier than others to strip, I had such a hard time with the last one that I just started looking for used bodies in the "right" color.

 

[daan]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

I'm really interested in this too, I want to get rid of the black on my les paul and refinish it with tru oil myself, but that's a pretty ambitious plan (for me anyways).

If it's a "real" (genuine Gibson) LP, all you'll need to get the paint off is Naptha and a rag. All real Gibbos are painted with Lacquer, and don't have the obnoxious sealer that Fenders have. Just be ready for the wood to not look nice, lots of opaque Gibsons used "paint grade" lumber, or multi-pieces joined together, hidden under the paint...

 

[Zarg]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

If it's a "real" (genuine Gibson) LP, all you'll need to get the paint off is Naptha and a rag. All real Gibbos are painted with Lacquer, and don't have the obnoxious sealer that Fenders have. Just be ready for the wood to not look nice, lots of opaque Gibsons used "paint grade" lumber, or multi-pieces joined together, hidden under the paint...

you're right, it's actually an epiphone. I'm still not sure if I should do it or not. would be a fun project I reckon.

 

[akio]

Re: Difficulty removing a poly finish

That looks good enough to just clear coat it as is.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Difficulty removing a poly finish

Thanks! I actually sanded it down a bit. I left it at 220. She ships tomorrow to get a Olymipic White or Blonde finish. Still deciding on what finish since the neck had a natural amber tint. Not super surprised it's a 3 piece body. Can't win them all.


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