Fixing warped pickguards
- Thread starter Mincer
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Low_fidelity2100
New member
Re: Fixing warped pickguards
Why not just screw it down? Always works for me.
Why not just screw it down? Always works for me.
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: Fixing warped pickguards
The oven trick, you might cringe at, but that's probably a much easier, much more effective method. If you sandwich the pickguard between a flat surface and a heavy surface on top of the p/g, then you could keep the oven at a low temperature, warm up the plastic, and the weight of the top piece would gradually bend it back into flatness. Of course, you have to be really careful about the temperature. Too hot, and you might have pickguard soup casserole.
If that's too unnerving, the hairdryer will give you a bit more control, but make sure to set it at a wide dispersal pattern...if you concentrate the heat in one spot, it could warp even further (in a non-desirable way). With the wide dispersal pattern, keep going back and forth. What you're shooting for is to warm up the whole pickguard so it gradually bends back to flatness. It'll take a long time, probably. Be patient.
Perhaps the place you're storing this guitar has a heating duct or pipes going through it? Can't say I've ever seen a pickguard warp that badly from just sitting in a case.
The oven trick, you might cringe at, but that's probably a much easier, much more effective method. If you sandwich the pickguard between a flat surface and a heavy surface on top of the p/g, then you could keep the oven at a low temperature, warm up the plastic, and the weight of the top piece would gradually bend it back into flatness. Of course, you have to be really careful about the temperature. Too hot, and you might have pickguard soup casserole.
If that's too unnerving, the hairdryer will give you a bit more control, but make sure to set it at a wide dispersal pattern...if you concentrate the heat in one spot, it could warp even further (in a non-desirable way). With the wide dispersal pattern, keep going back and forth. What you're shooting for is to warm up the whole pickguard so it gradually bends back to flatness. It'll take a long time, probably. Be patient.
Perhaps the place you're storing this guitar has a heating duct or pipes going through it? Can't say I've ever seen a pickguard warp that badly from just sitting in a case.
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: Fixing warped pickguards
just taking a guess here. maybe about 120-130 fahrenheit?
you probably also want to put some wax paper or foil between the p/g and the heavy/flat things you're gonna sandwich it between, just to make sure it doesn't stick.
I've been doing some reading and learned that apparently pickguards can shrink a tiny bit doing them like this. One way around that is to screw it back onto the guitar while it's still warm, so that when it cools down completely, it still fits the guitar.
just taking a guess here. maybe about 120-130 fahrenheit?
you probably also want to put some wax paper or foil between the p/g and the heavy/flat things you're gonna sandwich it between, just to make sure it doesn't stick.
I've been doing some reading and learned that apparently pickguards can shrink a tiny bit doing them like this. One way around that is to screw it back onto the guitar while it's still warm, so that when it cools down completely, it still fits the guitar.
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ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Fixing warped pickguards
I got a pickguard from Warmoth that the postman jammed into my tiny mailbox. I used a stack of heavy books for a few days to fix it - no heat required. It was just as bad as the one in your photo.
I got a pickguard from Warmoth that the postman jammed into my tiny mailbox. I used a stack of heavy books for a few days to fix it - no heat required. It was just as bad as the one in your photo.
stringbender11
New member
Re: Fixing warped pickguards
I just flattened the really warped PG on my Epi Jr. I had read about laying it on an ironing board, covering it with a moist wash cloth or towel, and heating it with an iron on high. And that's what I did, I moved the iron back and forth for a while, checking periodically to see how soft the guard was getting. Eventually when I picked it up it was soft & floppy. I then layed it on a wood table, covered it with another piece of wood, and put some heavy stuff on top of it. A few minutes later I took it out and it was flat. Worked great.
I just flattened the really warped PG on my Epi Jr. I had read about laying it on an ironing board, covering it with a moist wash cloth or towel, and heating it with an iron on high. And that's what I did, I moved the iron back and forth for a while, checking periodically to see how soft the guard was getting. Eventually when I picked it up it was soft & floppy. I then layed it on a wood table, covered it with another piece of wood, and put some heavy stuff on top of it. A few minutes later I took it out and it was flat. Worked great.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Fixing warped pickguards
ive done this...place it face down on the ironing board (important). Put a tea towel over the pickguard's back and iron the thing flat with a household iron. Then while its still warm(ish) place it in a pile of coffee table books.
ive done this...place it face down on the ironing board (important). Put a tea towel over the pickguard's back and iron the thing flat with a household iron. Then while its still warm(ish) place it in a pile of coffee table books.
Bludave
New member
Fixing warped pickguards
What's the pick guard made of? If its nitrocellulose you can't put it in the oven it would burn. If its plastic you could use a hair dryer or a heat gun(better) with controlled heat but prior to heating the guard up I would prepare a board to screw it down on. The screwing it down will keep it straight and prevent it from shrinking ( a common problem with old Strats).
What's the pick guard made of? If its nitrocellulose you can't put it in the oven it would burn. If its plastic you could use a hair dryer or a heat gun(better) with controlled heat but prior to heating the guard up I would prepare a board to screw it down on. The screwing it down will keep it straight and prevent it from shrinking ( a common problem with old Strats).
Chocklit_Thunda
New member
Re: Fixing warped pickguards
It's been said before but for me a blow dryer and my old baby albums did the trick! Just make sure it's not too soft... Mine almost flopped because I overheated it
It's been said before but for me a blow dryer and my old baby albums did the trick! Just make sure it's not too soft... Mine almost flopped because I overheated it
