Hydro Dipped Swirl

[NoOnesFang13]

Has anyone done a swirl finish on a guitar like some of the Jems have? My daughter for her 3rd birthday wants a rainbow guitar so i started thinking what i could do. I decided on doing a swirl with a color shifting paint and black. Stewmac has some half sized guitar kits so I'm going to order a telecaster one, and i have some parts kicking around so i plan to build a strat with the same finish that she can have when shes older but in the meantime i get to play.

Any advice or things i should be cautious of?
What kind of paint should i use?

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

I know several people have tried their hand at it, and I see them for sale all the time online. It's almost normal at this point, not trendy.

I learned to do it in the early 70's on model cars when psychedelia was all the rage. Haven't done a guitar like that since the 80's. Hate to say it, but it makes me yawn.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

Nice, sounds like a fun project. Might want pm the dude on here that was making swirl pedal cases, was it J.LaGrassa?

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

There are a ton of videos online about how to do it and what to use

Watch a bunch filter the bs out

You'll need a large garbage can and probably a liner

Then some oil based paint I think

The videos really go in depth

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

I know several people have tried their hand at it, and I see them for sale all the time online. It's almost normal at this point, not trendy.

I learned to do it in the early 70's on model cars when psychedelia was all the rage. Haven't done a guitar like that since the 80's. Hate to say it, but it makes me yawn.

I can see what you mean. I've personally never really liked them but it was the best way I could think of doing a rainbow guitar for her. I showed her a picture of the guitar kit from stewmac last year and she still brings up from time to time that she want a rainbow guitar for her birthday so i figured I'd give it a shot.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

She may be expecting something more my little pony

 

[The_Junior]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

I have this reservation against submerging your guitar in water/floatie paint after the manufacture spent the time and resources to kiln drying the wood in order to make for best resonation possible.

But I guess if you seal it up the best you can, and the guitar is only in the water for a few seconds at a time. Maybe it's not such a big deal.

Just a thought.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

I have this reservation against submerging your guitar in water/floatie paint after the manufacture spent the time and resources to kiln drying the wood in order to make for best resonation possible.

But I guess if you seal it up the best you can, and the guitar is only in the water for a few seconds at a time. Maybe it's not such a big deal.

Just a thought.

I believe the procedure involves a full color coat of paint for a base
Probably clearcoat and all

 

[dystrust]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

I believe the procedure involves a full color coat of paint for a base
Probably clearcoat and all

Swirls are usually done with either a black or white base coat, depending on what overall effect you're after.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

Swirls are usually done with either a black or white base coat, depending on what overall effect you're after.

thank you
I was gonna leave that up to the OP

but thanks for clarifying that

you are great

 

[The_Junior]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

I believe the procedure involves a full color coat of paint for a base
Probably clearcoat and all

The control cavities/wire passages as well? a dude will need to find a way to seal/plug that off too.

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

Swirls are usually done with either a black or white base coat, depending on what overall effect you're after.

That's a good point that I didn't think of, what's the difference between the colors of base coat?

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

The control cavities/wire passages as well? a dude will need to find a way to seal/plug that off too.

My plan is to tape off the control cavities and neck pocket, then later used shielding paint in the cavities and leave the pocket unfinished.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

That's a good point that I didn't think of, what's the difference between the colors of base coat?

This one is a black base:

It was pretty hard to find an example, but this one appears to be a white base:

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

Well I got the stuff in and it didn't go according to plan. A lot of the pigment sank to the bottom but I did manage to achieve an oil slick kind of look. And my daughter referred to it as rainbow so that's a win. I think if I were to do it again I would need a sprayer. But I thinking looks kind of cool.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

I say give it another dip!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

It is kinda cool in its own way. More like gas on the street running down a drain.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

The finish on the headstock came out pretty well. But, is there a reason why you didn't shape it a bit?

Looks like you could easily make the headstock into a Fender-esque profile or something similar that's not so "paddle"-like. Just my 2-cents

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

The finish on the headstock came out pretty well. But, is there a reason why you didn't shape it a bit?

Looks like you could easily make the headstock into a Fender-esque profile or something similar that's not so "paddle"-like. Just my 2-cents

Probably just playing it safe and staying away from Gibson's lawyers! Cuz Gibson invented EVERY headstock shape....just ask em.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Hydro Dipped Swirl

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

So true!