I need help on painting a guitar.. what do I use?

[epi]

I want to paint a Jazzmaster Alder body from Warmoth myself... I want to spray paint it white then paint over the white (when its dry of course) with a paint brush and paint out little creatures now I am not sure what paints to use and what the clear spray you put on at the end... Sorry this is my first time painting something I just want to know what paints to use and I should so like steps...

 

[kramersteen]

Re: I need help on painting a guitar.. what do I use?

COOL! I suggest doing some preparation before the brush work. I would seal the grain of the timber and Undercoat before the white.

And make sure you use compatible paint and clear, I would personally spray with a acrylic lacquer. It might be a bit hard to get it completely flat as the brushing leaves high points. But it can be done.

I was also thinking it wouldn't be hard to paint directly onto the timber then seal it and clear. You could even do a white wash first.

I did this by brush, never again :bigthumb:

 

[epi]

Re: I need help on painting a guitar.. what do I use?

COOL! I suggest doing some preparation before the brush work. I would seal the grain of the timber and Undercoat before the white.

And make sure you use compatible paint and clear, I would personally spray with a acrylic lacquer. It might be a bit hard to get it completely flat as the brushing leaves high points. But it can be done.

I was also thinking it wouldn't be hard to paint directly onto the timber then seal it and clear. You could even do a white wash first.

I did this by brush, never again :bigthumb:

so I should seal it first then spray it then paint it and then acrylic lacquer ok sounds good but what should I use for the white? and also what type of paint should I use for the brushed things? and whats a white wash? sorry I am new to this...

 

[epi]

Re: I need help on painting a guitar.. what do I use?

And what would I do the undercoat with and what do I do to seal the grain?

 

[kramersteen]

Re: I need help on painting a guitar.. what do I use?

And what would I do the undercoat with and what do I do to seal the grain?

Just wait i am sure other will have advice also. Most paint should work as longs as its solvent based. Regarding the undercoat/primer etc i would just go for automotive products.

Just a question what sort of finish are you hoping to achieve? gloss, satin?

 

[epi]

Re: I need help on painting a guitar.. what do I use?

I am thinking gloss

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: I need help on painting a guitar.. what do I use?

If you start with lacquer, stay with lacquer for the entire project. You could use enamel, but same suggestion...stay with enamel through the entire project.

You can get either in spray cans. For the brushing part, just spray some paint into a plastic or paper cup and brush from that.

If your guitar is unfinished, you'll want to use a sealer or grain filler first (or both). Then spray on your base coat (white). Then brush your creatures, then spray with clear gloss.

One thing to keep in mind...if you use lacquer, when you are brushing, it does disolve the underlying coats which can smear into what you are brushing if you go too slow or "work it" while brushing. Just brush it on quickly and leave it alone. If you make a mistake, there is no way to "erase" the mistake other than starting all over again. If you use enamel, once the base coat is set/cured, you can paint your creatures over the base coat and if you make a mistake you can simply remove the mistake by wiping with a rag and mineral spirits (paint thinner). Won't disolve or hurt the base coat.