Looking for some tips on painting a guitar...
- Thread starter gripweed
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Forbes
Guest
Re: Looking for some tips on painting a guitar...
www.projectguitar.com is usually pretty good for this sort of thing. I painted one, turned out ok, used car body paint from a spray can, i'm sure more advanced refinishers from here can give you better advice though.
www.projectguitar.com is usually pretty good for this sort of thing. I painted one, turned out ok, used car body paint from a spray can, i'm sure more advanced refinishers from here can give you better advice though.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Looking for some tips on painting a guitar...
go to www.reranch.com, click basic finishing, then reranch 101...
go to www.reranch.com, click basic finishing, then reranch 101...
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: Looking for some tips on painting a guitar...
I redid my Telecaster with Krylon.
I just sanded down the old finish until it's dull. Then sprayed on the Krylon.
The mistakes I made were:
Sanding too much (if you sand through the finish and don't seal the wood the paint soaks in)
Not applying in several thin coats.
Not allowing it to dry properly between coats.
The Results:
Just make sure you've got a well ventilated area and make sure the the excess airborne paint isn't going to get all over stuff.
I redid my Telecaster with Krylon.
I just sanded down the old finish until it's dull. Then sprayed on the Krylon.
The mistakes I made were:
Sanding too much (if you sand through the finish and don't seal the wood the paint soaks in)
Not applying in several thin coats.
Not allowing it to dry properly between coats.
The Results:
Just make sure you've got a well ventilated area and make sure the the excess airborne paint isn't going to get all over stuff.
kmcguitars
GuitarArtologist
Re: Looking for some tips on painting a guitar...
The simpelist way to do it would be to just scuff the original finish with 220
grit.Use a sanding block or something flat (The plastic boxes SD PuPs come
in work good
) White makes a good base color so that's a plus. Now you can use any type paint or color you like.
The simpelist way to do it would be to just scuff the original finish with 220
grit.Use a sanding block or something flat (The plastic boxes SD PuPs come
in work good
) White makes a good base color so that's a plus. Now you can use any type paint or color you like.
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: Looking for some tips on painting a guitar...
By the way, I just bent a wire coat hanger and used the hook into one of the neck screw holes, then hung the hanger on a nail in the rafters of the attic.
You also may want to mask off the neck pocket.
By the way, I just bent a wire coat hanger and used the hook into one of the neck screw holes, then hung the hanger on a nail in the rafters of the attic.
You also may want to mask off the neck pocket.
Re: Looking for some tips on painting a guitar...
I just finished repainting my frankenstrat over the weekend, & used Krylon, too. Gold.
I use 600 & 1500 grit wet-or-dry to knock down the bimps of the paint, & am now polishing the thing with auto rubbing compound. I'm surprised how good it looks. I'd post pix, but I don't have a camera.
BTW, ventilation is overrated. Nothing like a good Krylon buzz..;-) Plus, my boogers are all shiny now..
I just finished repainting my frankenstrat over the weekend, & used Krylon, too. Gold.
I use 600 & 1500 grit wet-or-dry to knock down the bimps of the paint, & am now polishing the thing with auto rubbing compound. I'm surprised how good it looks. I'd post pix, but I don't have a camera.
BTW, ventilation is overrated. Nothing like a good Krylon buzz..;-) Plus, my boogers are all shiny now..
JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: Looking for some tips on painting a guitar...
I got the e-book from paintyourownguitar.com, but here's the basics:
After you scuff up your paint (your primer is already on), spray 7 or 8 thin coats of your color. Let it dry a few days. Spray about 8 thin coats of clear gloss (the first two should be VERY VERY thin). Let it sit 2 months or bake it (he didn't suggest baking, but I'm sure it will work. Don't know any specifics, though). Sand it down starting with 600 grit all the way down to 1600 grit (you can actually get even finer paper), using water the whole time. Get out the automotive rubbing compound and some elbow grease.
That's the basics. You're supposed to be able to get a factory-like finish. I'm in the process of doing one now, so I don't know how well it works.
I also don't know how acrylic paint effects the tone of your guitar - if at all. I know you want to keep it thin, as thicker paint tends to deaden the sound.
I got the e-book from paintyourownguitar.com, but here's the basics:
After you scuff up your paint (your primer is already on), spray 7 or 8 thin coats of your color. Let it dry a few days. Spray about 8 thin coats of clear gloss (the first two should be VERY VERY thin). Let it sit 2 months or bake it (he didn't suggest baking, but I'm sure it will work. Don't know any specifics, though). Sand it down starting with 600 grit all the way down to 1600 grit (you can actually get even finer paper), using water the whole time. Get out the automotive rubbing compound and some elbow grease.
That's the basics. You're supposed to be able to get a factory-like finish. I'm in the process of doing one now, so I don't know how well it works.
I also don't know how acrylic paint effects the tone of your guitar - if at all. I know you want to keep it thin, as thicker paint tends to deaden the sound.
Robbiedbee
New member
Re: Looking for some tips on painting a guitar...
+1
When I first glanced over that Telecaster pic, I thought it was a 'before' pic, and I was expecting a shiny red 'after' pic, but as ArtieToo says, it looks cool now. Very cool in fact.
ArtieToo said:Its interesting that by doing it "wrong", you came out with a cool "vintage" look.
If you hadn't told me, I'd guess that guitar was 30 - 40 years old.
Artie
+1
When I first glanced over that Telecaster pic, I thought it was a 'before' pic, and I was expecting a shiny red 'after' pic, but as ArtieToo says, it looks cool now. Very cool in fact.
mnbaseball91
New member
Re: Looking for some tips on painting a guitar...
Here's the way I do it:
Spray the base color in thin coats until you can't see the wood grain anymore, then spray two more coats. You can speed this up if you prime the wood first. I like to use either reranch guitar aerosols or duplicolor car paints, but any spray paint will work. Let that get good and dry, then spray your laquer. I always use nitro from stewmac, so that's what I'll give instructions for. Spray 8 fairly thin coats, 1 or 2 thick coats, then sand to 600 grit with at least 4.5 hours between coats. Then spray one more thin coat. Let it dry for a minimum of two weeks. Sand with 1200, then 1500, then 2000. Then buff it out using buffing compounds from stewmac or your local car place.
Here's the way I do it:
Spray the base color in thin coats until you can't see the wood grain anymore, then spray two more coats. You can speed this up if you prime the wood first. I like to use either reranch guitar aerosols or duplicolor car paints, but any spray paint will work. Let that get good and dry, then spray your laquer. I always use nitro from stewmac, so that's what I'll give instructions for. Spray 8 fairly thin coats, 1 or 2 thick coats, then sand to 600 grit with at least 4.5 hours between coats. Then spray one more thin coat. Let it dry for a minimum of two weeks. Sand with 1200, then 1500, then 2000. Then buff it out using buffing compounds from stewmac or your local car place.
