Paint alternatives

[ItsaBass]

Paint alternatives

Sounds like someone annoys very easily... :flowers1:

Not personal? :bsflag: why keep on posting about how completely opposite oil is if it is not personal? The original post asked for any help and insights (corrective spelling) and a couple of us offered oil as a cheap alternative. You didn't like that and I gave my reason...the $600-$1,000 savings on a $200 guitar. You didn't like that so you posted a response to which I posted a response etc. :argue: We can keep going on if you like

Its knight_yyz's thread, and I will assume he would rather have a post about a cheap alternative/insight rather than you and me going back and forth

That isn't what happened, and that isn't what my motivation's were at all. It had ZERO to do with me "not lik[ing]" the oil suggestion. I had not even bothered to opine about it one way or the other, because it was obviously not a good solution, objectively speaking. So I passed it over and forgot about it.

This has nothing to do with the initial oil posts, and everything to do with today's posts. I found it ridiculous that Oinkus would ask that question, especially the way he did, implying that oil was obviously the way to go. I was like, "Give me a break; of course not. You know that very well." I replied with the obvious reason why the answer was a more than likely "no. " Then you responded, and so on.

We have a different comprehension of the OP, and that isn't going to change. But the bottom line, the answer to Oinkus' question is OBVIOUSLY "no," for many reasons, most of which I think were already noted. That was the point. It had nothing to do with how I feel about one person or another. I was simply stating the obvious: the answer is no, for this basic reason. But you challenged the obviousness of that answer, so I had to explain why I thought it was so obvious.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Paint alternatives

Dude, just to reiterate from my last post, I'm pretty sure knight_yyz would rather have "any help and insight" given than the two of us going back and forth.

I for one have sometimes responded to a thread by just reading only the original post--perhaps Oinkus saw "paint alternatives" in the title and "$600-$1,000" in the OP and was like, why is oil not a possibility? You don't know but you assumed that you knew his intentions and responded accordingly. And from there its just us going back and forth.

Also, have you ever lived, ordered, purchased, etc. something in Canada? Your prices were reasonable averages (sight unseen) for in the US but not a guy ordering from Canada--I don't assume the American price is the same elsewhere...

You assume a lot and I am assuming you are grumpy and need to turn that frown upside down and on that note I'll say cheers and best of luck to knight_yyz getting the finish he wants at the price he is cool with

 

[knight_yyz]

Re: Paint alternatives

I can't cross the border, thanks to an indiscretion from 30 years ago Homeland Security has me flagged. I live 20 minutes from the Falls and can't do anything about it.

I emailed Brian Monty and he says he can do it for much cheaper. I'd still rather do it myself. I'm trying to get in touch with Sherwin-Williams in Canada, but the website setup leaves a bit to be desired. if you go to the canadian site and then click on automotive it takes you to the US site, and you can;t email them from Canada unless you fake which US state you live in. I'm on midnight shift so I don't do phone calls. When I get home nothing is open, when I wake up everyone has finished for the day. I have to wait until I change shifts in a few weeks.

I do have some friends in the US so I guess I have to send the package to them and either reship it or wait until they come up here for a visit.

 

[ItsaBass]

Paint alternatives

Out of curiosity, did Brian Monty quote you a price for a strip and refinish, or for going over the poly? I've never inquired about a strip and refinish from him, just a paint job on a naked guitar. I'm curious what he'd charge to strip poly.

Also, when does the green body arrive? I'd like to see that.

 

[knight_yyz]

Re: Paint alternatives

I got a quote, but then I realized that I didn't give too many details, so I emailed him back and asked him if that quote included the stripping and painting and polishing of the guitar body. I told him I would send the body with no hardware. It's still expensive, with shipping both ways and taxes it will still be less than 600 though. I'm going to think about it.

As for the Fender 57 RI body in seafoam I ordered, I have not received shipping information yet, but I am assuming it will be here next week.


Out of curiosity how do you strip the poly? heat gun, chemical or sanding? I wonder if I can save a few bucks by removing the old finish. I'm sure some of you agree that when you do things yourself and they turn out as you expected it feels like you accomplished something. You can say "I made this".

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Paint alternatives

Poly is tough to strip. Places that charge only $150 to do it are really being quite reasonable IMO.

I sand it all over, as deeply as I can using very coarse paper, like 80 or 100 grit. Then I cover the body in a thick coat of aircraft-grade paint stripper, put it in a plastic bag so it doesn't dry up as fast, and put it in a hot area, like out in the sun. (I have noticed that the stripper works much better in high temperatures.) I let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour, then go at it with a putty knife. I repeat this process over and over and over until it stops doing much of anything. I clean up the stripper goop and paint flecks with acetone or lacquer thinner. Then I start in with a heat gun and a small putty knife to finish it off. You have to be very, very careful doing this if you plan on using a translucent finish, as it can discolor the wood. In fact, I would rather take off the poly 100% chemically and mechanically in these cases, not using a heat gun at all. After all the poly is off, I sand, fill any marks caused by the putty knife, then sand again to level and smooth the body. Then I clean it extremely well (several times) with something like acetone or lacquer thinner, to get off as many traces of the stripper as possible.

Regular paint strippers won't have much effect. You need a stripper that has methylene chloride as the primary ingredient. This is usually labelled as aircraft grade stripper, and/or epoxy remover. You usually can't get the most concentrated types at any old hardware store. You need to order it online, or get it from something like an auto paint and body supply shop. But there is a Jasco epoxy remover that works okay, which is available more easily. It's not as strong as you really want, but with lots of applications, it'll do the trick. You want to do this outside, with a fan, with gloves, a filtered mask, and as much protective clothing as possible. You also (IMO) should collect all of your used stripper and removed paint in one place, and take the whole mess in to a hazardous materials disposal facility when you're done...but that's just me. Since hazmat disposal is a regular thing for me (I have a darkroom), I am super diligent about taking crap that I don't understand in to be disposed of by those who do know the best thing to do with it.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Paint alternatives

Minwax will work but you have to have the patience to apply many thin coats whilst sanding in between. I have one body that I have been working on that is getting ready to look like a freshly waxed bowling alley; natural grain but polished finish. Satin hand buffed to a mirror sheen is the aim.

 

[knight_yyz]

Re: Paint alternatives

Just for the record. I want a hard lacquer finish. Wood grain electric guitars don't do anything for me.