Painting a clear pickguard?

[InstituteOfNoise]

If I wanted to paint the backside of a clear guard silver, is there any type of spray paint better than another.

Any other recommendations on spraying it? Technique, number of coats? Thanks in advance!

 

[MikeS]

Re: Painting a clear pickguard?

Any reason why it needs to be the back? To get the paint to stick correctly you'd either need to use an adhesion promotor (not clear or silver), or lightly sand the guard, which would show through if you painted the back side.

Options would be either paint the front or buy a metal pickguard, unless you are trying to acheive something that I'm not reading into.

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Painting a clear pickguard?

I've got a Dearmond M77-T that I want to get looking more like a Gretsch DuoJet. I believe they usually have the backside painted gold or silver.

 

[RW James]

Re: Painting a clear pickguard?

MikeS is right about needing a primer coat first which would negate any effect you are going for...

However since the painted surface will be INSIDE not outside and therefore won't be bumped or scratched you might get away with it.

I did something similar for my rack system. I designed my own panel face using clear acrylic - but I wanted an anodized look for it. So I bought some automotive paint that produces the anodized look through a two step process. But I had to apply it backwards. In other words - paint the top coast first, then the base coat.

Because there is no primer - let the paint dry completely before handling - and even then be VERY careful. But if you can get the pickguard into place with scrtching it, you should be okay.

Rick

 

[marvar]

Re: Painting a clear pickguard?

there used to be a paint called marlyhide,(mar la hide) that was made to adhear to plastic and vinyl. If I"m not mistaken, Krylon spray paint has the same characteristics.

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Painting a clear pickguard?

didn't you guys play with R/C cars as kids? i've painted more R/C car bodies than i can count lol. anyway they're clear lexan and are painted from the inside so they don't flake or scratch easy when you plow into a wall lol. no primer is needed nor is any scuffing for them and a clear plexi pickguard should be fairly similar in the way it reacts to paint. i would use R/C car paint made by pactra (sp?) or testors. you should have no problem with that, just make sure to make off the tops so you don't get overspray on it. also after you spray a color like silver or gold you'll want to back it with white or black so you can't see through it since the silver and goald paints tend to be translucent. just use light coats and let it build up.

-Mike

 

[MikeS]

Re: Painting a clear pickguard?

These made for plastic paints have a chemical that is essentially an adhesion promoter mixed into them. That doesn't change the fact that it doesn't get a great bond on baby-butt smooth plastic. Trust me, even with adhesion promoters and plastic paints, prep-work is required for painting plastics.

By all means, there is nothing stopping you from applying silver paint to the plastic. Be advised that the paint will be very prone to flaking and chipping. Additionally, be sure the paint is 110% cure before screwing it down to the guitar. If it's not, the silver paint could cure to the finish of the guitar. Assuming that bond would be much stronger than the bond the paint has with the plastic, the first time you try to remove the guard, the paint will peel off the guard and stay on the guitar's finish.

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Painting a clear pickguard?

I posted this on the Fender Forum and one of the guys has the same guitar I'm doing this on... a Dearmond M77-T. He used metallic nickle silver spray... Krylon or Rustoleum brand. He used alchohol to clean it first. 2 coats applied.

Luckily, the pickguard on this model does not touch the body so it shouldn't bond to the finish.

Here's a pic of his guitar he did it to...

 

[RW James]

Re: Painting a clear pickguard?

Luckily, the pickguard on this model does not touch the body so it shouldn't bond to the finish.

That's good - and after seeing the picture, I'm even more convinced this should work well for you.

BUT, I would still let the paint dry longer than you think you need to in order to make sure you don't ruin it during installation. Patience will pay off here.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Painting a clear pickguard?

XSSIVE -

Thanks for the model car idea. I've been daydreaming about doing a particular design in reverse on the back side of a clear pickgurad, but had been discouraged by the problem of getting the paint to stick. It's been 3 decades since I painted a model car, but I should have remembered that paint sticks fine anyway

Chip

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Painting a clear pickguard?

Since this thread may be helpful to some of you too, here is the link from the other site I posted to relating to this guitar.

http://www.thefenderforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=241125#post241125

Thanks guys!