Removing a finish

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Removing a finish

Maybe because it explains a lot of things.

Or not. I don't know.

It does look like maple.

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: Removing a finish

Wow. That looks just like the "maple top" on a chinese LP I have (which was given to me in a trade). Most of the gold top is stripped and the maple has the same amber color to it. I didn't sand it because I suspected the finish contained lead. The guys aren't lying when they say paint stripper can melt binding, lol. :smack:

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Removing a finish

At least the cheesy flame maple veneer on mine is Korean.

*sniffs cork*

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Removing a finish

Wow. That looks just like the "maple top" on a chinese LP I have (which was given to me in a trade). Most of the gold top is stripped and the maple has the same amber color to it. I didn't sand it because I suspected the finish contained lead. The guys aren't lying when they say paint stripper can melt binding, lol. :smack:

Pics?

 

[SrDeMaFp]

Re: Removing a finish

Whoa, that amber look is bad-ass. I agree with the others - oil it. Keep the rest natural, forget about the red stain!

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Removing a finish

See, that's the thing. The flame top is still covered in poly. How much, I don't know. My fear is that, if I try to take it off, I'll take out part of the stain on the maple veneer, and I'll have to take it all off. If I do that, I might wear through the veneer completely and be stuck with a plain top.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Removing a finish

Which would suck if it's alder (like I suspect the back is).

 

[beandip]

Re: Removing a finish

if you left the poly on the top, you only need to polish it up to match the rest of the body. It's all good dude, have fun.

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: Removing a finish

oh man, that "project" was pretty much a fail. :haha:

The camera I was using sucks major balls.

I never took pics of the flame top but it looks like yours.

 

[beandip]

Re: Removing a finish

oh man, that "project" was pretty much a fail. :haha:

The camera I was using sucks major balls.

I never took pics of the flame top but it looks like yours.

try again with those pics?

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Removing a finish

Talk about fail... I'm going to have nothing but piles of sanding dust in different colors when I'm done.

 

[SinNombre]

Re: Removing a finish

if you left the poly on the top, you only need to polish it up to match the rest of the body. It's all good dude, have fun.

I don't know what the rest of your guitar looks like now but if you don't want to remove the poly on the top you could do this, at least it won't look like poly:

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/epiphone-les-pauls/17007-dulling-poly-finished-guitars-pic-heavy.html

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Removing a finish

Gracias, SinNombre. I might do that with the top, since it still has poly.

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: Removing a finish

try again with those pics?

Talk about fail... I'm going to have nothing but piles of sanding dust in different colors when I'm done.

The only part that's a total fail is what happened to the binding. :haha:

The stripper mainly did it's job and some areas were easier to rub the "gold top" off. The neck was super easy but the "flame top" wasn't. I only spent about $7.50 on the stripper so I really don't care I ****ed up the cheapo LP. It was actually a lot fun. :friday: I hope I can go to school one day and learn to do this the proper way.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Removing a finish

 

[beandip]

Re: Removing a finish

I want it!!!

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Removing a finish

You want my butchered Epiphone?

The next step is to be patient while a few applications of finish dry.

Then, I'll redo all the electronics. New pots, some cork-sniffer caps and wire, and a better switch.

 

[beandip]

Re: Removing a finish

You want my butchered Epiphone?

The next step is to be patient while a few applications of finish dry.

Then, I'll redo all the electronics. New pots, some cork-sniffer caps and wire, and a better switch.

Hell yeah, strip the top and stain it the same color, some dye on the fretboard, aged nickel hardware and pickups...I think I need a towel.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Removing a finish

Has anyone ever heard about the Gibson factory, where they have old women who do nothing but scrape bindings with a special tool?

Yes.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Removing a finish

Hell yeah, strip the top and stain it the same color, some dye on the fretboard, aged nickel hardware and pickups...I think I need a towel.

I'm not going to try staining another fretboard for a good, long time.

I think I like the top the way it is. I took a lot of poly and the whole tint layer off of it. I left it dull, because I like the feel of it that way.

I think I'll stay with the gold hardware for now.