ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Restoring my Warmoth LP
Yes, that's what I was thinking as well. Thanks for the tip!
Yes, that's what I was thinking as well. Thanks for the tip!
Restoring my Warmoth LP
- Thread starter ratherdashing
- Start date
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Restoring my Warmoth LP
Goodbye ... blue dye ...
Goodbye ... blue dye ...
Goodbye.
I had to sand a non-trivial amount of wood off the top to get the old dye coat off. A good reminder to not f up when I re-do it.
Goodbye ... blue dye ...
Goodbye ... blue dye ...
Goodbye.
I had to sand a non-trivial amount of wood off the top to get the old dye coat off. A good reminder to not f up when I re-do it.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Restoring my Warmoth LP
The heat gun got the paint off the headstock just as easily as it did on the back of the body.
After that, a few seconds with the power sander got the rest off. I avoided the nut with the heat gun so I wouldn't get it un-glued, and wound up knocking it off with the sander anyway. Oh well, I kind of assumed it would need to be removed regardless.
The back of the headstock was done with pretty much the same technique, except I found that the heat gun didn't have much effect on the clear lacquer. It just made it goopy and annoying.
I used the drum sander attachment on Trevor's drill press to get the sides of the headstock, and hand sanded the top. That was annoying.
As for the rest of the neck, my power sander took care of the heel and the sides of the fretboard, but I opted to sand the shaft by hand so as not to mess up the profile. Fortunately the finish was very thin and came off pretty quickly with 120 grit paper. Here it is partially done.
Close-up of the raw neck
The heat gun got the paint off the headstock just as easily as it did on the back of the body.
After that, a few seconds with the power sander got the rest off. I avoided the nut with the heat gun so I wouldn't get it un-glued, and wound up knocking it off with the sander anyway. Oh well, I kind of assumed it would need to be removed regardless.
The back of the headstock was done with pretty much the same technique, except I found that the heat gun didn't have much effect on the clear lacquer. It just made it goopy and annoying.
I used the drum sander attachment on Trevor's drill press to get the sides of the headstock, and hand sanded the top. That was annoying.
As for the rest of the neck, my power sander took care of the heel and the sides of the fretboard, but I opted to sand the shaft by hand so as not to mess up the profile. Fortunately the finish was very thin and came off pretty quickly with 120 grit paper. Here it is partially done.
Close-up of the raw neck
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Restoring my Warmoth LP
As a last step, I hand sanded both the neck and body with sanding sponges - first 220 then 320. Then I wiped them down with Naptha to get rid of the sawdust and such, thanked Trevor for the gracious use of his shop, and drove the lumber home.
Here they are posing on my club chair.
Next up is to give the mahogany a quick wash with Circa 1850 to get the last of the paint out of the pores, then I prep the maple for dye.
As a last step, I hand sanded both the neck and body with sanding sponges - first 220 then 320. Then I wiped them down with Naptha to get rid of the sawdust and such, thanked Trevor for the gracious use of his shop, and drove the lumber home.
Here they are posing on my club chair.
Next up is to give the mahogany a quick wash with Circa 1850 to get the last of the paint out of the pores, then I prep the maple for dye.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Restoring my Warmoth LP
i love everything about this thread except that you went with Strat controls on a Les Paul body.
my brain is twisting itself inside-out trying to understand that and it could cause cognitive difficulties for the rest of my day.
i love everything about this thread except that you went with Strat controls on a Les Paul body.
my brain is twisting itself inside-out trying to understand that and it could cause cognitive difficulties for the rest of my day.
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: Restoring my Warmoth LP
You covered that top with a solid color??
mg:
I can think of a lot of things that I would have done to you if I had known that, none of them enjoyable for you, though many are quite entertaining for me :chairfall
But you´ve made amends, stripped off the solid, and are now approaching take 2. Very good, this pleases me much more.
However, I have submitted a petition to the FSC as well as all major instrument parts suppliers that you no longer be allowed to purchase curly maple above grade "y", Z is reserved for my private stock and everything above "x" is a potential waste of wood. What surprises me is that it already has over 27,000 signatures. Made a name for ourselves, have we? :beerchug:
You covered that top with a solid color??
mg:I can think of a lot of things that I would have done to you if I had known that, none of them enjoyable for you, though many are quite entertaining for me :chairfall
But you´ve made amends, stripped off the solid, and are now approaching take 2. Very good, this pleases me much more.
However, I have submitted a petition to the FSC as well as all major instrument parts suppliers that you no longer be allowed to purchase curly maple above grade "y", Z is reserved for my private stock and everything above "x" is a potential waste of wood. What surprises me is that it already has over 27,000 signatures. Made a name for ourselves, have we? :beerchug:
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Restoring my Warmoth LP
I am not much of a fan of the LP control layout, especially the switch position, so when Warmoth offered Strat control routing I was like "heck yes". No regrets there. It looks kind of odd, but not ugly, and I like it from an ergonomic standpoint.
In my defence, Warmoth did not offer the LP body with a plain top at the time. When I ordered it, I requested a "subtle flame" just so I could do the masked binding thing. Apparently this is their definition of "subtle flame".
Doing this project has jogged my memory of that time. I remember un-boxing the body, seeing the top, and thinking "holy crap, I may want to re-think doing a solid colour!" The weird ugly burst I described earlier was my lame attempt to compromise. In the end I wound up doing what I had intended all along, which was the same metallic paint as my grandpa's guitar.
Upon reflection, I realize that if my grandpa were around he probably would have kicked my ass for painting over a piece of figured maple like that
I am not much of a fan of the LP control layout, especially the switch position, so when Warmoth offered Strat control routing I was like "heck yes". No regrets there. It looks kind of odd, but not ugly, and I like it from an ergonomic standpoint.
You covered that top with a solid color??
I can think of a lot of things that I would have done to you if I had known that, none of them enjoyable for you, though many are quite entertaining for me :chairfall
But you´ve made amends, stripped off the solid, and are now approaching take 2. Very good, this pleases me much more.
However, I have submitted a petition to the FSC as well as all major instrument parts suppliers that you no longer be allowed to purchase curly maple above grade "y", Z is reserved for my private stock and everything above "x" is a potential waste of wood. What surprises me is that it already has over 27,000 signatures. Made a name for ourselves, have we? :beerchug:
In my defence, Warmoth did not offer the LP body with a plain top at the time. When I ordered it, I requested a "subtle flame" just so I could do the masked binding thing. Apparently this is their definition of "subtle flame".
Doing this project has jogged my memory of that time. I remember un-boxing the body, seeing the top, and thinking "holy crap, I may want to re-think doing a solid colour!" The weird ugly burst I described earlier was my lame attempt to compromise. In the end I wound up doing what I had intended all along, which was the same metallic paint as my grandpa's guitar.
Upon reflection, I realize that if my grandpa were around he probably would have kicked my ass for painting over a piece of figured maple like that
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: Restoring my Warmoth LP
You know, you could always stain the top to the same light blue shade (Or rather a bit lighter then spray trans blue over it to really make the figure go "kapow").... best of both worlds
....
Doing this project has jogged my memory of that time. I remember un-boxing the body, seeing the top, and thinking "holy crap, I may want to re-think doing a solid colour!" The weird ugly burst I described earlier was my lame attempt to compromise. In the end I wound up doing what I had intended all along, which was the same metallic paint as my grandpa's guitar.
Upon reflection, I realize that if my grandpa were around he probably would have kicked my ass for painting over a piece of figured maple like that
You know, you could always stain the top to the same light blue shade (Or rather a bit lighter then spray trans blue over it to really make the figure go "kapow").... best of both worlds
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Restoring my Warmoth LP
I am not opposed to having a pink or trans pink guitar some day, but not this one.
It will be blue. That's all I'm certain of right now.
I am not opposed to having a pink or trans pink guitar some day, but not this one.
You know, you could always stain the top to the same light blue shade (Or rather a bit lighter then spray trans blue over it to really make the figure go "kapow").... best of both worlds
It will be blue. That's all I'm certain of right now.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Restoring my Warmoth LP
RD, looking great.
RD, looking great.
BTMN
LifeIsGoodologist
Re: Restoring my Warmoth LP
Been watching the thread. Looking real nice. Also of note is that you play left hand guitars strung for a righty. Did you see the Lefty Dean Z I converted to be played Righty? I was thinking when I sold this a guy like yourself might wind up with it as that is one of the ways Lefties play a guitar.
Top is gonna look good. You have seen Jolly's Blue Iceman right?
Been watching the thread. Looking real nice. Also of note is that you play left hand guitars strung for a righty. Did you see the Lefty Dean Z I converted to be played Righty? I was thinking when I sold this a guy like yourself might wind up with it as that is one of the ways Lefties play a guitar.
Top is gonna look good. You have seen Jolly's Blue Iceman right?
