Strip finish from my Ibanez, how?

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

It's a cream 90's supertrat style (EX series) It's beat up and such, but a nice neck. So i wanna get rid of that super thick seal and paint. It's got a nice chip out of it and i can see at least 4mm thick near-clear layer, then the colour. All i want to do is get this axe down to the wood and leave it naked. Is it safe/effective to use a ordinary paintstripper? It's noxious stuff. But i certainly don't wanna sand it down! Ive used this stuff and it seemed safe on the wooden doorframes and shelves, and says it's woodsafe.

I realise that under this coat is some ugly wood. I'm hoping for a less dull tone, with more resonance. Both of which suck on this guitar.

Should i wear my glkoves goggles and do it? Or will i kill my guitar?
What to do with the finnish once it's done. Wax, oil or a light coat of something?

Ive been to reranch.com

 

[hellrider77]

Re: Strip finish from my Ibanez, how?

well, i can definately tell you that stripping an ibanez by sanding it is one of the worst jobs i ever embarked on. i would recomend some type of paint stripper and just take everything off the guitar. i've used about 6 different kinds and never had a problem

 

[MikeS]

Re: Strip finish from my Ibanez, how?

Patience. Even aircraft or auto stripper has a tough time with the plastic-like coating on Ibanezes. I tried regular paint stripper, which softened the top layer of finish, nothing more. Even auto stripper only caused a few deeper bubbles.

Unfortunatly, my best luck came with sanding. If you have a portable belt sander, buy a nice gritty belt and sand away. Should take you about an afternoon to remove it all. For horns and tough to reach places, I used a drum on mine, although you could get by with a drum sanding bit for a drill, it'll simply take a bit longer. An orbital sander will be useful once you get down to primer so you don't take away too much wood. The entire job can be done with an orbital sander, but be advised it will take a couple days to knock the entire thing out.

Regardless of whether you use a stripper or sand, wear a mask. When the Ibanez finish sands off, it can create a fine plastic dust that would be nasty to inhale.

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Strip finish from my Ibanez, how?

Heat gun? Am i asking for trouble even mentioning such a tool around a guitar...

 

[flank]

Re: Strip finish from my Ibanez, how?

its funny that you started this cause i have a crappy ibanez GRX guitar layin around, and yesterday, i got out some really heavy duty sandpaper, and went to town on it, i almost got all the black paint sanded off the back of it........ im sure its got a much thinner finish on it though thans yours does, its low quality guitar

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Strip finish from my Ibanez, how?

I did the heat gun on 300 centigrade, in even, conservative swoops. It really aged that finish. It went from beat up vanilla, to butterscotch-brown. I mostly just lifted the outer "colour" coat off with a scraper. Then its that very thick, transparent "dipped" stuff. Which separates from the wood with a bit more heat. Gotta get it off while its hot, cause it bakes on (as JohnJohn says). In some spots where the gun was too liberally applied, the wood is a bit burned. Should be able to sand it off though.

Tonight I'll use the heat and stripper method together. I would not recommend the heat-gun method on a guitar that is loved. It just feels wrong.

This Ibanez EX series is heavy seal stuff, and the wood under looks like pine to the eye, but i think its Agathis or Poplar. It sure is gonna be a lighter axe when i'm done.

Here's me question. Once I've cleaned off all the coat, can i sand it and leave it just as is? Or should i really just put one or two coats of SOMETHING on it? I like the idea of a plain wood.

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Strip finish from my Ibanez, how?

Sweet, JohnJohn... You've given me the confidence to strip down, wax up and show off the natural look I have... Will post pics when I'm done.

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Strip finish from my Ibanez, how?

trowelled on the paint stripper jelly, left it for a couple hours...came back and there was a strange powdery pile of white matter left where most of the pastic-macho-seal was. Most of it's now eaten off! The curved lap, top and tummy areas and horns are toucher, thicker cookies. More stripper. Getting close to the wood now...

Once i'm fully clean, sanded and bare, I will consult JohnJohn on the next step...