Stripping a sunburst

[Aceman]

Question: Is it possible to sand a sunburst down to the bare wood and then stain or re-finish?

I believe the way to sunburst is to cover the wood with a clear coat, then spray a base coat all over, then clear again, then spray the burst. A lighter color in the middle, say clear yellow/orange gets covered by the opaque red/brown.

So - can i just strip the top and do-over? Or do they sometimes stain the wood?

And if so, how much flame would be on top of a cheap korean import to sand away???

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

It would be interesting to find out. When I de-finished my Epi LPC (Korean, maybe 2004), I took off the top layer of clear coat and the dark tint, down to the amber flame -- which covers the top uniformly from edge to edge. There's still some finish in there; I didn't go deep enough to start removing the amber because I didn't want to punch through the maple veneer and end up having to take all of it off.

 

[Dr.K]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

I don't think there's any stain with a burst just tint. I'd check it out at Guitar ReRanch, it's got some pretty good info. The dude that runs the site seems pretty knowledgable and returns emails too.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

sunburst is just like any other finish, you should be able to remove it quite easily with a heat gun. if its a flame top its probably veneer so if you want to keep it you'd have a better chance by using a heat gun not a sander to strip the finish.

 

[John_L]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

You don't say what sort of guitar and what sort of finish.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

Low end jackson/Epi/dean/ltd - whatever...

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

i would love to do a purpleburst finish....

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

sunburst is just like any other finish, you should be able to remove it quite easily with a heat gun. if its a flame top its probably veneer so if you want to keep it you'd have a better chance by using a heat gun not a sander to strip the finish.

I've not seen a demonstration of this, but a number of forum members have cautioned that using a heat gun on a guitar with binding can make the glue release, melt the binding, or even set it on fire. I have no idea if any of these things can happen; I strictly used abrasive methods on my project.

 

[BTMN]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

Dont you mess with that Sweet Caddy you got.

 

[bluesbend]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

There should be a base sealer coat applied before any of the color coats. Strip away!

 

[John_L]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

I've not seen a demonstration of this, but a number of forum members have cautioned that using a heat gun on a guitar with binding can make the glue release, melt the binding, or even set it on fire. I have no idea if any of these things can happen; I strictly used abrasive methods on my project.

Heat guns will melt the glue on binding and even the binding plus the neck joint if it is a set neck. If you are careful you can use one on the man bulk of the top or back avoiding excessive heat and those areas.
Once a friend of mine called me over to see a guitar he was repairing. It was an Epi SG that the owner had decided would look better stripped so got out a Black and Decker paint stripper and managed to pop out the neck a few of the frets and melted the pickups three of the four knobs and the pick guard.

 

[CTN]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

If it's a veneer top, i wouldn't bother with it honestly. There's a danger of sanding too far down into the veneer and exposing the body wood underneath, especially if it's a deep penetrating stain/dye.

I'd only do it if it was a thick top.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

I've not seen a demonstration of this, but a number of forum members have cautioned that using a heat gun on a guitar with binding can make the glue release, melt the binding, or even set it on fire. I have no idea if any of these things can happen; I strictly used abrasive methods on my project.

ye if it doesn't have binding then its all good, just dont hold the gun in the same place too long cos we've all heard stories of the glue that holds the body together coming loose, although its never happend to me.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

Once a friend of mine called me over to see a guitar he was repairing. It was an Epi SG that the owner had decided would look better stripped so got out a Black and Decker paint stripper and managed to pop out the neck a few of the frets and melted the pickups three of the four knobs and the pick guard.

If you're stupid enough to leave the hardware on while you're taking a heat gun to the guitar, there's no hope for you.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

if you're stupid enough to leave the hardware on while you're taking a heat gun to the guitar, there's no hope for you.

+1

 

[bluesbend]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

When I say "strp away", I'm reffering to masking off the already naked instrument, and using Citrus Strip. Citrus Strip won't harm bindings.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

I tried to strip the poly off a mim strat one time. It wasn't pretty.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

Fender poly is nuclear strength, and the one strat body I did took several applications of aircraft stripper. I would like to try that Citrus Strip stuff to see how it compares.

Oh, and in case anyone wants to know, aircraft stripper will melt binding instantly.

 

[John_L]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

If you're stupid enough to leave the hardware on while you're taking a heat gun to the guitar, there's no hope for you.

I assume it was the brother of the guy who tried to sue Musical Exchanges in Birmingham back in 1986. This chap bought a Squire 'Electric Guitar' for his kid for Christmas. He then wired up a cable with a jack plug at one end and a 13amp plug at the other, Christmas morning he plugged little Timmy in and the kid spent the rest of Christmas in Hospital. I always thought this was a myth however a friend of mine found a legal notice of the case in the archive of the local paper.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Stripping a sunburst

I assume it was the brother of the guy who tried to sue Musical Exchanges in Birmingham back in 1986. This chap bought a Squire 'Electric Guitar' for his kid for Christmas. He then wired up a cable with a jack plug at one end and a 13amp plug at the other, Christmas morning he plugged little Timmy in and the kid spent the rest of Christmas in Hospital. I always thought this was a myth however a friend of mine found a legal notice of the case in the archive of the local paper.

Man thats so sad its almost funny. I feel sorry for the kid though......not only did his dad electrocute him due to, frankly, unbelievable stupidity - but, due to genetics, he's probably got a good chance of being that stupid himself.