Sanding down guitar

cain

Well ive decided its about time to start fixing up my japanese strat.

I would like to know what would be the best way to go about doing this. I want to sand it, removing paint and lacquer coting. Then respraying it with a midnight blue sparkle paint and putting laquer / expensive coting used on other guitars.

Any tips allan ?

AlanRatcliffe

See Arjun's thread first: http://www.guitarforum.co.za/index.php?topic=540.0
especially the part about visiting Guitar Reranch - I can't recommend this site enough for most finish-related techniques. Then come back to me with any specific queries or for clarification on any point.

Manfred-Klose

Go and look on this Website, there is a few tutorials on sanding and spraying.

http://www.projectguitar.com

cain

Yeah saw that, im just wondering how much of a mission its going to be to remove the old gloss finish and the paint job.

AlanRatcliffe

Done right, it's four hours. Maybe a day's work if you take it slow and easy.

cain

Cool thanks, how long can i wait from sanding it down to starting to paint it. Or must i try and do it all at once ?

AlanRatcliffe

Never, never rush things. Take them slow and get them right. Even today, If I rush things, I'll mess up something.

It's something that you definitely get better with with experience. A friend did his first last year and he said: "By the sixth time I stripped and sprayed it, I was getting quite good at it" ?. Practice technique on old wood or old guitars if you can, get the hang of it before you tackle your pride and joy.

cain

Hehe true, wonder where i can borrow a spray gun from ☹