Guitar Help.

[Tandum]

If you remember I had a problem finding a fender with a valid serial number. Solved that problem, got a US serial on the neck and changed the rest. Natural Ash body, Texas Special pickups :) Don't it sing now :)

I also bought a gibson off ebay cheap and it's been gigged to death. I need to respray this one. Has anyone ever done this before? I've stripped the hardware and buffed it back with 400 grit. I've filled the multiple dings with wood filler and sanded it flat with a dry rub. It's a black studio edition. I have some nitro lacquer in the post, I doubt it will be here by Friday as Austpost has it :( I figure I'd just respray and re polish it? Sound like a plan. ?

[Merlin66]

Robin,
I assume you've found this site:
http://www.guitarrepairbench.com/electric-guitar-repairs/electric_guitar_repairs.html

[PeterEde]

Nice
Prefer tele myself?

[Tandum]

There's lots of those sort of sites Ken but they all seem to approach paint from the raw piece of wood angle, I'm approaching it from an auto panel respray angle :)
I might quiz the joint I got the nitro lacquer from. It's like hens teeth to buy down here and you can't fly it in from OS either, it's classed as a dangerous substance.

[Merlin66]

Robin,
In a previous life I painted VERY expensive golf clubs...
Base coat, two colour coats and six top lacquer coats ("to give depth and gloss")
Dry, clean, no dust, no humidity environment......

[Tandum]

With this stuff you get a wood sealer which fills the raw grain, then either a pigment or dye based colour which is itself dissolved in clear lacquer then the top coat clear. I believe it started life in the 1920's and was used on cars up till the 1950's when it was mostly replaced with polly/acrylic lacquers. I believe all Acoustic stringed instruments use it and some electrics.

[Ausrock]

That last bit is critical, as is the preparation leading up to topcoats. ;)

[Tandum]

I got the info I needed from the Luthier shop selling this obsolete lacquer :)

Apply a Maximum of 2 coats per day at least 2 hours apart.
Apply 4 coats of colour.
Wait 2 days to cure and then wet rub with 400P or 600P.
Apply 10 coats of clear.
Wait 14 days minimum to cure.
Wet Rub 800P then 1500P then 2000P.
Machine or hand polish with Fine Cut then Swirl Remover.

I've setup the sudo spray booth I used to 2pak a couple of bikes but this will take a lot longer than I thought and the weather isn't going to be any help at all :(