Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

[khabibissell]

What is the best way to do this? I'm thinking about stripping the finish off my Model A and leaving it bare wood. Any suggestions on how to do this with the least amount fuss?

[pebber]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

technically, there are 3 ways to do this:

-1) by sanding off the old finish

-2) by using a chemical to remove the old finish

-3) by using a heat gun to remove the old finish


I personally use a combination of 1 and 2.

And I wouldn't suggest you leave it bare wood, you should protect the wood with a sealer or oil finish minimal IMO, otherwise it will suffer from moisture etc..

[DonP]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

I used to always sand (not all the way to the wood), but this time I tried the chem remover. I got the stongest of the brand, and the paint was still stronger. Plus, it makes a big mess. But if you need to go to the wood, chem and sand are your best bet.

Ideally, just sand down the existing paint until you get a good surface to work with, and start from there (assuming you don't have paint incompatablities).

[khabibissell]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking about the heat gun thing or maybe using a power sander.

I was going to use oil on the wood once its stripped. Any suggestions on which kind to use?

[sully]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

if it's polyester, you'll have to break it (or sand it) off; no stripper will put a dent in it. shit's practically bulletproof. after you've got it down to bare wood, clean it with some mineral spirits, and you can use tung oil or danish oil on it. experiment with some tinted oils if you like. i'm finishing up a body for a jcf member; it's a mahogany body with cherry tinted danish oil and a bit of wax on it. it's pretty keen, to say the least.

[rjohnstone]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

Be very careful if you use a power sander.
I learned that the hard way. The first time out, I almost ruined a perfectly good body with a B&D Mouse. Fortunately I was able to correct the damage caused by my overly aggresive technique.

[mm2002]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

I avoid using chemical strippers on anything porous such as wood. You're just asking for headaches down the road. Start with a fairly aggressive sandpaper (80 grit) and as soon as you start seeing wood switch to 120 grit. When it's all bare wood go to 180 followed by 320. Use a hand block or a jitterbug sander to keep everything nice and flat, and take your time around the edges. This is a very "condensed" version of the process but with a little practice you can strip a poly finish in a couple of hours and have a nice clean smooth piece of wood to work with.

[j2379]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

there is a spray chemical stripper that on OLD C/Js it removes the finish but leaves the white primer perfect. its in a copper colored can & i dont remember the brand. im not sure if model series used the same type of paint but i used it on a 84 charvel body & it worked awesome.

[neilli]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

I stripped my model 2 around ten years ago and really regret it now - thanks alot Nuno [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Like Sully said, polyester is really tough: I used a heat gun and a scraper, and that was a total pain and I ended up with gouges everywhere...it was not one of my proudest moments!

[Budman68]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

<font color="aqua">You guys are doing way too much sanding [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Learn to use and sharpen a cabinet scraper and you'll make a lot less work (and dust!) for yourselves:



Here's a great article I came across when I just checked google:

CLICK ME!!! </font>

[PallarAndersVisa]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

i took the finish off my JS-20 body. it was almost like a plastic molding around the body, the chemical stripper basically just sat on top of it and didnt do shit. i had to take a razor blade and chisle and just pop the paint off. i dont know what kind of paints they are using these days but its fucking ridiculous

[pebber]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

[ QUOTE ]
<font color="aqua">You guys are doing way too much sanding [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Learn to use and sharpen a cabinet scraper and you'll make a lot less work (and dust!) for yourselves:



Here's a great article I came across when I just checked google:

CLICK ME!!! </font>

[/ QUOTE ]

Dave.. I'm gonna take you up on that, does make sense.. alot! [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

either way you do it...its too much work [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Bengal65]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

[ QUOTE ]
either way you do it...its too much work [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Unless you do it with an industrial sandblaster! [img]/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] You just have to watch out for the neck pocket (for bolt on guitar neck bodies) or you will erode it away. Mask the neck pocket with duct tape real good. Works really fast. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[sully]

Re: Best way to strip the finish off a guitar?

[ QUOTE ]
i took the finish off my JS-20 body. it was almost like a plastic molding around the body, the chemical stripper basically just sat on top of it and didnt do shit. i had to take a razor blade and chisle and just pop the paint off. i dont know what kind of paints they are using these days but its fucking ridiculous

[/ QUOTE ]

that would be polyester, sir.