Looking for tips on Refinishing a Strat body (Page 1 of 6)

I've been in the process of refinishing my acoustic A&L for like a year now. Someday I'll get it done...maybe. Anyway I often visit these sites for advice and tips.

http://www.reranch.com/basics.htm

http://www.reranch.com/reranch/

Good luck on your project Russ. Maybe some before and after pics??????

Thanks for the links I will check them out I got started on it today and wil posts some videos on the progress

Thanks Joey for your input I got started sanding but stopped due to some nasty fine dust so I will have to find another location to sand it and wear a dust mask to protect my lungs anyway this is a before video I taped up all the cavities and started sanding using 60 grit I am going to stick with it and since there are no scratches to worry about it wont take to much time but I will use a finer grit before I prime it and wet sand it between coats with a real fine grit.I am meeting with my friend about the neck tomorrow morning to see if he can inlay a maple fretboard. this is a before look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMMjOFTi … e=youtu.be

Russ,I think it would be best too get all areas to be sanded and painted as clean as possable,I wash cars two or three times before I sand them,this prevents any waxes or most oils from penetrating the surface as they get washed away. before you paint you might want too get a tack clouth to pick up all the dust on the surface to be painted.

dino I cleaned the surface before and durring sanding something to keep in mind in between coats thanks will do

If you use spraycans, I was partial to krylon(oil base). It dries fast and was easiest to work with.  RUSTOLEUM IS AWFUL. It runs like you wouldnt believe. Spend A couple dollars and practice on ajunk piece of wood first. The last time I spraypainted anything was a box for my daughterin 2003. I used krylon. I don`t know if it is still made or not. Let me (us) know how it goes

joey I seen a few photos of guitars painted with Krylon they looked really nice I stll think getting a good finish requires sanding,primer and after applying the color more wet sanding and several coats of clear coat but before I apply it myself I am going to take Rogers suggestion and ask around a few body shops I am using Testors enamel candy apple its a hobby paint and should produce a nice finish with the proper steps

jjj I agree the prep is the most important thing too be done,and then follow the instructions on the paint.russell the can will let you know what too do ie prep. room temp etc. russ you should practice on some other piece of wood too give you a preview. I did this with the cars I have painted. ( differant paints and tempratures etc. ) Temp can be critical. Also if you get to small areas not too be painted and that will not allow you too tape for overspray you can use a small bit of petrolloem jelly too coat it and that will keep it from being painted.

Hi Russell, I am brand new here and just reading a few posts. I have built 5 acoustic steel strings and 1 tele copy. A lot of giutar finishes these days is an epoxy. Chemical removers don't work very well. Have you visited Frets website http://www.frets.com/ there is a repair page on the site that is an  outstanding source of information. There is a large section on finishing and refinishing. I have used the reranch produts. They are high quality. I have also used Stew Macs, also high quality laquer with tints. For clear coats, I like Deft laquor because of the spray nozzle. It sprays a fan shape, not a small cirlce. The fan can be rotated to any position and allows for slightly overlapping the spray...much better than a circle spray. I hope the frets page helps.

ROFLMAO

Learned somthing by trial and error after sanding the top and applying the candy apple I found that I will have to strip all the black paint to the bare wood and then I had a brainstorm what if.. I use a WHITE primer my insight was confirmed with a little research so I am using a spray paint remover VHT its safe fast and cheap I will remove all the paint and clean the surface with aceitone it drys fast and will remove any paint left in the grain once this step is over I am spraying the whole body with white Krylon primer and I already have a full can from my chessboard project it drys fast so I will hit it with three coats then comes the candy apple red I figure on at least applying 3 to 4 coats wet sanding with a fine grit between coats once this step is finished and dry I would like to put some ornate pin striping on so I am laying out a design and trace it onto the guitar and the rest is a little tricky I will have to use a fine point to remove the top layers and reveal the white primer this will stand out when finished then I can hit it with some apoxy clear coats at least three to four and wet sanding with 800 to 1000 grit for the final finish thats the plan and if all go's well my guitar will look smoking hot!! this is going to be fun
This is sort of what I had in mind only it will be red with white stripping
https://picasaweb.google.com/rharding0/ … 8939220498