I need to remove the polyester finish and paint from an electric guitar so that I may repaint and refinish it. How can I do this without using harsh chemicals that could affect the wood and change the sound? Do I have to hand sand? If so, do I start with a heavy paper, and move to a finer one as I get closer to the wood?
2006-11-27 08:10:58 · 6 answers · asked by solargrrrrrl 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
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2006-11-30 09:08:20 · answer #1 · answered by bikeworks 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO I would NOT use chemical strippers. Those will penetrate the wood's grain and perhaps permanently stain it.
I've used a propane torch with a fan tip: Use outside only - You don't want to breathe the fumes. Heat the surface gently until it just begins to bubble, then scrape it off with a putty knife. Do NOT take it down to bare wood. Use hand sanding to take the last thin layers off. YES, heavy grade 100 first then finer until around 200 grade.
2006-11-27 08:20:23 · answer #2 · answered by John Gouskos 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dude..it's not Polyester - it's lacquer or simply varnish or Polyurethane base.
To be technical, lacquer consists of a resin dissolved in a fast-drying solvent which is a mixture of naphtha, xylene, toluene, and ketones, including acetone. The chemical break down:
R = (CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)5CH3 or
R = (CH2)7CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)2CH3 or
R = (CH2)7CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH=CHCH3 or
R = (CH2)7CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH2 and others.
(I don't know heck what these means)
How do you to take them off? Paint thinner and power sander. Start with the area that already scrapped and go from there. Finally, just sand them off. Repaint, dry and use polyurethane rock-head-banging base finish.
Rock on dude!!!
Btw, since most electric guitar body are solid, you can't change the sound unless it's an acoustic or acoustic/electric. Differ from acoustic, the electric guitar is amplified from the electronic pick-up. So don't worry.... just take off the electronic first before you start stripping.
2006-11-27 08:45:30 · answer #3 · answered by click-it! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
make a polka-dot guitar.... didn't like my idea? Well then la de la... on a seriouse note though, okay that was the lst one i promise, take it to a music shop. Any kinda paint thinner, or even paint goo, will harm your guitar finish, you might want to lok at an oil that could loosen it enough to scrape it off with out scratching your guitar. Good Luck.
2016-05-23 14:33:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The finish can be removed easily with heat, industrial strength blow dryers are great for removing poly finishes and paint without sanding.
2006-11-27 08:14:47 · answer #5 · answered by sergeant151 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By smashing it against the wall, or even better, somebody's head.
2006-11-27 08:12:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋