Still repaint guitar

[A Major Seventh]

Thanks for the answers, but I just want to open a new thread here because I still don't get it.

Why do you have to take off all the old paint when you want to repaint the guitar in a new colour, even if the old coat is still fine?

Thanks for the help, because I'm currently working on two guitars - a Strat and an unknown Ibanez.

[Slash]

Why do you have to take off all the old paint when you want to repaint the guitar in a new colour, even if the old coat is still fine?

If the old finish is fine and glossy, Number one the paint WILL NOT stick and stay on. Result will be uneven and patchy. Number two, The first layer of paint is always done on some sort of readied surface for the finish to be smooth and even. Some times people want a specific and non conventional look and for this they dye the wood to bring out the grain and for this the old surface must be stripped. Id say if you dont want a profesional looking job you can even go and get hold of a std. aresol type spry. paint and carry on. But if quality and durablity are on the agenda, Stripping is a necessity.

[Levinson Blade]

I must agree unless you strip the old paint off the new paint will not last or look any good It's a big job and not to be taken with easy options unless you want a S*1t finish

[PITBULL]

actually i paint cars for a living and , you do not have to strip the paint. what you have to do , if you already have a good paint job on the guitar is scuff the original paint, what type of sandpaper to use on it i am not sure but i will find out, the guy i work with builds and paints guitars also.once you scuff all the original paint and have no shiny surface your paint will stick and hold. you will also have to use a clear coat on it to ensure this.it really is not a difficult process at all.

[jaytee]

i imagine for somebody who does this for a living it would not be difficult...you are in good practice...and have tools available....ive finished and refinished alot of furniture in my life so im in fair practice as well....

but if this is your first time out doing something like this....i would urge you to get a "practice run" maybe on an old garbage picked piece of furniture or something....learn on something that you dont care about before you attempt repainting your beloved guitar...

i believe what pit is trying to say is ....

if your finish is in otherwise good condition...(no shattering cracking or major chips)...and all you want to do is change the color...you might get away with basically taking off some of the layers of polyurethane (or laquer , but as i understand it most modern guitars have polyurethane).....this is the hard clear shiny coating that protects the wood....

when you do furniture...and guitars...you typically put on a minimum of 3 layers of polyurethane..and between each layer you must fine sand, roughing the surface so that the next layer will stick....

i think if i were doing the work i would choose to go all the way down to the original finish unless i was worried that i could sand thru the wood itself....which you have to be careful with palm sanders...i would do it by hand probably after a certain point....but i think i would choose to redo it completely once i had started stripping it anyways....

the reason i would go all the way down is because i think you will get a better lasting and probably smoother finish by doing it fresh from scratch....
also...if you have say a black guitar and you want to make it white.....lighter colors are not going to go over a dark color well.....

stewmac.com sells alot of supplies for these types of projects...

i find them to be a bit high (esp on shipping) and some things you can get at a regular hardware store....but you will find alot of information there from them....its a good place to check out...

--jt


ps....ive never repainted a car before...but ive had my cars repainted many times...and its been my experience that new paint jobs on cars are usually destroyed within a year or two....just an afterthought....

[Jasper_e]

Yes, the best way to repaint the guitar is taking the original paint off wit sand-paper, use a fine type of sanpaper or else you'll get scratches!!
You should do this because the paint will stick much better to the body if the original paint is removed. Especially on a long term!

Grts Jasper :cool: