Guitar paint and Clearcoats.

[spudler]

I was wondering since the guitar is made of wood what type of paint and clear coat do they use. do they use an automotive style paint or wood?
I was thinking of removing all the paint on a body then using a propane torch kinda lightly burn the wood with some stencils and stuff for a design then put a couple coats of clear over the top.
That was one Idea I plan onb doing a few ideas on a few diffrent bodies some with paint just a few diffrent colors on top of each other what type of paint and clear should I use?
Thanks

[martinedwards]

I normally use Stewmac's clear water based lacquer and add dye.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/gowanedwards/archtop/40600326.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/gowanedwards/bass/40600347.jpg

I HAVE used acrylic spray paint with clear coats.......

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/gowanedwards/Les%20Paul/P4280021.jpg

if you're going to mix paint or layer clear coats over base coats make sure they're all compatible

[Katau]

Yes, auto paint can be used. I've used acrylic base/clear in the past and it has worked well and held up to years of abuse. PPG is one of the fine quality manufacturers of paint that I use.

Note: you can use acrylic over lacquer, but not lacquer over acrylic.

[spudler]

hey thanks for all the input. I seen a body for sale on Ebay its not finished but would be a fun project and I could make a killer guitar out of it if I did it right.

[Willy_the_Disk]

Nitrocellulose lacquer.

[Tdanger]

Hmmmm. I'm not going to start a whole new thread for this, but i've developed an urge to buy one of those strat assembly kits from Creative Speciality Designs, and paint it tye-dye, name it Woodstock. How would one go about this? Same paints? Or would there be a more particular way of doing this...

[spudler]

Nitrocellulose lacquer??? Is that diffrent then just lacquer?? Is it just a fancier name for it?? I found some lacquer in a spray can comes out kinda thick seems a little soft after a couple days. Is lacquer something that takes a long time to harden up?? I just noticed on a test part I can use my finger nail and put groves in the lacquer.
I have seen some of the paints and clear on Stewmac. Is it really diffrent then the stuff you can buy at like Homedepot or Lowes or is it just Higher priced because it is at stewmac??
I am doing a bunch of testing and stuff so I can find the best stuff at the most economical price I can get.
I have noticed they do not list ingredients and info like they used to and it is confusing.
I could just get it from Stewmac but would like to find something that is easier to get so I can just go to my local store rather than wait for the mail and pay shipping etc.
If I have to I can just order from stewmac.

[martinedwards]

I used some products from B&Q (our equivelent to Homebase).

MOST are fine, but I SUSPECT that the QC on the stewmac stuff is higher. I have not a thought of worry moving from one tin of Stewmac lacquer to another on a single guitar where as I'd prolly not start a finish job with the dregs of B&Q tin......

[spudler]

Darn I was hoping someone had an answer to TDanger I am curious how one would do a tye dyed guitar. if there was another Thread opened on Tye-dyeing let me know I would love to follow the progress on a tye-dyed guitar

[martinedwards]

to tie dye cloth you have to tie it up in a bunch.

last time I checked, you can't do that to a lump of ash or alder 1 1/2" thick.

maybe a stick on graphic?

[DLR Guitars]

Not exaxtly Tye Dye, but close. I'm sure you could use any number of colors you want...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cY4LXZqX-w

[spudler]

oh ya I was thinking more of the style of where you spin the object to be painted and put paint on it. it gives it a tye dyed look. I thought that was what he meant. I knew he wasn't thinking of the other way.