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This guitar top is damaged. The paint is worn through at some spots. We are going to re-establish the original colour scheme and then refinish it from bare wood.
The approximate time it takes to do a repair like this is about 10-12 hrs over the space of a month.
Before we start, we need to match the original colour scheme.
To do this, we make a colour chart of what is there.
We use a piece of scrap maple wood, painted with colours, and then write a colour code to be able to achieve this at a later date.
To do this, we make a colour chart of what is there.
We use a piece of scrap maple wood, painted with colours, and then write a colour code to be able to achieve this at a later date.
We remove the existing finish back to bare wood.
We then remove any dents with steam and then smooth the surface with 220 Grit sandpaper
We then remove any dents with steam and then smooth the surface with 220 Grit sandpaper
The exposed wood then needs the grain to be sealed.
Sealing allows us to build layers onto the surface without it constantly sinking into the wood.
This can be done with many methods. We use UV pore filler.
You can use Shellac, Acrylic Filler, Polyester Filler, Egg Whites - the list is endless.
After Pore filling and drying, we then follow up sanding with a 280 Grit sandpaper.
Sealing allows us to build layers onto the surface without it constantly sinking into the wood.
This can be done with many methods. We use UV pore filler.
You can use Shellac, Acrylic Filler, Polyester Filler, Egg Whites - the list is endless.
After Pore filling and drying, we then follow up sanding with a 280 Grit sandpaper.
We can now start our paint process. This involves three coats of clear. In this instance we are using a Nitro Cellulose Lacquer.
The clear is allowed to dry for 1 week. It is then wet sanded smooth with a 400 grit sandpaper.
The clear is allowed to dry for 1 week. It is then wet sanded smooth with a 400 grit sandpaper.
Having flat sanded our guitar, we can now apply our first coats of coloured lacquer!
This is a Nitro Cellulose lacquer tinted with a stain from our original code.
This is a Nitro Cellulose lacquer tinted with a stain from our original code.
We now need to check our density and hue against the original colour code.
We allow a day for drying and we then do a brown burst as per our colour chart.
We check our density and hue against the original code.
Back to painting - 3 coats of clear.
We now need to allow our paint to 'gas-off' for a week. This is to ensure there are no trapped thinners.
After one week, we lightly scuff the surface with 800 grit to remove any imperfections.
After one week, we lightly scuff the surface with 800 grit to remove any imperfections.
The clear is allowed to dry for minimum one week.
The finish is then 'wet sanded' with 1500 Grit sandpaper.
The body is then buffed with a fine buffing compound.
The body is then buffed with a fine buffing compound.
Next, a final buff using a super fine compound is carried out.
Guitar is then re-asembled.
Guitar is then re-asembled.
