Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on September 25, 2014 at 7:42am

Did you sand and then prime it? Your acrylic will stick better if you do...

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Permalink Reply by john mackay on September 25, 2014 at 8:13am

all sanded but no primer as yet that is why I ask.

what is the best primer or good enough?

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on September 25, 2014 at 8:28am

Quickest is simply white or light gray acrylic paint. You don't want to use a water based primer, as that will raise the wood grain, requiring more sanding. Just lay on a thin layer of acrylic white, let dry, then paint away to your heart's content.

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Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on September 25, 2014 at 8:28am

auto paint works well, but use a similar type of  grey or white primer and lacquer :-)

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Permalink Reply by 3 String Blues on September 25, 2014 at 10:06am

use laqure, don't use enamel!

try Stewart Macdonald, they have both brushable and paintable

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Permalink Reply by Wade on September 25, 2014 at 3:36pm

i would use laquer automotive paint. Give it lots of time to harden

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Permalink Reply by john mackay on September 26, 2014 at 10:49pm

thanks for your replies.

I've started on it now so far looking good.

the front I've sprayed  beige and the back will be done in metallic black.(I thought I bought black gloss till I got home)

I'm sure it will look fine.

also bought this to stick on as well as coloured strings..

once it is done I'll post piccys up.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331322529756?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2648...

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on September 27, 2014 at 2:52am

If your planning on painting it red it's best to tint the primer or put a coat of tan to light brown paint down first. The molecules that make up the colors of red are large. We actually perceive the underneath color.

To protect your finish put sealer on it. Please make sure what you use wont yellow when it dries. A friend of mine made this awesome looking tombstone gray guitar. Then he put a clear coat on it. Now he has an awesome looking slime green guitar.

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Permalink Reply by Skeesix on September 27, 2014 at 6:10am

Technically "sealer" is an undercoat or first coat to seal the wood. You've already done this with the primer.

What's he's referring to is putting on a clear coat (or several clear coats). This is essential if you want a high gloss finish.

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Permalink Reply by john mackay on September 27, 2014 at 6:36am

the problem with cans is that  that it is difficult to get an even finish over a wide area without getting dull spots.

the only way to get it glossy is to spray a little more coat so it look wet all over whilst it is laid flat to avoid runs.

that is how I've done it over the years on metal/plastics but not wood and this my 1st.

so far so good.as for red not doing it this time around.

also I'm not looking for a professional finish just pleasing to the eye.

as for scratch plate I think it might not be any good as it say for 40/41 inch and mine is a 3/4?

also I've never been that good with wood but give me metal then that's a different kettle of fish.

most of my working life I've always work with metals/welding.

apart from metal I'm adequate with most things around the home. 

in other words jack of all trades but master of none!

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on September 27, 2014 at 5:17pm

To get a glossy finish by spraying, it's not the spraying that does it, it's the rubbing down and buffing-out. As you've found, you will need to "load up" the piece evenly to get good coverage, and you can leave it like that...indeed some makers like National  do that, but they are using some pretty sophisticated materials and equipment to allow them to the leave the piece in the state that it comes away from the spray gun. It's not very glossy, you get a "grain" sort of texture...which is OK if you can manage to achieve it evenly.

To get a proper gloss finish you need to rub down between coats to get rid of any major unevenness and particles in the finish, then after the final coat you need to rub down with something like 1000grade wet and dry paper and buff it out with a polishing compound (T Cut works pretty well, although it's not a 'proper polishing compo).

It's a long-winded process, and to get an even gloss finish is difficult..it needs a lot of patience..especially when you rub through the colour coat down to the primer and have to blow-on some more colour. The difference between the finish you get off the spray can or gun and the rubbed and buffed finish is very noticeable, but it does require a huge amount of care and effort. I hate rubbing down and buffing gloss paint finishes, which is why I don't often do them, but I'm sure it's all matter of familiarity and practice to do it right..and quicker.

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Permalink Reply by Skeesix on September 28, 2014 at 6:37am

Yes, a proper high gloss finish traditionally requires fine sanding and rubbing or buffing out.

However, I've actually gotten my best results using Micromesh and no polishing compound - and yes, lots of elbow grease.

Stew Mac has an excellent book regarding finishes if anyone wants to tackle a high gloss finish, or reproduce guitar finishes like sunbursts:

http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Books/Guitar_Finishing_Step-By-Step.html

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