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smokerjoe34 · October 8th, 2009, 04:42 AM

Hi Folks....I am about burnt out on the thick poly finish on my ash tele and was wondering if there is any type of heat gun that will work better than another ??

Hellbilly Mike · October 8th, 2009, 05:46 PM

I just picked one up Monday from Harbor Freight it was on sale for $9.99 or something like that, Worked great on getting the finish off my Strat I am re-finishing.

JimmyJam · October 8th, 2009, 05:54 PM

Supposedly even a hair dryer will do the job.
The trick is getting used to how the poly is reacting to the heat you apply and removing the heat source before you scorch the wood.
I bought a wagner heat gun from a hardware store that did the job.

It was a learning experience to say the least.
I removed the poly from a CV tele, but had some scorch marks on the back..
I used citristrip on the front; and had no scorch marks.

kate033 · October 13th, 2009, 06:14 PM

Just about any heat gun will do it. I'd get a cheap one from Harbor Freight or Walmart or similar. It's not something you'll use on a daily basis...there's no reason to spend a lot of $ for a top grade professional model.

I used one of those plumber's propane torches to strip my the poly on my Les Paul. I happened to have one in the garage and didn't want to have to buy a heat gun. Kept it on the lowest flame and very carefully heated the poly from a distance. Peeled off easily in sheets with no scorch marks.

I think the key with any tool you use is to go slowly and carefully!

Goluphi · October 13th, 2009, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kate033

I think the key with any tool you use is to go slowly and carefully!

Yes - the heat gun should be used to soften up the finish, and then it should be scraped off. Don't wait until the finish starts bubbling or peeling on its own, you'll scorch the wood. Keep the gun moving.

Shepherd · October 13th, 2009, 07:56 PM

This is probably the quickest way.

Del Pickup · October 14th, 2009, 01:10 AM

Your wife's hairdryer should do the job well enough. I've stripped poly off my old MIM strat and the fotoflame finish off my tele with my good lady's hairdryer and it worked well with no scorch marks. Maybe took a bit longer than if I'd used a heat gun but it worked nonetheless.

ddlooping · November 4th, 2009, 11:01 PM

Hello everybody :)

I take it this one should do the trick, right?

October 8th, 2009, 04:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
smokerjoe34 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Enid,Oklahoma Posts: 253	Any specific heat gun for removing polyerathane ?? Hi Folks....I am about burnt out on the thick poly finish on my ash tele and was wondering if there is any type of heat gun that will work better than another ??

October 8th, 2009, 05:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Hellbilly Mike TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Age: 42 Posts: 70	I just picked one up Monday from Harbor Freight it was on sale for $9.99 or something like that, Worked great on getting the finish off my Strat I am re-finishing. __________________ "I blame the vain" D. Yoakam

October 14th, 2009, 01:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
Del Pickup Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,555 6 Photos	Your wife's hairdryer should do the job well enough. I've stripped poly off my old MIM strat and the fotoflame finish off my tele with my good lady's hairdryer and it worked well with no scorch marks. Maybe took a bit longer than if I'd used a heat gun but it worked nonetheless. __________________ Someone told me that my tone is in my underpants. I'm not sure if that's good or bad......

November 4th, 2009, 11:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
ddlooping TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Essex - UK Age: 45 Posts: 86	Hello everybody :) I take it this one should do the trick, right? __________________ "We are all monkeys.... in the eyes of a banana"

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October 8th, 2009, 05:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
JimmyJam Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Loo-ah-vull, Kentucky Posts: 1,182	Supposedly even a hair dryer will do the job. The trick is getting used to how the poly is reacting to the heat you apply and removing the heat source before you scorch the wood. I bought a wagner heat gun from a hardware store that did the job. It was a learning experience to say the least. I removed the poly from a CV tele, but had some scorch marks on the back.. I used citristrip on the front; and had no scorch marks.

October 13th, 2009, 06:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
kate033 TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 31	Just about any heat gun will do it. I'd get a cheap one from Harbor Freight or Walmart or similar. It's not something you'll use on a daily basis...there's no reason to spend a lot of $ for a top grade professional model. I used one of those plumber's propane torches to strip my the poly on my Les Paul. I happened to have one in the garage and didn't want to have to buy a heat gun. Kept it on the lowest flame and very carefully heated the poly from a distance. Peeled off easily in sheets with no scorch marks. I think the key with any tool you use is to go slowly and carefully!

October 13th, 2009, 07:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
Shepherd Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maple Ridge, Canada Posts: 1,033	This is probably the quickest way.

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