can I just paint over orig. finish to change color?

[fendorst]

Guitar body isn't nicked or dented and the original finish is in very good shape. No gouges, scratches, etc. It's painted red, I want seafoam green.

So why remove the original finish? The wood's already sealed and has several base coats of color, no? What's wrong with just sanding the existing finish, applying appropriate primer, and applying new color?

Thanks.

[Stuco]

Nothing, a lot of folks do that. Even fender has done it before.

[Vizcaster]

Just sand enough to get a micro-scratch pattern for the new finish to adhere. Probably not necessary to go any rougher than 600 grit (400 and especially 320 can leave scratch marks that show through some lacquers and paints). Then wipe it down with denatured alcohol (or if it's poly you can use lacquer thinner without cutting into anything) in order to get rid of any grease or dirt left behind from the old surface and handling. A mist coat of primer wouldn't hurt before switching to your new color. Hopefully it will cover without the red underneath affecting your surf or seafoam color. My daughter's favorite, by the way. Good luck and please post pix.

[Southern Ill Electrics]

Original Sunburst......Had alot of fine polish scratches and a few deeper scratches.




Stripped her down....lightly sanded surface with 320. Wiped down with Naptha. Used a self etching primer................




On to Color coat with the first 3 passed fairly dry..........




Then wetter coats and clear coat..................Now ya have a unique guitar that the cool kid with the goofey haircut doesn't have............

[Lafayette]

Here's a lot of great information on how Fender painted and repainted guitars in the old days: http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fenderc.html

I'm always impressed on how people like Leo Fender and Henry Ford developed methods of cutting costs with mass production.

[fendorst]

Appreciate the info, pics and link.

Noob question... what is self etching primer and why does one want to use it? I'm doing a painting here, not an etching...

[Southern Ill Electrics]

I used it because of the already painted surface even though I did scuff it with sand paper.......good bonding,my new CC sticks better.

This one had alot of metal flake, and I wanted flakes to pop....to get the best application,there is a ceratin techique and I want it to stick and no problems.....NO case queens....play em'.............But don't take my word for it......its best for one to do his/her own research rather than believing what you might read on a forum somewhere.





This one pops really good........here she is after assembly and scraping the bindings..........





Prep is the key.....its the little things before the CC is applied that renders a good result.........all depends on how much you want to do before hand.

[ddlooping]

Hi all :)

Another example of painting over original finish (lightly sanded)...

Before



After

[ruffone]

There are a couple fo things you have to consider before you paint over an existing finish...

What is the current finsih type that you are covering over and what type of finish are you going to use to cover old finish??

So many people have not taken these into consideration when they refinished their guitars. Sure the new finish will stick at first but if the two finishes aren't compatible the new finish will eventually start peeling off as it cures. I have had a lot of repairs brought to me to fix where this happens and also where the new finish started bubbling.

[Southern Ill Electrics]

Originally Posted by ruffone

There are a couple fo things you have to consider before you paint over an existing finish...

What is the current finsih type that you are covering over and what type of finish are you going to use to cover old finish??

So many people have not taken these into consideration when they refinished their guitars. Sure the new finish will stick at first but if the two finishes aren't compatible the new finish will eventually start peeling off as it cures. I have had a lot of repairs brought to me to fix where this happens and also where the new finish started bubbling.

More detail....What finish was applied that didn't work ?

Sounds like it was a prep problem.

[ruffone]

The last one brought to me to repair had a nitro original finish, he had the paperwork from when he bought the guitar new. He told me he did a light sanding on the entire body and then used acetone to clean it and then he used a tac cloth to wipe it before he applied the new finish. He said the new finish was a laquer. He said that after about 6 months the new finsh started peeling off the old finish.

[Southern Ill Electrics]

Hmmmmmm.......Lacquer is pretty forgiving.

What was your method of repair ?

[ruffone]

In his case he wanted it taken down to wood and then refinished. So I removed the old finish, sanded the body smooth, filled it and shot it with the new finish. No problems and no headaches :-)

[Southern Ill Electrics]

Are ya still having trouble with that Nitro not taking ?

I may have a fix...I'll answer in your other thread.