Anyone ever stripped a Classic 50's tele?

Luther Perkins · April 20th, 2009, 08:03 PM

Anyone ever stripped a Classic 50's tele, and had trouble refinishing it. The paint I've got isn't taking to the old body, and the old poly finish wouldn't strip with anything I used so I sanded it.

lots of help please, and thanks..................

Lerb21 · April 20th, 2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luther Perkins

Anyone ever stripped a Classic 50's tele, and had trouble refinishing it. The paint I've got isn't taking to the old body, and the old poly finish wouldn't strip with anything I used so I sanded it.

lots of help please, and thanks..................

I'm working on a bass right now... sanded it with 150 grit and the paint stuck like glue.

YMMV

Best of luck.

Mark Davis · April 20th, 2009, 10:08 PM

Here is a 50's Classic stripped using a sander.

I know lots of guys that have just roughed up the surface and painted right over it.

Maybe you used a silicone type wax that got impregnated into the finish?

surfoverb · April 20th, 2009, 10:18 PM

I stripped my poly finished CIJ with 120, 220, and finally 320 sandpaper by hand. Major PITA but well worth it!

After stripped I grain filled, then sanding sealer, and next is color coat once it stops raining. After that some clear nitro and its done.

JimmyJam · April 21st, 2009, 12:06 AM

I just did this about 2 weeks ago. Citristrip didn't work. Heat gun definitely did.
I used Formby's Paint and Poly remover to strip the front, it worked well.

JimmyJam · April 21st, 2009, 12:24 AM

Now I don't feel so bad. I thought what I did was sacrilege. Although consensus may say otherwise once I post the pics. I went for the mythical BSB, but in stain so I could still see the grain of the wood. Used tru-oil to finish ( I think Mark Davis did the same), couple of thin coats, just enough to seal it. Sanded down it is smooth and velvety. Kind of like those Highway 1 satin finishes.

Back on topic, I noticed I had a hard time controlling the heat gun method through the 3 layers of poly. Last layer of poly - Once it bubbles you gotta stop fast, otherwise you get charred geetar. If you try this, I recommend starting on the back near the buckle rash area. This way you get the feel for this method.

Formby's worked the best for me. I still had to sand some areas down in the last layer of poly (120 grit). Good luck. Keep us posted.

JimmyJam · April 21st, 2009, 02:04 AM

Pics of the heat gun method. The last layer looked like crappy veneer before I hit pay dirt.

IMG_0432.jpg

I'm kind of scared to post this pic of my BSB attempt. But let's get it over with, go ahead and laugh. I don't care. Donning flame suit now.

Img_0442.jpg

ccrnnr9 · April 21st, 2009, 02:15 AM

What's to laugh about. It looks good from here for BSB.
~Nick

Alamo · April 21st, 2009, 08:47 AM

Hahahaha - it's got no hardware and no nuthin' on it, like butt naked

is that it? is that it?

other than than, it looks fine

Luther Perkins · April 22nd, 2009, 04:56 PM

What did you all use to strip the body, cause I used 5f5 and it didn't even take any of the poly finish.

Dizi · April 22nd, 2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyJam

All thats missing here is the torn shower curtain, bloody knife and screeching violins!

April 20th, 2009, 08:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Luther Perkins Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 247	Anyone ever stripped a Classic 50's tele? Anyone ever stripped a Classic 50's tele, and had trouble refinishing it. The paint I've got isn't taking to the old body, and the old poly finish wouldn't strip with anything I used so I sanded it. lots of help please, and thanks.................. __________________ Anybody ever notice how bad my speling is in my posts?

April 20th, 2009, 10:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 59 Posts: 17,169	Here is a 50's Classic stripped using a sander. I know lots of guys that have just roughed up the surface and painted right over it. Maybe you used a silicone type wax that got impregnated into the finish? __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

April 20th, 2009, 10:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
surfoverb Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,087	I stripped my poly finished CIJ with 120, 220, and finally 320 sandpaper by hand. Major PITA but well worth it! After stripped I grain filled, then sanding sealer, and next is color coat once it stops raining. After that some clear nitro and its done. __________________ "You released the ****** fury!"*

April 21st, 2009, 02:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
JimmyJam Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Loo-ah-vull, Kentucky Posts: 1,182	Pics of the heat gun method. The last layer looked like crappy veneer before I hit pay dirt. IMG_0432.jpg I'm kind of scared to post this pic of my BSB attempt. But let's get it over with, go ahead and laugh. I don't care. Donning flame suit now. Img_0442.jpg Last edited by JimmyJam; April 21st, 2009 at 02:05 AM. Reason: last layer description correction.

April 21st, 2009, 08:47 AM	#9 (permalink)
Alamo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Berlin, Germany Age: 52 Posts: 1,586	Hahahaha - it's got no hardware and no nuthin' on it, like butt naked is that it? is that it? other than than, it looks fine __________________ ----------------------------------------------------- Timebandits-Berlin

April 21st, 2009, 12:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
JimmyJam Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Loo-ah-vull, Kentucky Posts: 1,182	I just did this about 2 weeks ago. Citristrip didn't work. Heat gun definitely did. I used Formby's Paint and Poly remover to strip the front, it worked well.

April 21st, 2009, 12:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
JimmyJam Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Loo-ah-vull, Kentucky Posts: 1,182	Now I don't feel so bad. I thought what I did was sacrilege. Although consensus may say otherwise once I post the pics. I went for the mythical BSB, but in stain so I could still see the grain of the wood. Used tru-oil to finish ( I think Mark Davis did the same), couple of thin coats, just enough to seal it. Sanded down it is smooth and velvety. Kind of like those Highway 1 satin finishes. Back on topic, I noticed I had a hard time controlling the heat gun method through the 3 layers of poly. Last layer of poly - Once it bubbles you gotta stop fast, otherwise you get charred geetar. If you try this, I recommend starting on the back near the buckle rash area. This way you get the feel for this method. Formby's worked the best for me. I still had to sand some areas down in the last layer of poly (120 grit). Good luck. Keep us posted.

April 21st, 2009, 02:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
ccrnnr9 Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 23 Posts: 539	What's to laugh about. It looks good from here for BSB. ~Nick

April 22nd, 2009, 04:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
Luther Perkins Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 247	What did you all use to strip the body, cause I used 5f5 and it didn't even take any of the poly finish. __________________ Anybody ever notice how bad my speling is in my posts?

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