My New Paint Stick

[Jack Wells]

This is a Dan Erlewine idea. I've modified it slightly. The paint stick is made from 1 in. PVC. You can buy a 10 ft. length for less than $3. Smaller diameters won't work. I've cut an 18 in. length. I've heated the end with a heat gun then squeezed it flat in a vice.

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Here I'm using my neck pocket screw hole template to drill four holes. If you don't have such a template, clamp the stick to a neck pocket and drill through the body holes. A smaller diameter pipe wouldn't be wide enough when flattened. I then enlarge the holes so that a #10 x 1in. sheet metal screw will pass through freely.

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Below I drill four 1/8 in. holes in the pipe to so I can keep the screws with the stick when not in use. In the other end of the pipe I drill a 1/2 in. hole so I can hang the guitar.

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[Jack Wells]

I cut a small wedge with the bandsaw and attach it with double-stick tape. The purpose of the wedge is to raise the paint stick off the pocket to allow paint to reach the two exposed edges of the neck pocket.

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Here I've made a floor stand by drilling a hole in a big chunk of wood and sticking in part of an old broomstick.

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I drilled 1/2 in. holes at various angles in this 2x6 and use a length of 1/2 in. steel rod so the guitar can be held at various positions on a benchtop.

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This sort of paint stick is very versitile since you can hang it as well as place it on bench top or floor stands. It can also be used on a neck if you use the proper length #8 sheet metal screw. I do most of my guitar painting while holding the guitar in my left hand. This stick is very comfortable to hold while spraying.

 

[casterway]

I bet you could use a bicycle mechanics work stand to hold onto the pipe to dry, after painting. The stand I mean is a floor standing one that grabs the top tube of a bike frame, and holds it off the ground.

 

[stephent2]

Many thanks for that grand idea.

 

[Jellecaster]

So I look at the title of this thread and think to myself: "A thread on paint sticks? Have we completely run out of things to talk about?" But I stand corrected - awesome work!

There is one huge problem Jack - that Tele in the photo is very mis-shaped. You cut waay too deep on the upper bout.

 

[fivenote]

Great idea, but...

...the real value in this thread is the view inside of jwells' shop. Awesome stuff!

 

[JohnnyAtomic]

great idea

 

[Jack Wells]

One nice thing about this type of paint stick and a floor stand is that you you can place it in a South facing window during the winter to speed curing of the lacquer. For NickJD and our other Aussie friends that would be a North facing window. Here's my latest project undergoing some solar lacquer curing.

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[martino]

Hay Jack thanks buddy oh yea rub it in just one more reason
I have to get a drill-press, drove an hour in the rain to look at
one from craigs list .... eah too small

I saw Dan use the stick on (link removed)
also.
Anyway you can show us this view ???
image removed



I have only been here a few months is the "build fever" allways
this bad during flu season.

 

[Jack Wells]

Here's that view. I like having the wedge permanently attached to the stick. You don't have to look for a shim each time you attach it. Having the flattened part of the pipe off the floor of the neck pocket allows a little paint to reach the areas noted.

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On Dan's stick he angled the handle part with respect to the flattened part for some reason. I didn't do this because it would be a little awkward holding the guitar while painting it.

 

[martino]

Jack you have ben here for a while what about my other qustion . . . .

I have only been here a few months is the "build fever" allways
this bad during flu season.



man new projects boy the hour!

 

[Jack Wells]

I don't think is has anything to do with flu season. If fact it will probably increase during the summer.

 

[Lost_N_Austin]

Upgrade?

Jack: I was impressed with your paint stick idea and it inspired me to come up with an upgrade or an enhancement to your great idea.

I built this clamping fixture to hold your PVC pipe paint stick. I don't have a heat gun and used the white PVC and my butane torch to make my "stick" but you get the idea. This fixture is designed to be bolted to a bench or you could just chuck it up in your Vice. The T-handle screws force the PVC liner tubing to secure the removable 'Paint Stick" in any position. It allows for vertical or horizontal mounting. BTW - The aluminum plate was one I made to hang a neck or body when painting.

(Click on the image to view larger picture)

I'm trying to get all these creative ideas out of my head before I lapse into senility.
(link removed)(link removed)


(link removed)(link removed)


:idea:

 

[Rhomco]

Might As Well

Join the fray. Here is my paint stick(s) and Stand. The stand is made from an old office chair base and plain old plumbing pipe. I like it because frees both hands. I can rotate the guitar and lay the guitar flat to avoid runs better than upright. Built it in 1971 and sprayed a zillion Guitars and R/C Airplanes on it.
Rob

 

[genesiospinola]

Hi Jack! The paint stick is made from 1 in. PVC or 1 1/2 in. ? Because i think 1 in. is small, looking the distance between my Strat neck pocket holes... Great idea! Thanks a lot my friend!

This is a Dan Erlewine idea. I've modified it slightly. The paint stick is made from 1 in. PVC. You can buy a 10 ft. length for less than $3. Smaller diameters won't work. I've cut an 18 in. length. I've heated the end with a heat gun then squeezed it flat in a vice.

......

Here I'm using my neck pocket screw hole template to drill four holes. If you don't have such a template, clamp the stick to a neck pocket and drill through the body holes. A smaller diameter pipe wouldn't be wide enough when flattened. I then enlarge the holes so that a #10 x 1in. sheet metal screw will pass through freely.

......

Below I drill four 1/8 in. holes in the pipe to so I can keep the screws with the stick when not in use. In the other end of the pipe I drill a 1/2 in. hole so I can hang the guitar.

......

......

 

[Jack Wells]

PVC conduit size refers to the inside diameter. This 1 in. conduit has an outside diameter of ~ 1 1/4 in. If we do a little math, the outside circumference is.....

3.14 x 1.25 = 3.925

Divide that by 2 you get 1.9625 (Approximate width of flattened conduit)

The flattened conduit actually measures ~ 2 in.

 

[genesiospinola]

Thanks a lot for the help Jack! I understood now.

PVC conduit size refers to the inside diameter. This 1 in. conduit has an outside diameter of ~ 1 1/4 in. If we do a little math, the outside circumference is.....

3.14 x 1.25 = 3.925

Divide that by 2 you get 1.9625 (Approximate width of flattened conduit)

The flattened conduit actually measures ~ 2 in.

 

[CobaltSoul]

This is an old thread, but wanted some advice. I will be finishing my first tele project, should I screw in 2 additional holes in the neck pocket? What are the chances of it stripping the wood? I don't want to play with the 4 mounting holes as some years back I had expanded them trying to spot fix a body.

 

[CobaltSoul]

This is an old thread, but wanted some advice. I will be finishing my first tele project, should I screw in 2 additional holes in the neck pocket? What are the chances of it stripping the wood? I don't want to play with the 4 mounting holes as some years back I had expanded them trying to spot fix a body.