Build #12 - IB-7

Was hoping my AG kits would turn up today since I have a fairly clear weekend ahead of me. Unfortunately, no dice. So, decided to completely redo an IB-7 kit I built for my son a while back. I didn't do a build diary back then and since I'm completely stripping it right back and fully rebuilding it, I'm treating this as a new build with a whole new build diary to go with it.

I originally built this not long after seeing Satch play in Sydney and wanted to build a chrome-look IB type guitar. I originally used a Dulux Duramax metallic silver spray which looked kinda cool but finger prints were a real problem - they got on easy and were really difficult to wipe off. So, I thought I'd try a gloss clear over the top but it completely ruined the metallic silver effect and just made it a dull grey. Rookie mistake - always test on scrap wood.

Add to that I didn't let the clear cure for long enough (or it didn't react well with the silver) and it got a few dings and scratches in the finish.

Scrapping the whole chrome boy thing (since proper chrome dipping is well beyond my reach) and doing something completely different. No idea what yet but I'll be sure to test on scrap wood before I make a commitment.

Here's my starting canvas...

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All the best with the strip down and refinish.

If you've got any of the old finish left, worth trying that out on some wood, then sanding it back and seeing if your new finish is OK with it. I've had problems with nitro reacting with stuff left behind even after sanding the old finish right back to what appears to be bare wood. If not, just try the new stuff on a small patch of the guitar first, so that you don't have too much to sand off if there is a reaction. Hopefully there won't be, but no need to make extra work for yourself.

Started pulling it apart. Big chunks of paint came off with some of the covers. I really did a terrible job first time around with this one.

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Removing all the components and just about ready for the fun part.

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Stripping back is harder than I expected. Feels like the colour coats never really cured and the clear is kinda soft also (been well over a year since this was "finished"). Once I got below the clear, it just seemed to spread the colour around in patches.

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Left it like this for a couple of days and hit it again. This time the rest of it came off a bit easier.

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The back currently looks like blotchy pic above. Will give that until the weekend and get the rest off it then. Some of the tighter edge sections might be tricky. Don't want to hit it with any chemicals or heat gun if I can get away with it so will probably be a lot of manual sanding.

Slow progress but progress nonetheless. Only got the fiddly inside curves to get through. Unfortunately, that's the bit that needs elbow grease.

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Ready for the sanding sealer. Not sure how (or if) I'll attack the recessed parts. Only the Floyd cavity will be partially visible. I'm worried about using too much force as some of those bits are quite thin. Think I might just rough it up a bit and let the next spray coats go over the top. If it flakes, so be it - we'll call it character.

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