Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: Taking the finish off an ES style guitar

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Moderator fender3x's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Miami, FL, USA
    Posts
    2,713
    The top for sure needs a solid color. There are a bunch of patched holes in the top and a botched stain job under the botched paint on the rest. I suspect it will need to get it to bare wood. The paint doesn't stick to the primer that well, nor the primer to the wood, so I think both will need to go. When I've done a bit of test sanding it doesn't come off nice and sandy. It's not quite clumpy, just feels kind of soft.

    I don't have spray equipment but have had pretty good luck luck finishing using MTN94 spray paints. They are great for drip control, very forgiving, and sand beautifully flat. They go on sort of like a filling primer, and don't need an undercoat of primer.

    I may try the ROS on the top and back and headstock...maybe on the neck too? I don't want to change the shape, and the ROS is pretty aggressive. Probably more inclined to use the palm sander on the sides. Not as quick but more controllable. These ES's were not designed with refinishing in mind. They seem to have concave surfaces everywhere. The only truly flat surfaces seem to be on the headstock.

    Seems a shame to take the guitar apart when I finally get it playing and sounding to my liking, but sanding seems the next order of business.... so así es la vida as they say in my wife{s culture.

    Thanks! I was hoping there'd be an easier way, but at least I can go at it knowing that elbow grease is the only viable option!
    Last edited by fender3x; 16-11-2021 at 08:41 AM.

  2. #2
    Quote Originally Posted by fender3x View Post
    The top for sure needs a solid color. There are a bunch of patched holes in the top and a botched stain job under the botched paint on the rest. I suspect it will need to get it to bare wood. The paint doesn't stick to the primer that well, nor the primer to the wood, so I think both will need to go. When I've done a bit of test sanding it doesn't come off nice and sandy. It's not quite clumpy, just feels kind of soft.

    I don't have spray equipment but have had pretty good luck luck finishing using MTN94 spray paints. They are great for drip control, very forgiving, and sand beautifully flat. They go on sort of like a filling primer, and don't need an undercoat of primer.

    I may try the ROS on the top and back and headstock...maybe on the neck too? I don't want to change the shape, and the ROS is pretty aggressive. Probably more inclined to use the palm sander(it's really helpful) on the sides. Not as quick but more controllable. These ES's were not designed with refinishing in mind. They seem to have concave surfaces everywhere. The only truly flat surfaces seem to be on the headstock.

    Seems a shame to take the guitar apart when I finally get it playing and sounding to my liking, but sanding seems the next order of business.... so así es la vida as they say in my wife{s culture.

    Thanks! I was hoping there'd be an easier way, but at least I can go at it knowing that elbow grease is the only viable option!
    Hi, can you recommend a palm sander, if you please? Sorry for reviving. Was it effective finally?

  3. #3
    Moderator fender3x's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Miami, FL, USA
    Posts
    2,713
    Quote Originally Posted by FairFrank View Post
    Hi, can you recommend a palm sander, if you please? Sorry for reviving. Was it effective finally?
    I wish I could. I have a cheap Chinese random orbital (Chicago Electric/Harbor Freight) and a Ryobi 4" palm sander. Neither worked well. I have gotten this far after about 5 hours of elbow grease using a diablo sanding mesh, and conventional 150 grit sand paper (US grits)Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_20220122_002701.jpg 
Views:	170 
Size:	47.3 KB 
ID:	42392

    Sent from my LE2125 using Tapatalk
    Last edited by fender3x; 23-01-2022 at 12:12 AM.

  4. Liked by: FairFrank

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •