Hmm, GMC help?

[Andy43]

Im kinda lost on something here, becuase of my budget, but here goes...

So, i understand that the GMC's are painted white as a base coat before you swirl green and black, but if i used a white primer instead, would i still be okay? I CAN buy white paint, but i dont feel like painting anymore and because i want to make a profit out of this guitar. Any ideas...

Aaaand, what kind of paint should i use for the clear coat? And it has to be aerosol, because remember, my budget...and dont worry about it melting the swirl, because im going to protect it with minwax poly before i apply the clear. Hey, you never know what could happen!

[HDS]

Errrr um, why are you going to paint over the clear poly?

[Andy43]

what do you mean?

[HDS]

"what kind of paint should i use for the clear coat? And it has to be aerosol, because remember, my budget...and dont worry about it melting the swirl, because im going to protect it with minwax poly before i apply the clear."

You said what kind of pain should you use for clea coat. Minwax poly is a clear coat Not a very good one but one none the less. I dont recommend. I would just get real DOV clear and be done with it. Alsa corp sell some pretty damn good clear and it isnt to costly.

[Andy43]

Oh, i was just going to put the minwax clear as a seal coat. You know, so nothing happens to the swirl.

[YaYoGakk]

[Serratus]

Two things - Firstly, it might be harder than you think to make a profit on you first swirl, and secondly, I'm not sure about mixing the clear coats (ie, using a coat of something to protect the swirl and then putting a different clear over that), because surely the second clear is still attacking the first clear, you just can't see it like you would if it was attacking the swirl? If that's the case, which I suspect it is, then that doesn't bode well for the paint staying on, long term. I think you're much better just staying with one paint system for the paint and the clear, at least then nothing should be reacting badly with another, either quickly or over time (hopefully).

[Serratus]

And to answer your initial question, I can't see why only white primer first wouldn't be okay - I wouldn't think you'd have to do a coat of white paint before the swirl. I would think that primer would be ideal. Just my opinion - anyone else got any?

[Andy43]

Well, what clear would you suggest for humbrol paints(basically just enamel paint)?

[Serratus]

Originally Posted by Andy43

Well, what clear would you suggest for humbrol paints(basically just enamel paint)?

Ummm, I can't really help you there - I would go with what HDS said, or ask him to clarify exactly what he would recommend. I tried using plasti-kote enamel paint for the swirl (it worked well for swirling), but I couldn't find a suitable clear coat (that could be cut back and polished, etc), so I did loads more experimenting and changed paint types completely. But I live in the UK, and it may be that in the US you can get suitable clear products to go over enamel. I'm pretty sure HDS uses enamel, so he will know far more than me on that score. Sorry, can't be more help on that.

[HDS]

Any paint for swirling would be find but you should use a low solvent DOV clear to keep from any crazing to the swirl paint. $35 you can get it, plus have lots left for about 6 other guitars. I have used water born clears but they plain suck. You could do water born over swirl paint and then low solvent DOV.

[Andy43]

Where can i get DOV clear?

[HDS]

I get my supplys from http://www.kustomrides.com/index.htm

Most comps dont like selling direct to hobbyists (big this stuff is toxic) so I found this guy who I have done well with. And he sells what I need from the company I want.

Sorry, I kept thinking DOV its VOC =p (minds gone from sprying )

VOC stands for "Volatile Organic Compounds".

[Andy43]

So, is this stuff so toxic, that i cant spray it in my backyard?

[HDS]

No you can, just get a mask.