RG Refinish project (with Video)

t1mman · #1 12-31-2012, 03:35 PM

I'm showing the progress of the refinish of an Ibanez RG and keep the maple top, this will be in different parts:
Part 1: Remove the finish
http://youtu.be/sWH4SnJrWf4
Part 2: Mending and hiding the dents
http://youtu.be/tbG7bIwuRkM
Part 2.5: Hiding revisited
http://youtu.be/0rs-ercFxkM
Part 3: Applying a dye
Part 4: Finishing

Part 1:
This is how I removed the finish using a heat gun. See Trough Ibanez have a thick coat of finish, so sanding might be done using professionnal grade tools but, if you want to keep the veneer you don't want to risk damaging it by going too far.
Chemicals haven't even breach it, and I am not working in a well vented place (being the winter in Canada), so it's not an alternative
Heatgun method is, IMHO, the safest way, this is how I did it.
An heat gun can be purchased in an hardware store for less than 20$

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWH4SnJrWf4

Comments and tricks are welcome!
Please Like and share!

Ibateur · #2 12-31-2012, 03:54 PM

You're talking about the clear coat I guess. I was confused with "see through"

So far so good.

t1mman · #3 12-31-2012, 04:36 PM

Actually, I have other RG's with solid color, and the clear is not nearly as thick as on a see-thtough, that's why I specified!

Thanks for the comment!

Paul1983 · #4 12-31-2012, 05:04 PM

Good stuff man! I'll be tuning in! Check out my video for my LNG build http://youtu.be/DkedjaaO7qc

Fastmerc · #5 12-31-2012, 05:41 PM

Heck it looks like you did better with your scraper than I did with razor blades, I will have to try your way next time. Did you knick up the veneer at all with the scraper?

t1mman · #6 12-31-2012, 05:51 PM

Almost no knick at all, a spot between the bridge pickup and the bridge hole, I'll show on the next vid (fixing and hiding stuff)

For the rest, I was surprised, a quick pass with 150 grit and nothing is showing. And the sanding was done to help the color to stick when I apply it. Even in the forearm grove I had almost nothing at all!

RGTFanatic · #7 12-31-2012, 05:57 PM

Well done Tim!! I'm glad to see you jumping in on that 320.......... this should be very nice when it's done. I'm looking forward to updates!!!

To be honest, you have more guts than me. I've been sitting on the fence for almost 2 years trying to decide if I want to heat strip my RGT. There are some areas I'm really concerned with that I don't know the best method to accomplish. Kudos to you man!!!

t1mman · #8 12-31-2012, 06:07 PM

BTW, I'll post pics soon ot the current state

RGTFanatic, you can post pics of what concerns you, I might be able to help!

Swirltop · #9 12-31-2012, 06:23 PM

Very cool man... going to try this out on an RG570 body I'm going to swirl. Thanks for posting!

t1mman · #10 01-07-2013, 04:40 PM

Part 2: Fixing and hiding the dents.
I explain how to fix and hide the dents and repair the cracks in the body
It is important to sand most of the Wood Filler before the tint as it will not give the same color as the rest of the wood.
See Step 2.5 for more informations

http://youtu.be/tbG7bIwuRkM

t1mman · #11 01-07-2013, 04:41 PM

Step 2.5: Hiding the correction;
Since the wood filler wouldn't take the color as well as the wood,, I have made a change to use wax crayons.
Results may vary, but so far it is looking good.
I used this type of correction in the past and the lacquer react quite goot with it.

http://youtu.be/0rs-ercFxkM

webmaestro · #12 01-07-2013, 04:47 PM

I'm in heaven with all these project vids lately.

t1mman · #13 01-08-2013, 08:54 AM

Teaser for the color:

Fastmerc · #14 01-08-2013, 10:19 AM

lookin great!

t1mman · #15 01-22-2013, 08:51 AM

My last video is up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KabDTC5GKs

And, for a teaser, again!

Between the first and second layer of lacquer, I've sanded with 320. Wrong idea, I got trough on some places (black, so I was able to correct it easely). Next time I'm going to use only either steel whool or the green pads. Anything more is too abrasive in the firsts layers.