What Should I use to strip the paint? - Off of this cheap RG

[Contra]

Hey,

What is the best to use to strip the finish off my guitar? Paint stipper? Lacquer stipper?

Its a RG270 and I'm just going to strip it and spray paint it red and then clear coat it after a few coats of red.

Also What is best to use (if anything) to fill up a middle pickup slot? Epoxy?

[yurich]

try these:

sanding

chemical

heat gun (this one is cool!!)

[Contra]

Yes I definatly saw those, Brian's site rocks, I want to do a Chem. strip, but notice what is says right at the top of the page: "(recommended only for bodies that have already been refinished)"...

I noticed that and thought since the RG I'm refisnishing has the original paint on it, that I can't do it that way?

Or is that there to just throw me off?

[Project Guitar]

Nope it isn't there just to throw you off =o)

The original RG finishes are tough as nails to get a break down using chemicals. Your going to find that method both very time consuming and hard since it will end up taking you several coats just to break the surface and the mess is totally a cleanup nightmare..

Peace, Brian

(Edited by becalvert at 3:09 am on April 23, 2002)

[Contra]

Okay so any chem. paint stripper maybe 4-5 coats?

I'll let it sit for an hour or so out side each time.

Time isn't really an issue, I don't mind doing it a few times to get it done right, I'm doing it outside anyhow.

[Project Guitar]

Contra on 3:42 am on April 23, 2002
Okay so any chem. paint stripper maybe 4-5 coats?

I did an RG 430 S II once that took 8 coats of industial strength stripper and 3 days. I still had to sand it down

It really depends on what paint they used on your particular model and year it was manufactured as well as the quailty of the paint on that specific run but in general it's been my experiance with Ibanez Factory finishes that I don't even think of a chemical strip because of the type of paint they use to begin with.

[Project Guitar]

Forgot to add "your results may vary" but I'll tell ya I've stripped well over 100 bodys to date...

[Contra]

It's a RG 270 Feb. 98. Lots of chips and scratches...

Is there an easier way?

[Todd Crawford]

Heat gun is the easiest way.

[bammbamm]

100 grit sandpaper, an orbital sander, and a breather mask.
Oh yeah, and some time...
Bamm

[ScottM]

Trust Me. *Use the heat gun. *I started stripping an old Peavey Vandenberg a month or two ago and have just now gotten to the wood. *It had maybe 3 bad refinishes I had to work through, but they came off with the chemical stripper. *The original paint has been all sandpaper and it is a bitch. *I bought a small torch (propane tank and nozzle) to use to give it a Burnt stained finish, and now I still have to buy a heat gun to get the remaining paint off this sucker. *I tried using the torch on the trem cavity, but it is too hard to do it evenly. *I HIGHLY recommend the heat gun method. *I have made a terrible mess in the garage with all the dust and it is pretty dangerous to boot.

[Contra]

Okay, I read all your posts, read each of Brians tutorials, and I think I am going with the heat gun, not to mention I think the body looked kinda cool burnt after all the finish was off.

Around how much am I going to be forking out for this heat gun?

[Project Guitar]

$29.49 If that link doesn't work try looking up heat gun in the search engine at Home Depot. There are several other places to get them including pawn shops sometimes for under $15.

[Contra]

Thanks Brian, I'll head over to the depot tomorrow and check one out.

[ryan]

C'mon guys...


Me and box of 100 grit (plus two o'them green 3M plastic-wool pads) can take an RG-560 down to bare wood (THRU THE SEALER) in under 2 hours... Set you back about 4 bucks at Home Despot.

No drills, no fancy heat guns or stripping agents... just elbow grease.

Once you do a few of them, you learn to LEAVE the sealer, which yer heat gun/stripping options aren't going to do for you.

ryan

ryan@arcofdescent.com