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Guitar Refinishing Question???

cjp54

Member
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
496
I've refinished several guitars over the years using laquer car paint and my Binks 2001 siphon type spray gun with good results. I also paint the occasional car. I'm going to be changing over to an HVLP Iwata LPH400 spray gun and was just wondering what kind of rigs you guys use to refinish your guitars and where do you get nitro laquer? Also, is the laquer I get at the auto body store the same as nitro laquer?
 

BobV

New member
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
831
There's a finishing section at the telecaster discussion page, tdpri.com, just ignore the fact that they're spraying ash planks. Some of the favorites for old fashioned nitro are Sherwin Williams and McFadden's (although I believe the latter is just a licensed brand name now). Woodworking catalogs are also a good source.

And the stuff at the autobody store is most likely based on much different resins, more likely acrylic or polyurethane as opposed to nitrocellulose, and might be pre-catalyzed as opposed to a purely evaporative finish. It's fun to use on guitars, especially solid colors or metallics, but isn't the stuff that a vintage reproducer would be using to replicate the golden era of the 'burst.

Besides if you're refinishing a Les Paul, you're going to need a grain filler for the mahogany, from a woodworking catalog which you won't find in the auto paint store. The auto suppliers are a good source of fine line masking tape, however. And buffing compounds and polishes.
 

cjp54

Member
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
496
Appreciate the info and I should have thought to look over at tdpri. I haven't been there in some time. Thanks!
 
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