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Taking Finish Off A Les Paul


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I'm trying to take the finish off my les paul. I've gotten all the big major areas, sides, long part of the neck, body and back but their are some areas of paint that I cant really reach with my palm sander. What can I do to take the paint off on those little areas like where the neck meets the body and around the cut. Thanks.

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I'm trying to take the finish off my les paul. I've gotten all the big major areas, sides, long part of the neck, body and back but their are some areas of paint that I cant really reach with my palm sander. What can I do to take the paint off on those little areas like where the neck meets the body and around the cut. Thanks.

Sanding Sponge should do it.

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Heat gun should work, just make sure you don't keep the heat on one area too long. I'm refinishing a pre-lawsuit Ibanez Les Paul right now. I was hoping the wood underneath would be nice but it looks like there are a couple of patches in noticable areas...

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Yeah, I ended up using the sponge. This is my first time ever trying to refinnish a guitar, its looking good so far. I'm taking pics and journaling everything as I go day by day. Cross your fingers.

First time I stripped a guitar - I did the same, all by hand. I prefer power tools and chemicals these days!

The journal is a GREAT idea, it'd be nice to share it when it's complete.

Might I ask... What finish WAS the guitar and what condition was it? And... what's the new finish.

The reason I ask - you don't always have to strip a guitar to refinish it! If the existing finish is good, taking back the clear coat should suffice.

...But then if you shooting for natural/stained wood, obviously you gotta strip (ooo-err!!!).

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Yeah metal, I work at an autobody shop and they suggested that I should have just sanded down the clear coat and just paint over the existing paint.

But, the old finish was a nice blue and the new finish will be white. What I want to do is make the back black, the front white, and the sides checkers (i'm in a ska band). If this at any point gets hard I'm going to take it to work and have them finish it.

If you guys want I will post up my journal with the pictures I take along the way, but dont make fun of me, this is my first time. hehe.

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