Help A Newbie - Stripping An Electric Guitar

[troyw]

I am preparing for a guitar build and I'm using a cheap fender (squire) body. It's currently red and I want to get the finish off enough to where I can dye and tung oil it. What is the best method of removing the finish? I have read that factory guitar finishes are very hard to remove with chemicals but the idea of sanding the entire thing clean isn't so appealing either. I would appreciate any feedback that can be offered.

[troyw]

Hi, and welcome to the forum. I´m sure some others with more experience will chime in. However, if you didn´t get to read the tutorials on the main site, you can click here. Heat, chemicals, or sanding are the only ways I´m aware of stripping a finish off.

Yes, I did read all three - just wondering which method would be better for the squire. I read some place (maybe here) the chem is not the best way for a factory finish.

[CainMD]

i've found factory finishes are really thick. personally i like just sanding it down by hand. Haven't had much luck on stripper. when i tried it only the top layer of paint came off and was left with the thick layers of primer. Haven't used a heat gun to strip a guitar.

[troyw]

Thanks to all...I ended up saying "to hell with it" and buying a 60 style swamp ash body for the build. I didn't think the work to sand off all that nasty finish would be worth it om the squire body...

[Foggy]

Thanks to all...I ended up saying "to hell with it" and buying a 60 style swamp ash body for the build. I didn't think the work to sand off all that nasty finish would be worth it om the squire body...

Probably better off with that option - very possible that the wood beneath the paint on the Squire wouldn't have been that great anyway

Jim