troyw Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MexicanBreed Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troyw Posted January 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CainMD Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troyw Posted January 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MexicanBreed Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Well, I don´t know about that...you still get the benefit of first hand experience by doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foggy Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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