I have an Ibanez RG guitar body that I just finished painting. I stripped it, and followed all of the suggested guidelines for sanding, sealing and priming (using B.I.N.S.).
Once it was ready to paint, I chose to swirl it. After reading all of the posts and debates that I could find regarding paint types, I decided to use polyurethane, and chose PPG Global paints. I am happy with the results, and I’m ready to apply a clearcoat.
After reading all of the posts about how to get a quality clearcoat, I don’t feel confident in my abilities to spray it myself. In addition, I don’t own any of the spraying equipment required to do this adequately.
I have seen a few people on this board mention getting a clearcoat done at an auto body shop. I’m considering this option, but I have a few questions that I need answered before I contact a body shop.
I chose to use PPG Global polyurethane paint because I have read several posts that recommend using PPG’s Global Refinish Polyurethane Clearcoat (specifically D894 High Solids Clear), and wanted to keep the paint and clearcoat types the same (polyurethane). Does anyone see a problem with this logic? To locate a body shop to do the clearcoat, I used PPG’s locator option and found a local shop with PPG CertifiedFirst certification. They only do cars (as opposed to helmets, motorcycles, etc.). Does this type of certification qualify someone to be able to spray a range of objects, or should I find a shop that specifically handles a broader range of objects (and not just automobiles)? Other than the type of clearcoat that I want to use, I don’t know other guidelines to tell the spraying technician when spraying the guitar. Does anyone have any good experience with this that I can use when talking with the technician who will be doing the clearcoat? Some examples would be spray thickness, number of coats, etc. I don’t know much at all about curing the clearcoat. I assume that they use a baking process of some sort, but I have also read that some places may use ultraviolet curing. Does anyone have any guidelines for what works best, and what I might have available to me at a body shop? Also, will baking the guitar body damage it? In general, if anyone has any experience (good or bad) with having a clearcoat done at an auto body shop, please reply. Not only do I not want to ruin the guitar by rushing into the clearcoat process, I want to be knowledgeable about the process prior to talking with a body shop.
Sorry for typing so much, but I want to make sure that I provide enough info for anyone who chooses to reply.
Thanks in advance for the much needed advice!