houghster

Thanks for the suggestions! I tried spraying the red on a similar piece of scrap wood, and it looked slightly orange compared to the plastic spray guard which was blood red. Figured a white base coat would help get the desired red instead of a paler orange look.

I have a pacifica that has been stripped, sanded, sealed and resanded. I have a 3 acrylic lacquer sprays, white base, red colour coat and a clear gloss. Before I start spraying I'm looking for some clarification of the spraying process as I've not refinished before. In my head, I'm thinking of a couple of thin coats of white to build a base, 15/20 minutes between sprays, once set wet sand to smooth (400 grit?). Similar process with colour, except more coats, wet sanding every 3/4 coats to remove orange peel. Once the colour coat has finished, similar process but with gloss clear? The advice in the tutorial section appears to be about sunbursts and models, i'm looking to get a nice shiny red finish! Any help would be very much appreciated.

Argh, I was checking the sanding and I must have had residue on my fingers as I left print stains on the sanded wood. Any advice on how to remove these before sealing?

Thanks, reassuring! I have sanded the body down, nice and smooth and the grain looks nice! I have some Seal and Sand on order. I'll give it a couple of coats and sand downs. I've read some conflicting advice after that, I should be able to apply colours (I don't plan on a base so the effect is translucent) and then a clear seal. I'm thinking either amber/tabaco for a honeyburst, amber/cherry for a cherryburst or maybe even a translucent red (similar to SG 400). I'll keep this thread to document the project (photos to come). Which finish, decisions!?

It's solid alder. So, if it's primed, sealed and painted, the difference won't show? I'd like to see the grain, not imperfections!

My pacifica was looking a little sorry, couple of nasty sticker stains. Finish had to go! I'm in the process of sanding the guitar down. I have most of the paint stripped, just the horns and sides to go. I'm slightly concerned about the contours on the front and the belly. Where the contoured edge joins the main the flat part of the guitar there is a pronounced line. It doesn't feel rough, it kind of appears that fine dust is in the grain of the wood but I can't remove it by sanding. I plan to have either a translucent colour or sunburst finish. After I prime the wood and apply a sealer will the grain of the wood look more even on the contour? I know pics will be helpful, I'll upload in the morning Uploaded with ImageShack.us