Help! Botched DIY finishing job :(

[Zaman]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this, but I'm hoping someone in the Houston, TX area can help me without charing me an arm and a leg.

I have a beautiful Flamed Poplar Warmoth Strat body that I had finished in an orange burts. First I prepped it with Boiled Linseed oil, then sealed it with some amber shellac. The picture attached is right after I sealed it with amber shellac. That alone looked good but the next step made it even better. Then I sprayed it with some amber Nitro. It looked PERFECT!

Sadly, for some reason I wanted to do a third color on the burst and completely ruined it. It totally left me down and discouraged. I removed much of it off chemically and sanded some of it down, but I was just so upset I gave up.

I need someone to sand the body down to its natural finish so that I can start the process over again. I could probably do it myself, but I think I've got a mental block preventing me from doing so because I was so upset that I had ruined such a perfect finish.

If you can help me out, please let me know. Thanks!

 

[Mor Paul]

I'm pretty sure doing it yourself would be the best option. Get a orbital sander or something.

 

[Zaman]

I had been doing it by hand. I've found that Orbital sanders are mostly weak from what I've seen. Have you seen any good ones?

My deltoids could use the relief.

 

[whyachi]

I had been doing it by hand. I've found that Orbital sanders are mostly weak from what I've seen. Have you seen any good ones?

My deltoids could use the relief.

Perhaps pics of what you're currently working with could help?

 

[DangerousR6]

I got one of thee, about 30 bucks at Walmart...It'll get you back to the wood no problem... :icon_thumright:

 

[Zaman]

I got one of thee, about 30 bucks at Walmart...It'll get you back to the wood no problem... :icon_thumright:

I don't know. I have a Dewalt one just like that and it didn't do very well. Dewalt is better than B&D too. Plus on a Strat body, there are too many curves that this type of sander could never get to.

I'll try and take some pics of its current state and post them this evening.

 

[tfarny]

Sandpaper and elbow grease is really the best way. http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=2150.0

 

[DangerousR6]

I got one of thee, about 30 bucks at Walmart...It'll get you back to the wood no problem... :icon_thumright:

I don't know. I have a Dewalt one just like that and it didn't do very well. Dewalt is better than B&D too. Plus on a Strat body, there are too many curves that this type of sander could never get to.

I'll try and take some pics of its current state and post them this evening.

It does well except for inside the horns. For that I used my cordless drill and a flap wheel on my tele...... :icon_thumright:

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=9056.0

 

[Zaman]

Sandpaper and elbow grease is really the best way. http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=2150.0

Tfarny, what was the processed you used in sanding that down and what grit(s)? Thanks.

 

[Zaman]

Dangerous, was there no way to get the paint/finish in the grain pits (or whatever they're called)?

 

[DangerousR6]

Dangerous, was there no way to get the paint/finish in the grain pits (or whatever they're called)?

I filled the body with grain filler, then super glue. Then sanded the body back down to the wood and used Danish oil...

 

[Zaman]

Thanks for all your advice, guys. I went out and bought a orbital sander and it worked wonders with 80 grit that I phased up to 220 grit. Here's the deal though. The front of the guitar has been thinned down to the amber shellac layer and it looks just fine. The back of the guitar has been sanded down to the wood. Do I have to sand the entire guitar down to the wood, even the front which looks good, or is there a way I can linseed, amber shellac the back too. I'm afraid there's no way I can avoid a line so I might have to sand even the good part down to the wood :/ What do y'all think?