Opinion on these open pores?

[Steve_Karl]

Hi there,

I started refinishing my oldest mid 80's Warmoth mahogany body today.

It was originally finished with a water based finish that had some amber(ish) or yellow tint dye in it.
It has been a PIA since day 1, easily getting sticky, difficult to clean, and very easy to rub off yellow(ish)
residue if trying to polish it.

Anyway...
I did a bit of scuffing on it with clean, new 220 grit and a rubber sanding block and it only took a very very short time
(10 or so back 'n' fourth not a lot of pressure) to get to where it seems that I'm seeing open pores.

I wiped it down with naptha a few times to make sure it's clean before taking this picture.
It seems that the old finish is sticking in the open pores.

Do you agree with that guess?

I was hoping not to have to grain fill, the original plan being just to get it down to something consistent
and then Minwax Poly Satin Wipe On ... but I'm guessing now after seeing what's happening
that I need to get down to as close to bare wood as possible and then ... the whole deal.

I just wanted a few opinions on this.

Thanks!

Large Picture here:
http://www.sightsea.com/renders/mahogany_pores.jpg

 

[mayfly]

are you talking about those white dots?  Yea I would not be happy with how they look.  I'd get them out of there before you did the rest of the finishing.

 

[Steve_Karl]

Yea ... the yellowish off white dots.

So I'll need to sand down further until I don't get that result?

 

[mayfly]

what's the original finish?  Any solvent that would work on it?  Maybe those funky tape on zit strips?

 

[Steve_Karl]

what's the original finish?  Any solvent that would work on it?  Maybe those funky tape on zit strips?

Original finish is some unknown water based mess.
50% Water 50% Windex puts a real hurtin' on it.
I pretty much stripped the neck with that Water/Windex combo a few years ago.

I'll go have a shot at it with 100% Windex and see what happens.

Back in a little bit.

 

[BigSteve22]

Original finish is some unknown water based mess.
50% Water 50% Windex puts a real hurtin' on it.
I pretty much stripped the neck with that Water/Windex combo a few years ago.

I'll go have a shot at it with 100% Windex and see what happens.

Back in a little bit.

I'm thinking that if Windex takes the finish off, denatured alcohol would probably make short work of anything that's left.

 

[Steve_Karl]

OK

Tried the Windex.
It seems to cut through the top coat and the result is frosty looking
but it's not doing anything worth mentioning to the undercoat where the amber colour is.

I've got 2 areas on the upper horn that were worn through from wear 'n' tear that were easy to get to bare wood,
but the rest of it is being really difficult to sand down.

I've been flogging that area on the front between the bridge and the butt with 220 and it's really getting annoying because it seems like I'm getting nowhere.

Can some one tell me about a chemical option?

Thanks!

 

[Steve_Karl]

Original finish is some unknown water based mess.
50% Water 50% Windex puts a real hurtin' on it.
I pretty much stripped the neck with that Water/Windex combo a few years ago.

I'll go have a shot at it with 100% Windex and see what happens.

Back in a little bit.

I'm thinking that if Windex takes the finish off, denatured alcohol would probably make short work of anything that's left.

Gonna try some alcohol now.
Maybe mineral spirits.

Back in a bit.

 

[AirCap]

Lacquer thinner or acetone. Do it outside.

 

[Steve_Karl]

Lacquer thinner or acetone. Do it outside.

On my way to Home Depot for some slightly heavy rubber gloves.
I'll have a look for acetone.

I tried the 70% Isopropyl Alcohol ... not bad ...
Turpentine / Mineral Spirits ... not nearly as good as the Alcohol ...

... this stuff (attached pick) however,
is really getting it done, makes the finish start to bubble up and get flakey ...
but it's rough on the hand skin so that's why gloves.
Also it's making my eyes feel funny so outside for sure with this also.

Anyway, it's getting done and I know now I need to get down to bare wood so I'm out of the woods and know what to do.

Thanks everyone.
You're always great with helpful support.

 

[BigSteve22]

I tried the 70% Isopropyl Alcohol ... not bad ...
Turpentine / Mineral Spirits ... not nearly as good as the Alcohol ...

Glad you found something that's meeting your needs. Just BTW, I wouldn't expect 70% Iso to do all that much. Denatured alcohol is modified ethanol, (drinking alcohol made undrinkable), totally different animal.

 

[Steve_Karl]

I tried the 70% Isopropyl Alcohol ... not bad ...
Turpentine / Mineral Spirits ... not nearly as good as the Alcohol ...

Denatured alcohol is modified ethanol, (drinking alcohol made undrinkable), totally different animal.

Ahh ... I suspected it might be stronger but didn't have any.

Got some acetone when I went for the gloves.
Will try that tomorrow also.
It might be better than the citrus.

 

[Cagey]

Acetone is pretty aggressive stuff. It has no effect on polyurethane, but it'll dissolve/melt a surprising number of other things. Have to be careful with it because of that.

If that still doesn't get you where you want to be, go back to where you got the acetone and look for some KleanStrip Premium Stripper. That contains methylene chloride, which is so wicked it will even eat polyurethane. In fact, it's one of the few things that will. Dangerous stuff, though. You'll definitely want to follow their recommendations about eye/skin/lung protection. On the plus side, it actually works, and relatively fast.

 

[BigSteve22]

Methylene chloride: When you absolutely, positively, gotta melt s^!t in a hurry! Do be careful, nasty stuff,  :evil4:

 

[Steve_Karl]

Thanks guys.
I'll tread lightly and slowly with the acetone and outside.
If it's not better than the Citrus stuff then I'll go back to the Citrus.

 

[Seamas]

Gonna try some alcohol now.

Cheers!

 

[swarfrat]

Save the alcohol in case it didn't work.

Man it hurts me to see that. It's kind of like running into the super model you were infatuated with as a kid, and she's now 63 and has no makeup on. I've drooled over that guitar for years. Of course, if you saw the screwups not photographed in my GOM winner....

 

[Seamas]

Save the alcohol in case it didn't work.

Man it hurts me to see that. It's kind of like running into the super model you were infatuated with as a kid, and she's now 63 and has no makeup on.

^^ But maybe, just maybe enough of the alcohol can make her look 25 again!

 

[Steve_Karl]

Update:

I bought some acetone and also denatured alcohol.
Tried the denatured alcohol first, then the acetone.
Then went back to the denatured alcohol.

The denatured alcohol with a putty knife is working the best.

Lots a work getting this finish off.
Slowly getting it done.

 

[Cagey]

Finish removal is never any fun. I think most folks only do it once. Then the next time it occurs to them to do it, they have a real come-to-Jesus meeting with themselves about how much the body is worth and whether a new finish is gonna be that much of an improvement. Even if you only charge yourself minimum wage, by the time you strip and refinish it, a used or new body with an already acceptable professional finish is either cheaper or damn close to it, and is always faster.