refinish with sandpaper

[smavridis]

if you have refinished by using sandpaper tell me your experience and if i strip a flame or quilt maple top with sand paper, will it mess with the figure?

 

[Mor Paul]

Only when you get the the wood. When you sand down, the flaming changes.

 

[tfarny]

Huh? How deep do you plan on sanding? Short answer is no.

 

[smavridis]

just to get the finish off, im just wondering not attempting

 

[Keyser Soze]

The real question is are you sanding solid wood or a figured veneer.  Some veneers can be quite literally paper thin.  Sand through that and it's game over.  Otherwise sanding will have some, but usually little effect on the figure.

Personally I'm a big fan of chemical stripper (methylene chloride gel is my fave.)  Yes it is pretty caustic stuff, but it is also quick, easy and highly effective.  Compared to the amount of sand paper or abrasive pads you will destroy removing the finish mechanically strippers are a very reasonable alternative.

 

[rockskate4x]

I've had bad experiences removing paint with sandpaper. Sometimes the paint is literally soaked all the way through the veneer, so that you cannot remove the paint entirely without removing the veneer as well. I recommend chemical stripper.

 

[smavridis]

The real question is are you sanding solid wood or a figured veneer.  Some veneers can be quite literally paper thin.  Sand through that and it's game over.  Otherwise sanding will have some, but usually little effect on the figure.

Personally I'm a big fan of chemical stripper (methylene chloride gel is my fave.)  Yes it is pretty caustic stuff, but it is also quick, easy and highly effective.  Compared to the amount of sand paper or abrasive pads you will destroy removing the finish mechanically strippers are a very reasonable alternative.

what brand do you use?

 

[Keyser Soze]

I don't have a favorite brand.  Just look for methylene chloride as the active ingredient - the more the better.  Also try to find a gel or paste formulation - they stick to the curves and horizontal surfaces better.

Read and follow the directions, especially the parts about wearing gloves and eye protection and the part about overbrushing.  You want to lay the stuff down as best as possible on the first pass then leave it alone while it does it's magic.  Too much manipulation and it doesn't work nearly as well.

I do like to hit the finish with a coarse scuffy pad prior to application.  I think it gives the stripper a better surface to hold on to and also seem to allow the stripper to work a little faster.

 

[blue313]

This isn't a bound body is it?  Chemical strippers will eat most binding for lunch.

 

[smavridis]

nope not bound. its a squire shitocaster. i hate the blue and i want to put on racing stripes (orange stripes on black body) i just need to know how to strip the body.

 

[m4rk0]

sounds pretty fance though, a quier shitcaster with a quilt maple top!

 

[smavridis]

no, i was just wondering what would happen. there is no quilt on this piece of human excriment.

 

[blue313]

If that's the case, then chemical stripper or a heat gun.  :evil4:

 

[smavridis]

ya im going to start with a heatgun on the back of it this week. then im going to fill the trem cavity. i have a lot planned for this piece of crap.

 

[DangerousR6]

Sounds like some good practice and experience you're going to gain from that most experimental hunk of misery... :laughing11:

 

[smavridis]

lol yup!  :laughing11: