Abilene Strat Purple Swirl

[@bennybonilla2864]

2:54, when the shrooms kick in

[@MrRaErickson]

Dan Par lol

[@betorodrigues3995]

Beautiful painting ❤❤❤

[@kenrussell1093]

I just now found your site and when reading comments, and your reply, I have to say you are true gentleman. Not many will share what they know. I have been painting guitars with acrylic flow method, which produces some super nice results, but I can only do one side at a time, and it takes at least a month or longer for it to dry enough to mask it off and do the other side. LOTS of issues painting a guitar this way, so I have considered dipping, to add another element to my efforts, and speed things up, and your results confirm to me that I should. Great job, and I may be picking your brain in the near future!

[@L1VE3V1L]

Though this one turned out great, there’s been a lot of crap too. I hate how no one is willing to give you info on the art.

[@L1VE3V1L]

Basic answer is, forget all that borax mixing and thinning enamels. Just use magic marble, put the ink on normal water at 70f within 1 minute 30 and swirl it around for another minute then dip. You have to be fast with Magic marble but if you have a pair of extra hands you’ll pull it off no problemo.

[@benwicker5820]

Finely someone got it rite . A few colors not 20 . Swirl only a few seconds . Not like in a washing machine . I c nobody get this rite . But u did my man good job .

[@Internet_Handles_Are_Dumb]

Ben Wicker I agree. Some videos I’ve seen have cool color combos but they get swirl crazy and it looks too busy of a pattern.

[@ManCrew]

@@Internet_Handles_Are_Dumb Totally agree. One of the best end results I have seen and I believe its keeping the color choices simple and dipping before the paint gets off the surface. My thoughts anyway. Great job!

[@matemorpheus3683]

Amazinghis this is the coolest swirl I've seen so far, big thumbs up :)

[@martyfarrell9459]

Liked and subbed. You are the MAN, James. Like you, I have been researching for months and it's true that most hold their cards close to their chest. Between your vids and your patient answering of questions in the comments (over and over), you have THE most comprehensive tutorials on swirling. Thanks so much for sharing, if you're ever in Canada message me and I'll buy you a beer or 3! Cheers.

[@L1VE3V1L]

Funny thing is, I’m not even that good at it. Just found what works and only have done a total of five bodies. So not something I wanna take on as a hobby as swirling is INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING!!!! Yyyyyaaaarggghh!

[@L1VE3V1L]

Dirk Diggler I’m also sick of people not disclosing info on how to do it. I researched and mucked about with it for years. Water temperatures, paint thicknesses, water hardness, amount of borax, humidity and climate temperatures...... it’s a goddamn minefield. Or..... you could just buy magic marble and do away with literally everything I just mentioned. I have to get around to finishing off sanding this other body I’ve swirled badly and Had sitting around for the last year and do another one. Swirling can be souls destroying 😭

[@martyfarrell9459]

@@L1VE3V1L I hear you! I'm already prepared to strip down my fist dip if it fails. I'm lucky that I have magic marble on hand, that was one thing I did find worked best in my research. Building an SG with my son and they are usually all red stain or black, boring! We're doing a 335 next, I'm going to spray it a translucent colour, possibly Gretsch green. I agree that swirling is a limited thing to do, but something that needs knocking off the bucket list. Thanks again for stepping up with the process!

[@L1VE3V1L]

Dirk Diggler hopefully I’ll have something new up sometime next year 😂

[@Ricardo-go7yu]

Nice color combo!!! Awesome

[@alancharbonneau4108]

I’m normally not a fan of music playing in how-to videos, but I like the music! I’m a 68 year old and I like Led Zeppelin, The Who, 60’s bubblegum, Mozart and do-wop. I also like this soundtrack 😁

[@L1VE3V1L]

Thanks man. It’s great to be able to have some music I can put on that won’t get my videos ripped off KZbin.

[@StupidEarthlings]

Awesome bro. Just very cool. No bs

[@Rhodeislander]

The best I have seen boys, great job.

[@Mike-cd9cj]

Like others have said, that came out real nice. If I use this technique this video will for sure be my reference.

[@L1VE3V1L]

Check the description on the vid for more details on how we did it. Had a LOT of fails though. It’s a trying artform that’s for sure.

[@reginaldorobson]

Amazing 🤘🤩

[@DrunkenRhinoceros]

Looks way better than most swirls out there. Nice Job. Should have played Purple Haze as the outro.

[@L1VE3V1L]

Awww man, good idea. Damn.

[@JiosX]

Front looks better than most swirl guitars here on youtube.

[@vivianmcalexander2431]

Wonderful job!

[@kennyl9419]

That really turned out nice!!!

[@kerimovtimur]

Beautiful

[@sergiogoncalves2008]

Perfect, very impressive

[@daviddavis893]

Sweet, just subed, more about the finish and buff, please

[@L1VE3V1L]

David Davis this was a 2 pack (2K) polyurethane finish. About 6 coats. Wetsanded and polished by hand. I think some power tools for the final buff is recommended cos that shit was hard work man, and still not perfect. A proper buffer would’ve made it pop.

[@L1VE3V1L]

David Davis gonna try the power tool buffer down the track a bit and will put new video up. 2 months holidays in two months. Hope to do a little bit of swirling in that time.

[@daviddavis893]

Thanks so much,James

[@hungryarch7319]

Dope

[@andrewbonica]

Had the same model as my first electric guitar. 🎸 gave it to my friend for his birthday. Wish I kept it. Do you still have it? I’ll buy it off you!

[@L1VE3V1L]

@@andrewbonica no sorry, I love this swirl and want to replace the shitty pups with some nice fender ones and maybe a new neck.

[@massimilianofontana]

Great results! have U ever tried a colder water temperature? I mean 27c it's the right sweetspot in your opinion or could be fine going a bit hotter\colder?.. I mean: what's defintely to AVOID: Water Colder than 27c or hotter? THANKS! :)

[@L1VE3V1L]

Cold water makes it dry and skin off too fast.

[@massimilianofontana]

@@L1VE3V1L many thanks! funny story is that yesterday I added on facebook Roger Boler (ROBO SWIRLs) and he told me with Marble Magic paints to keep water temperature beetwen 72-75 degrees.. so 22,2 C to 23,8C .. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

[@L1VE3V1L]

Massimiliano Fontana boil pots of water and add them until you reach the desired temp. I have a kettle off to the side of this video.

[@massimilianofontana]

@@L1VE3V1L my doubts are why everyone says different temp values?!

[@massimilianofontana]

Apart from that.. Do U dry immediately the guitar? How? Hair dryer? Roger told me that water drops must be removed quickly..

[@NoneNone-gk9wt]

I want black light colors

[@juniordony]

Wooow, very nice results So, no borax in the water?

[@L1VE3V1L]

Adonias Júnior just Magic Marble paint on 78f water (27c) but move fast as it dries quick.

[@grandadcertified9814]

What did you prime with?

[@L1VE3V1L]

Grandad Certified just a white rattlecan primer. Dulux Duramax primer.

[@TXSteve320]

Ok I know this is a 3 year old post but hopefully you are still responding to this. I just found tour video and is probably one the best out there. I have one question. So My son and I are attempting to hydro his guitar. Its a build it yourself guitar. So it’s primed and ready to go. I’m purchased easy marble using black, white, silver and black. So before I dipped the guitar I was gonna try it on some scrap wood. Well I dropped two colors in the water and made only four circles to practice so I was pretty quick. By the time I used a small piece of wire to make the swirls in had already created a film which caused the paint to stick to the wire. Will a cooler temp water make it dry fast. It was out of the tap and had sat for about three hours. Not sure the temp but cool to the touch. It’s over 70degrees F and the the garage temp is about 90 degrees.

[@L1VE3V1L]

It’s a mongrel for drying fast so the only other advice I can think of is to try and make the water less “hard”. Scheme water is full of crap so maybe dilute it with some rainwater, half and half. I haven’t tried that yet but will on the next attempt. And also maybe have another person at the ready to drop paint via a pipette, and be colour in each hand, and the same for you and work out a plan to do it as fast as you can. You simply cannot waste a second once it comes out of the pipette.

[@TXSteve320]

So I tried it again and it came out much better. Not exactly like I wanted but my son loves it! Thanks for the advice.

[@L1VE3V1L]

@@TXSteve320 I’m a beginner myself really.

[@martinalejandrop]

Hola excelente trabajo. Que pintura usan? El agua está fría o templada? Gracias

[@L1VE3V1L]

Check the video description. It has all the details to do this.

[@martinalejandrop]

@@L1VE3V1L muchas gracias. No había prestado atención al detalle. Excelentes trabajos. Voy a ver si me sale 🤣💪👌

[@martinalejandrop]

Probé pero la pintura se va al fondo. Pintura acrílica. Leí la descripción pero nunca ocurrió ni parecido lo que ví en el vídeo. Saludos

[@johnstitt2615]

Fuckin awesome.

[@betorodrigues3995]

E o nome dessa banda com a música de fundo?? Alguém pôde me falar o nome???

[@modusceo]

So by “truckloads of prep” you mean the swirls really show every blemish 🤣 i was wondering if i could hide some little dings.

[@L1VE3V1L]

It’s more the clear coat really for that glassy smooth finish. More prep the better.

[@thefilthygringo9228]

Bad ass

[@aussie1aussie2]

Looks great, love the colours Do you put the pipette under the water then squeeze the paint out. I use humbrol enamel and have tried others but it forms a skin. Am I too slow. Cheers Rose

[@L1VE3V1L]

aussie1aussie2 yes you do need to move fast. And the pipette is for placing the paint on the surface of the water as close as you can possibly get it because sometimes when it breaks the surface tension, it sinks. So no, never break through the water surface. If you drop it from too high or too thick, it just breaks through and some sinks....makes a real mess.

[@L1VE3V1L]

aussie1aussie2 also make sure water is 27c (78f) and I use Magic Marble from Zartart in Melbourne...which you have to move even faster with

[@loke76]

Do you polish before applying topcoat or what is the polishing process. Thanks. Guitar looks stunning.

[@L1VE3V1L]

ThomasD after marbling, let dry for a week, then about 8 coats of 2K polyurethane clearcoat (2 pack) then after another week, wetsanding and polishing to glassy finish. Plenty of vids on KZbin on how to do it. It’s how I pretty much learn to do everything these days.

[@Agusfirmansyah]

👍👍👍👍😎😎

[@wolfgang4136]

What brand paint did you use? I need some advice please. Great job

[@L1VE3V1L]

All info is in the description. I used Magic Marble paints.

[@MMMUpdates]

I tried My first Hydro dip on old Peavey Foundation Bass. Gray base coat. Used Majic Marble paints and, well needless to say, Back to the drawing board. Didn't get full coverage and the magic marble bubbled. Any suggestions? Did bubbling occur due to water temp?

[@ShadawGaming]

To get a better swirl you should move it side to side while lowering it into the paint - pattern will go back and forwards more, instead of having the stripes be straight.

[@L1VE3V1L]

Except for the fact that zigzag swirls look like dogshit.. Isn’t really a swirl then is it? It’s the primary reason I started swirling myself, because all “swirls” done recently are all zig zagged

[@ShadawGaming]

@@L1VE3V1L Guess it comes down to subjective opinion - I think zigzag swirls look better and you don't, and that's fine :) Thanks for the video!

[@L1VE3V1L]

ShadawGaming yeah Ive never liked the zigzags at all. I wanted to swirl the paint around in more circles but you can see in the video that it was starting to skin off, so next time I have to move a lot quicker, or adjust water temp or something.

[@moisesalves3246]

Me orienta Qual a temperatura da água qual o produto qual tinta posso usar, serei muito grato a você

[@scottmchugh1865]

Hey, looks great. I'm getting ready to swirl my first. I have the basswood body sanded with 320 grit. Ready to apply flat white primer. My question to you is: the first color you add in the barrel in video is white. I can't tell...is the water clear before that, or have you added a dark color like black or blue as a base first, and if so, how much? I'm going to swirl black, white, dark blue. Thanks!

[@L1VE3V1L]

Scott McHugh actually the first colour that went in was black, I just didn’t put it on the video as you can’t see it against the black bin liner and I didn’t want the video too long. Apparently darkest colour in first they reckon.....though I don’t think that really matters at all.

[@mjaychannel1]

James McDonald Hey James, great job, im actually struggling in this matter particularly, wouldnt this base black color dries fast before u can even cover the whole surface? And is 4 main points is best to do this? I’v tried with 2 points, made few circles in it using only 2 colors, by the time i finish, the edges of my paint dried fast and the swirl was ruined, i thought maybe its because of temp. Can you make a video showing the first step which is covering the whole water surface before starting the 4 main points? Im begging you

[@mjaychannel1]

James McDonald Also, the first black cover of paint is required so that your 4 main points doesnt spread all over? Is that correct?

[@mjaychannel1]

James McDonald I am using Magic Marble Paints

[@mjaychannel1]

James McDonald And if the first black cover is required, how much did you had to use!? wasting too much paint just for the base color is going to be very bad

[@owenRandolph718]

Testers paint was recommended but it skinned up too fast. Water should be room temp or higher? Def need someone with dryer to knock off excess water as it will bond UNDER the paint. What paint did you use?

[@L1VE3V1L]

@@owenRandolph718 80f water temp and magic marble. It also skins up very fast.

[@L1VE3V1L]

@@owenRandolph718 oh and with magic marble you don’t have to worry about borax mix in the water at all. Just tap water at around 80f and magic marble but you still have to move fast. Thats why I have a second pair of hands loading up my pipettes with paint as I apply other colours.

[@StatutoryRock]

Hello! This looks awesome man. I was wondering how much of the Magic Marble you have to purchase if you would like to do a Guitar ad Headstock? Like how many ounces of paint total should you have on the surface of the water to get a good coat on an average size guitar body?

[@L1VE3V1L]

StatutoryRock surprisingly what I’ve learned is that Magic Marble swirl paint actually can go on super thin but is VERY strong in colour. The bottles I have are 20ml each (0.67fl oz) and for this swirl I probably only used half of each colour. If that. Just a thin film to cover the surface of the water. Had some great successes but also failures. It certainly is a very hit and miss artform.

[@StatutoryRock]

Cool. Thanks for the reply man. I got 1 oz. bottles of each color and plan to blow it all on the project so that should be enough to cover from what you say.

[@L1VE3V1L]

StatutoryRock yeah mate that’s heaps. Could probably do three guitars with that. (Depending on how many colours you’ll use.) Try and keep the water around 27c temp (78f). Magic marble dries real fast so you have to move quick. I’ve had a few failures from taking too long.

[@StatutoryRock]

Thanks for the input man! Really appreciate it.

[@L1VE3V1L]

StatutoryRock I spent a long time researching swirling and asking questions but getting little help. People keep their cards close to their chest as this is a super frustrating artform. I’ll tell you anything I know though because it used to annoy me trying to get answers out of people. Magic Marble really does make it easy BUT it’s not without its shortcomings. The biggest one is that it dries too fast so you have to move quick. Other swirlers with different paints can take their time spreading it about. MM you don’t have that luxury, BUT it is super easy.

[@rickhammel9541]

would love to hear what your doing, what paint, what to look out for, etc. Why does everyone insist on playing cheesy bg music and not explain?

[@L1VE3V1L]

Watch my other video swirling a strat copy multicolour. I explain everything I’m doing there.

[@NoneNone-gk9wt]

I've been trying to get it all right but always fail I think it's the water here. The eggy water hydrogen. Sulfide. Wish you'd tell me what paint you got and if thinner and what temp. You got it at.

[@L1VE3V1L]

Try rainwater if you can, or blend in some to regular hard water. Check the video description for other details on this particular swirl.

[@brandonmcvey9511]

My guitar is flawless with the original finish. Can I dip that? Or do I need to sand and prime?

[@L1VE3V1L]

No you should sand the clear off and re prime it.

[@jnicholson]

Hi, nice finish. How do you get the paint to spread so nicely? Do you have to use thinners? I prepared a bucket with 1,5 tablespoons per gallon of borax in the water (78-79F) but the paints acted quite weirdly. Some of the paint did not spread out at all (revell email paints) like there was still too much surface tension and some of the paint actually sank to the bottom of the bucket in drop form like there was not enough surface tension to hold it up. I did not use any thinners though..

[@L1VE3V1L]

Check the description. Just magic marble paints straight on water. No borax no thinners. Nothing.

[@jnicholson]

Thanks for your response. Should have checked the description in the first place. What is the total consumption of magic marble paints approximately? I’ve got the body prepares with acrylic primer, I wonder if that will cause an issue with the MM paints

[@L1VE3V1L]

18322JJ I primed a body with acrylic and marbled over the top. When it got clear coated there was a reaction where it kinda went like cracked mud. Ruined. A 20ml vial 🧪 of any colour should be more than enough paint for that colour. You won’t even use it all. Just get a good spread on the water.

[@betorodrigues3995]

Could you please help me with a question? What to put in the paint to make it have this reaction??

[@L1VE3V1L]

It’s an enamel paint specifically designed for marbling on water called “magic marble”. Do it in dry warm weather and have the water at around 27°c (78°f) as the paint skins off fast and you have to move quick.

[@betorodrigues3995]

@@L1VE3V1L I don't know English well but I'll try to translate your explanation, thank you very much

[@moisesalves3246]

Me ensina,por favor, quero pintar um baixo,o que uso,?

[@L1VE3V1L]

Check description in video. All the details there.

[@RnB_Bohr]

That looks so sick! How much would that cost?

[@L1VE3V1L]

Well, that’s why I started learning to do it myself. $3000 guitar plain white. $7000 guitar exactly the same but with a swirl paint job? No way. This setup? Probably 50 bucks worth of stuff and a shitload of prep work on the body. But at least I’m not paying 4K for a swirl paint job.

[@joseluisluque9921]

James can you tell of paint you use to make this magnificent swirling? thank you.

[@L1VE3V1L]

Magic marble

[@joseluisluque9921]

@@L1VE3V1L thank you

[@jfrankcarr]

What size container (garbage can?) did you use? Was it the size like those used by commercial garbage companies or a smaller one like you could buy at Home Depot?

[@L1VE3V1L]

Frank Carr just the regular wheelie commercial garbage bin mate.

[@TheNathanMan-n7n]

This is a good track. Who is the song by?

[@L1VE3V1L]

A friend and I. I’m singing he does the music. We have tracks here reverbnation.com/theartofwar

[@gildone01]

Come fai a non fare seccare i primi colori messi in acqua

[@L1VE3V1L]

Combination of water temp and speed of moving. An extra pair of hands and a plan of attack with colour drops before attempting. Check video description for details

[@juliussabelino1804]

hi james are u from australia? where did u buy ur marble paints?

[@juliussabelino1804]

kreul?

[@L1VE3V1L]

www.zartart.com.au/product/PT935

[@juliussabelino1804]

@@L1VE3V1L unlucky me. they are not selling it anymore. discontinued product

[@L1VE3V1L]

@@juliussabelino1804 oh shit, that’s a bummer for me too if I decide to source some more later.

[@JoséCamilloJr]

Amplificador Marshall code?

[@dgaz3057]

where did you get the droppers? Hobby Lobby?

[@L1VE3V1L]

My mate gave them to me so I don’t know really sorry. I rinse them out with turps after finished and reuse them over and over.

[@voiseybaybangers8688]

Any borax? And did you thin the paint ?

[@L1VE3V1L]

Read the info under video

[@grandadcertified9814]

how many ML of paint would you say you use?

[@L1VE3V1L]

Grandad Certified in total with all the colours I’d say between 30 and 40ml. Not a lot really.

[@grandadcertified9814]

Do you keep your water at a certain temperature?

[@L1VE3V1L]

Grandad Certified 78f (26c) - few pots of boiling water to bring it up to temp. This was the temperature recommended to me by a guy called Roger Boler (find him on Facebook) who is probably the best swirler I’ve ever seen. And I have a Herc Fede swirl, but roger goes beyond that.

[@grandadcertified9814]

Cool thanks really appreciate it ill check hit out and keep those temps seems thats what most people have been keeping it at. As for the blowdrying? Any problems happen?

[@L1VE3V1L]

Grandad Certified no not really, that’s just to blow the excess water off but the paint is super thin on there so the blow dryer doesn’t move any paint about or anything. I don’t even think a compressor would move it really. Magic marble goes on like ink from a laser jet

[@truecamera4757]

Are you use borax?

[@L1VE3V1L]

No borax required with magic marble paints.

[@L1VE3V1L]

Check the description. I go into more detail there.

[@StupidEarthlings]

Ouch! White PG sends you back to square one. Sorry son. Almost tho. EVERYONE knows, white PGs are for beginners/amateurs. Such potential too.

[@L1VE3V1L]

Well, as I mentioned in the description, it’s a piece of shit I was given for free to practice on. Only my second swirl this one.