CRACKLE PAINT TUTORIAL | How to do a crackle paintjob on your guitar

Today I will show you how I do a crackle paintjob. It takes just over an hour in total to do and here is what I used in the video:
This is what I used in the video:
MONTANA CRACKLE Paint amzn.to/3erFN6a
Rustoleum 2x NAVY BLUE Paint and Primer amzn.to/3RlqDhk
600 grit sandpaper amzn.to/3cVSAgS
Dura Gold Tack Cloth amzn.to/3cS2Ma0
Rubber Gloves amzn.to/3Qnr2i8
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[@mattsanders6371]

I do crackle paint jobs and if you use a flat color you can put a high gloss clear and still a crackle out of it. The cans tell you which colors work best with the crackle. Thicker base coat usually gives you bigger crackle. Awesome job!

[@eddiejr540]

Nothing says metal/hard rock like a pointy crackle guitar….I think it came out great….freakin love it bro!!!

[@diegodoesmusic]

You’ve been such a huge inspiration to me!!! I did my first crackle on a guitar using your videos as a guide. 🤘🤘

[@GarryParker]

Great tutorial, thanks. Who at Montana thought it was a good idea to name their paint ranges after colours? I think they must have inhaled too much paint at the time!

[@apope2666]

I've used Montana Gold cans for my base coat. I got nice medium to large cracks. When I used a different brand (Dy-Mark, Australian brand) for the colour base coat I got really small cracks. I've also used the rustoleum 2x for my primer, but never used it as colour base coat. Thanks Mark for all you info and tips, they've been useful into my attempt at doing a crackle paint job

[@randymiles904]

Awesome video man. I'm planning to build a stranger things warlock replica. Lol but I was unsure how to do the crackle finish. This was very informative. Thank you. 🤘

[@GuitarGuts]

Glad I could help!

[@jacklambert4958]

I’m planning on doing the same thing. Guitar Kit World has a Warlock bass kit that I’m going to get in a couple of months. I’d love to see how your Warlock is coming out, do you plan on posting a video of your progress? Thanks, Jack

[@kamikazekev]

Excellent Job. This is the kind of content I'm after on KZbin. Thank you

[@jamescandlish7097]

That looks wicked!

[@TheRealJakeRyanMusic]

Wow, by far the best guitar painting tutorial

[@VoyeurGuitars]

You have no idea how much I appreciate this video Mark. 😎 I've got a Jackson JS2 Concert Bass that I plan on (eventually) putting a crackle finish on, so this video is awesome.

[@johnsurreal]

Love your tutorials Sir, I've been building up my paint jobs accordingly and it's getting better all the time. Keep up the good work Mark!

[@williamphillips24]

This was a great runthrough and explanation of your process and experimentation results.

[@micahwatz1148]

5 wet paint coats. 5 mins. Then 5-6 crackle coats. Heat gun 7 inches away or so. All very heavy paint coats tho. Dont worry about drips because the paints all gonna move around anyway.

[@Ari_Calamari]

I do think Montana recommends using Montana gold series laqcuer with this. Montana white is their budget series. The Montana Black is matte, I believe.

[@zjdoliver]

Thank you for the video. I just tested this several times without success. I noticed you showed gloss black with primer in the video and then i noticed the link in the description which was gloss black with no primer so I'm curious if you changed the paint to get better results. When I switched to just gloss black with no primer I got it to look amazing!

[@BrokenRogue]

I always put a fan on the crackle and it really helps a lot.

[@My-Nickel]

Thank you sir 🙏

[@francobuzzetti9424]

imo ANY crackle looks fantastic!

[@mykneeshurt8393]

I think this crackle job turned out great. I like that size of crackle. Nice job.

[@SUPPORTYOURSELF]

Looks GREAT! 🌩 I wonder if a heat gun would help create larger crackle, or at least control the crackle a bit?

[@Nghilifa]

That's awesome! If you're ever asked to do a bowling ball finish, like those Tom Anderson Pro-Am guitars, please do record it!

[@guitarhustlerdan]

Nice! Going to attempt one soon and upload it! Just ordered the paint. THANKS!

[@mako4x4]

Great tutorial. I’ve also seen guys use blow dryers and even flames to assist the drying to try to get larger cracks. I’m going to be trying out my first crackling paint job using Montana Red and Montana black crackle on a guitar my son and I are painting. Unfortunately the humidity here in Florida is extremely high now so it might be a while before we actually paint it.

[@gilbertrodriguez1960]

It came out great 🎸👍.

[@robertscott3399]

ive tried the montana i dont like for one thing bthe ystate its a modified nitro it cannot be miniral spirits removes it. and mineral, spirts dont remove lacquer of any sort.., i found mohawk crackle lacquer wht,clear tintable and black quart and galon. fasted eaiest way acrylic basecoat dry24hrs then spray the crackle top coat bang and the heaver the coat the bigger the cracklexs i did a test and i actualy got crackle 2 to 3 inches wide

[@brettsjoholm]

Great content. One of the best I've seen on KZbin to help me but I can't believe you fast forward the actual painting! That is the most important part! :O

[@smoluk1]

DUDE...😍🤟 WHOA!

[@aarongraceyoutube]

I’ve never done a crackle finish but I wonder what it would come out like if you dipped your finish in CRACKLE PAINT?

[@DeformedDevices]

Ive been struggling with gold base coat. It just completely peels off after the crackle goes on. I wonder if it is specifically with the gold.

[@chriseyres9995]

Hi, great video and very informative. Just one question. Would this type of crackle spray work on epoxy resin pieces? If not what if there is one would work best? Thanks in advance. Subd

[@deandee8082]

man charvel used to does some seriously large crackle, of course they changed it up each guitar so there wasn't a bunch of the same size crackle, guitar makers tend to try and make multi colored guitars each different so peeps have a choice and they are unique for ID

[@rickkanady114]

Looking great man!

[@heavymetalnhardrock]

Something I can't find a straight answer for: do you have to paint it first? Or can you just apply the crackle if you already like the underlying color?

[@themiff155]

Doing my first attempt at crackle tomorrow, wish me luck

[@Mozemid1]

Have you tried doing a heavy layer of clear first, and then the crackle over that??? Love your channel :)

[@florian_thrash]

Do bevels look good on crackle? Like crackle paintjob in white + black bevels or so? Would be cool if you can check that out

[@Zombie_13x33]

I've done it twice now. The second time looked way better but yeah it's all about time and amount of paint.

[@wayneshipman7406]

Covering every detail good job I am a painter by trade and I play guitar,do you do this for a living cause I see a lot of guitars in the background???

[@dylanhoward718]

So the crackle has to go over semi wet paint? I want to try it over holoflash film like the old Kramer guitars.

[@beotheguitarist]

Badass man. What is that Jackson V that's being sprayed with the crackle? I want to see the finished product.

[@seana6445]

I got Montana crackle awaiting a RR3 build. Will post a video of my process when I spray. I was going to use the Montana base coat but knowing that you’ve already ruled it out I think I’ll use the Rustoleum 2x as base. What about spraying the top coat sooner than 45 minutes after the 3rd base coat? Will that give big a$$ cracks like we want to see? Maybe only wait 20 minutes or maybe 10?

[@MilitantOldLady]

So wetter-bigger, dryer-smaller?

[@Ari_Calamari]

Well, the go hard with the crackle paint! Like way harder than with any other paint. You usually only get one good coat, so don’t spray lightly at all.

[@DonutBalls528]

same principle applies to ur mom

[@Cranjis.McBasketball]

Does anybody have any tips for the clear coating process?

[@ronswary]

Sweet !!!! Have you used crackle over UV paint ? I’m thinking of doing an ML style with UV and crackle 🤘🏼

[@thedarkwolf1392]

What's the difference between large and small crackle?

[@brendanoshea976]

Easy way to crackle a guitar paint the base coat white then go over it with your black crackle paint once dried and cured take tinted varnish and go over the guitar the black stays black and the white cracks become any color you choose

[@laylahingram838]

What are the base types of the spray ?? Acrylics ??

[@T0tenkampf]

How many coats on a typical guitar is one of those rustoleum 2x cans good for?

[@superfit60]

Can I apply the crackle on top of an already existing black guitar after you rough the existing black paint?

[@wayneshipman7406]

What's up with the tool you have for turning that's awesome

[@hfrhkiuffbkiyfc]

Dude, why buy a cheap guitar to practice on? I'd just get some cheap lumber. But anyway great tutorial. Not only guitars but I'd like to do this on coffee tables and other things as well.

[@ProfessorPerhaps]

Aye homie got a question, I just did my first crackle paint job last night & it turned out pretty good for a first attempt, but there’s a few spots that didn’t crackle or are super small, so can I tape off the good sections & then just sand & respray the bad sections? Or do I have to just sand & respray the whole face again?

[@shredding51]

i have an old ltd mh-301 i was thinking of painting. Do i have to sand the whole guitar down before painting? Can i not just prime over the current paint and paint?

[@lowandslowshow]

I need an explanation on the Darth Vader suit in the background sir.

[@UncleSasquatch]

I see it 👀 ❤️

[@donivan6784]

How do you get rid of the texture of the crackle paint.

[@callbilly7555]

Bro how do you get the logo back on the and guitar headstock after spraying over?

[@johnpiratee3304]

Im gonna try it in my car.

[@DylanoTheWizard]

Does crackle work on high gloss clear coat?

[@totallynotjohn8083]

Hello😊

[@Strathaczar]

Not to derail the topic at hand, but it's been quite a while since I've seen anything "Trash to Thrash" related. Is the series on hiatus and coming back?

[@GuitarGuts]

Did you happen to see my community post Tuesday? Trash to thrash will be back. Each episode takes me about 30+ hours to edit, so that means 3 days of not working on guitars, and right now, I’m focusing on customer builds. It’s too expensive to hire an editor, so I’ve been putting some videos of builds on my Patreon (they are less edited). If I could get more Patreon members, I could hire some extra help but for now, I don’t make enough to do that. It will be back before the end of the year.

[@Strathaczar]

@@GuitarGuts I was just curious about it. I didn't see the post, so I'm out of the loop. Do your thing, brother. Was just wondering what was up is all.

[@beezleboss_6639]

Would this work on a pickguard?

[@rickfreeman3999]

Yes it will, but sand it down with 600 auto motive grit first

[@sylentstorm8422]

Lint or lent?! Haha.

[@RevGerryRM]

Not a fan of crackle. If you like it, more power to you👏

[@Wannaridebikes]

I not into that crackled look. Just not to me the best looking. But heck to each is own

[@Iconoclasm_]

Don’t give me ideas man😂

[@tomisthehebitch]

Can crackle paint be used over clear coat? My idea is similar with the white crackle paint, except blood red underneath. The difference being as a very subtle detail to be able to see the wood grain in the red. So red leather dye (with some black) - clear coat - white crackle??