Guitar Poly Finish Removal | Easiest Method?

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Have you ever attempted a refinish? Don't forget to tell me about how I did it all wrong! 😂 🫳⌨⬇

[@cameronmeikle6766]

Look at what you learned bud . Be easy next time .😂 Phil its a process , mind use a back sheet for spraying hang up the body with metal coat hanger. Go easy . Try on blank piece of wood before committing . But even if you mess up just sand it back Nd go gain . Finish 3 cots rub down between each . Finish with wax buff it to death .😅

[@stevecassidyguitar]

@@cameronmeikle6766 Thank ya kindly for the advices mate 😎👍 I used a wipe on water based stain from "Bolt Guitars" as I don't have a proper space for spraying - and attempting to plan to do anything more than 20mins in advance outside in Scotland is impossible 😂

[@bosshogg8273]

I went heat gun, took ages but I had a little more luck than you in terms of scarring the wood or whatever. Looking forward to seeing the final product!

[@stevecassidyguitar]

@@bosshogg8273 Cheers mate 😀👍 The heatgun probably is a good option - I just didn't have the technique down 🙈 Guitar is 90% refinished now - I just gotta buff it... then assemble it

[@cameronmeikle6766]

@@stevecassidyguitar 🤣

[@pheemchoonz241]

I shall rewatch this video everytime I get depressed about wasting my life! 🤣

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Haha! Thank ya mate! 😂👌 and apologies 🙈

[@SapulpaGuitarAcademy]

Removing poly finish?? God bless you, sir! 🙏

[@stevecassidyguitar]

yup - wasn't my smartest move 🙈

[@EddieG1888]

Can't remember what I used when I stripped a bass body, but it was a similar UK product to CitriStrip; painted it on, left it for a bit, and then just scraped it off when it started blistering. Much easier than a heat gun, and more consistent. And for a respraying thing, try and pick up one of those pop-up wardrobe things, they make a really decent "spray booth" on the cheapo.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Ah! Good shout on the wardrobe 😃👍- I was considering one of those pop up tents for Spray Tans, but still didn't come up with a solution for hanging the body somewhere at home. The Bolt Guitars stuff I ended up using is pretty decent though - Quite happy with how it turned out. I've still got to Buff it though... then reassemble it 🙈 Probably with mods 😁

[@BudgetPedalChap]

What an emotional rollercoaster! The sander really was the way forward, eh?

[@stevecassidyguitar]

T'was emotional - that was the PG version - I edited out all the Rage bits 😂 But yeah... Sander next time - defo! ... if there is a next time. There might be 🙈

[@alfisifton6138]

Re-finishing a guitar is harder than it looks. I tried and probably won’t again. Funny video 😂 👏🏼👍🏼 and will definitely help ppl thinking of doing this.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Cheers Alfie! 😂👍 Hope the re-stringing is going well 😀👍

[@ranman58635]

Love the He-Man references. I grew up watching that so it's like you invited my hero to the show.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Ha! Cheers mate - that's my childhood too 😂👍

[@Madlikedad]

I gained a mass of experience just watching here. I was wondering about removing poly to start a relic guitar project &, from this other fellas video it LOOKED easy enough. But this is a reminder that the level of difficulty should be carefully gauged. Steve, you’re a hero for diving in and sharing. Now… you got the power!

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Thank ya so much mate - this means a lot 😀🙏 I could have edited out a lot of bits to make myself look a slightly less stupid, but thought warts n all is best 😜👍 The good news with a relic project is, You can give up at almost anytime during the process and still end up with a reliced guitar 😂👍

[@jrchanning]

I wonder if one of those firms that strip paint from doors by dipping them into acid? would be a quicker way !!, what a PITA for you Steve, fun watching your frustration though LOL 😛

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Cheers mate - I easily could have edited loads of this out to make me look slightly less stupid - but warts n all is better I think 😂 Something about the chemical option doesn't sit right with me, like the wood bathing in that stuff for too long. But you're right - If there's a firm that can do that service, and save me the hassle - potentially worth a look 😁👍

[@derekclacton]

Stripped the paint off my first electric guitar (‘70’s second-hand Japanese Les Paul copy) using nitromors, when I was young and Health & Safety had yet to be invented. Anyway, I survived unscathed and discovered it had been refinished (in white) - the body was rather nicely double-bound. I believe it was originally black and may have been a Yamaha, or made in the same factory. Anyway (2) I left it natural, as the top and back (totally different woods) were really nice. The main body comprised of multiple blocks and was a strange pinky colour, so I stained the sides Rosewood, to match the fingerboard and varnished it in satin. Really enjoyed the process and was pleased with the result. Actually, I still have it 🙂👍

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Nice one mate - that sounds like a really cool result you got there. I do love the look of a natural LP 😀👍 I don't think I'd have the bottle to try a refininsh on a bound guitar - so good on ya mate 😎👍

[@darrengill1987]

best bet is to get a work bench with clamps and scrape as you go. And a metal scraper is the way to go. If you heat and scrape at the same time, you're much less likely to burn the wood.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

I read some stuff that recomended not using a metal scraper for your 1st time as you'll likely damage the body. Silicone ones we're suggested, but I accidentally ordered plastic... coz I'm a bit of a genius 🙈 and yeah a proper work bench and clamps would've been great. You wanna do my next one? 😜

[@cameronmeikle6766]

Your right we failed alot in the 80s lol but its just wood .

[@An2oine]

I used Kleen Strip on my JS850. It took off the top orange coat and the white undercoat. There is a clear coat that didnt come off. This is as far as i have gone with the body.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Nice! How long did it take? What's the process like? Sounds like you've just got the sanding to go now 😀👍

[@An2oine]

@stevecassidyguitar It took two evenings. I had two cans, the pre government regulated witch works without elbow power and the new environment safe which I had to scrape with plastic scraper.

[@thenovicenoisemaker]

You’ve got a much patience Steve! Fair play for doing this

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Thank ya Rich! I didn't feel like I had patience - I was in a rage most of the time 😂😂

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful weekend Steve also tomorrow is my friends birthday ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Thank ya kinldy mate - Another friends Birthday! You're a very popular guy 😀 Happy Birthday to your friend for tomorrow/today 🥳

[@MikeS4628]

While it is too late now since you've removed the paint for any tips. Since you're doing a solid color and not wanting to stain the wood, you could have just gotten through the shiny poly top coat and used the paint as your first primer coat. Sometimes that's easier if wood has a lot of open pores. Ash is a monster to grain fill first compared to a more closed grain wood like alder. Anyway, when I've done solid refins I just use the existing paint as my "primer" or base coat. Especially since you're going darker and not lighter. If you're going lighter in color you can get bleed through of color if your doing a thin finish. I don't mean the paint bleeds through, but the darker color and change the shade of the color your shooting if it's lighter. Since this is darker pink you wouldn't have had too much trouble. If you do this again you can always sand away the shiny top coat and then shoot a thin neutral primer color before your desired color. I do mostly stains on raw wood where it's matte and often I don't fill the grain for that raw feel. Usually on new unfinished bodies. I've never had luck with a heat gun. I've always just used an orbital sander and hand sanding to get in the tight spots. Good luck. Hope that made sense. It's after 1am and I should be asleep instead of watching youtube.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Ha! Nice one mate that all made sense - great advice - thank ya! 😀👍 If I ever paint a guitar - that's definitely the route I'd go. (I doubt I'll ever paint a guitar though 😅). But for this one - It's a rub on, water based stain that I'm using from "Bolt Guitars", So I did have to get it down to the bare wood. I've got it refinished now and also didn't use any grain filler. It's looking pretty good now I think 👍 And yeah lessons learned - Sander is definitely the way to go 😂👍

[@MikeS4628]

@@stevecassidyguitar Ah I thought since you were doing the darker pink you were spray painting. Yeah, a stain ne4eded you to go to wood. Glad it turned out well. Look forward to more vids.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

@@MikeS4628 Thank ya mate - Will hopefully get part 3 out in a few weeks 😬😂🙈

[@tostrmofo6686]

I only once refinished a body and as I was relicing the thing so I didn't give a sh*t and just went hacking at the finish with a scalpel. Just refinished it with good old Tru Oil after massacring it. It was the first of my guitar projects I actually managed to sell for a profit. If I had to take the paint off of a guitar body I would instantly go for the power sander like you did. You have to sand that thing anyway. I finished several necks (the process is included in the documentation of the neck I carved a new profile into. Somewhere lost deep in your mail account.) I can't criticise anything you did. I don't think I'd have done better. My next project is kind of a punky Strat - got an unfinished body and a neck. Right now I'm considering an Evertune bridge... But what I want to try is to sand the thing in a way the wood grain comes out great and then I want to finish the thing with pink ink. Checkerboard pickup, white Invader-like pickup. Eat this Tom DeLonge. I'm also finishing my ecent project (the Sonic Mustang). Only thing left to do is putting on the new frets. I had to reroute a lot of the body to make the classic slider switches, the USA Mustang pickguard and control plate to fit. All that stuff would be so easy with the proper tools, but I always think "yeah just use the stuff you have, how hard can it be?"

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Scalpel! That's impresive mate! Apologies - My email is a total mess these days 🙈😬 I'll have to find your previous one. The stuff I used for refinishing was a wipe on water based stain - pretty cool system I think. Your new projects sound intense! (Well for me anyway... way beyond what I would ever attempt). Good on ya mate - Respect! 😎👍

[@tostrmofo6686]

@@stevecassidyguitar If you specificially want to look for my mail it was on March 2nd. The scalpel thing is not very impressive at all, I really was just smashing the blade into the guitar, carving off the finish and a bit of wood most of the time. Of course I knew were I wanted to hit. I used that wipe on stain on a neck before. Black strat with blood red neck. I was very young... but it looked all right and the system works great.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

@@tostrmofo6686 Cheers I've took a note of the date - will try and catch up with my emails this weekend 👍👍

[@Blodtann]

I would try to torch a guitar in that colour too mate, probably use matches and some kindling though...

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Haha! 😂 It's now refinished... I was aiming for Magenta - But ended up with a pink/red salmon 🙈

[@Blodtann]

@@stevecassidyguitar shame, now you have to burn it again! J/K, looking forward to seeing how you got on 👍

[@stevecassidyguitar]

@@Blodtann 😂 I actually did think about starting again as I wasn't copletely satisfied with the colour. But it was my fault - I made it 🙈

[@RobbieF]

Thank you for the video Steve. My take away is that if I ever feel the need to paint / finish a guitar, I will get a body blank from StewMac 🙂

[@stevecassidyguitar]

That's a smart move! 😁👌 Or buy a guitar in a colour you like. Buy a new guitar almost always the right answer

[@__Anton__]

Showing how hard it is to remove the polyfinish has persuaded me that I would rather buy an unfinshed guitar body to save the effort! Would a liquid paint stripper work instead of a hot air gun?

[@stevecassidyguitar]

100% - Unfinished is a smart move 😎. I didn't fancy the chemical option. I might try this again in the summer, but I'll just dodge the heatgun and go straight to the sander 😅👍

[@darrengill1987]

It doesn't. It'll remove the paint once the poly is off but commercial paint stripper won't even dent poly.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

@@darrengill1987 Need stronger stuff... Like Aftershock? 😜

[@darrengill1987]

@@stevecassidyguitar the red stuff will do it post haste.

[@cameronmeikle6766]

It's easier with paint stripper and use metal scrapers . .you don't need a heat gun .

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Yeah the heat gun was a massive fail (for me) but the plastic scrapers didn't help, or the metal one 😂🙈. It will be sander all the way IF I'm ever daft enough to attempt this again. I might 😂

[@davelewis4215]

Try finding a local furniture dipper next time 👍🍺

[@stevecassidyguitar]

I'm not sure what that is - But If I do it again, (Might do in summer 🙈) I'll skip the heatgun and just use the sander 😁

[@steviemac8075]

2:14 I’m hoping that cardboard the body is resting on is that fancy non flammable type 🥴🤔

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Errmmm....... 😬 Well... I luckily it didn't light up 😅

[@bosshogg8273]

You need to wear a black neckerchief/ninja mask thing so tbe poly cant see you coming 😁

[@stevecassidyguitar]

If only I'd known this simple hack.... it could have changed the results completely! No need for the sander 😂👌

[@ranman58635]

Yeah, cool try there. I couldn't do it. Even I'd I did, I don't paint. Also, they have a seal coat, so one wouldn't likely see the actual wood.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

I couldn't do it either 😂 I went with the Bolt Guitars, water based, wipe on stain. Worked out not too bad for first time. It's 90% done now. Just got to buff it, then re-assemble it 🙈

[@ranman58635]

@@stevecassidyguitar , yeah, I do stains and oil finishes. I have a recent video up with my gold leaf Ibanez Rgt47dx.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

@@ranman58635 Nice one - I'll have to check that out 😀👍

[@AnimalJohn85]

Sanding 100% the way to do it ;) Way more dusty fun 😈 You got some patience crackin on with the heat gun like you did, bloody good job of it though sir :) Also... hows about a dye and some osmo on top? Would be a total hand rub finish but the results'd be there and the wood grain'd show through real nice ;)

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Thank ya mate! 🙏 This is pretty much what I went for - I used the Bolt guitars, wipe on water based stain. It worked really well - I did want a solid colour, so ended putting on coats into the double digits. But as i didn't use a grain filler, you can still see some of the grain, but not the figuring. 😀👍

[@AnimalJohn85]

@@stevecassidyguitar bet that looks epic! :) You're a bit good you are sir

[@stevecassidyguitar]

@@AnimalJohn85 Aww thank ya mate! 😀🙏 It's probably subjective 😜 Find out in part 3 ....😂

[@JayceAllanGuitar]

Is that finish Nitro? Seems thinner than poly. That stuff is really on there. Great video though, fun to watch.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Ha! Thank ya mate 😃🙏 This kind of thing is clearly not my area of expertise 🙈 It's unlikely to be nitro as the guitar cost £91 new (it's actually pretty much a Jet JS400... But it's a Fazley - long story 😜) Even if it was nitro, being a newb, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference 😂. Have you tried finish removal before? 😃

[@JayceAllanGuitar]

@@stevecassidyguitar Only once, but gave up about 1/2 way! LOL. It's a tedious experience.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

@@JayceAllanGuitar Don't blame you at all for giving up.. It actually took me almost a year to finish this 🙈 and it's still not complete. Most of it is down to lack of motivation tho 😂

[@johnnyrandom100]

Like Me Steve I bet your not into the chemical option (paint stripper). perseverance.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Yeah I don't know why... The idea of the wood soaking in that stuff doesn't sit right with me 🤷‍♂️ I think the best solution is buy a Guitar in a colour you like 😂

[@derekclacton]

3:55 Steve, mate - the mask doesn’t work, we know it’s you! 😂

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Foiled again!! 😂👌

[@calbrockocat8728]

As an old fart I'd have gone straight to the power sander while wearing a particulate mask and safety goggles. I've only had to sand down a kit guitar- a tele type- and I had to go through 5 grits until I felt it was smooth enough and ready. Thenm I applied Saman water-based finish with both a sponge brush and paper towels. Ended up working well -matte finish. Covered it in Minwax and rubbed that in everywhere.Still, it is a very low quality kit guitar and I learned a few things. (Like, don't buy kit guitars!)

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Lessons learned eh? 😂👌 I'll likely go straight tot he power sander if I attempt this again in the future and yes... I defo need better protection next time too🙈

[@MashaT22]

Is it better to just paint over the poly? Hmm . . . 🤔🤔🤔

[@stevecassidyguitar]

I'd say YES! Probably 😁👍 But as I don't have the means to paint (dust, wind free, ventilated space for hanging etc) I opted for the Bolt Guitars, wipe on, water based stain. So for that I had to get down to the bare wood 😅

[@hollywoodactress]

Does sound like a painful experience. I am no expert but could you have dipped the guitar body? I heard that with furniture some places can dip it in acid to remove the finish quick. Obviously you would have to take it somewhere to get it dipped 😃

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Yeah mate - A few people here have suggested that 😎👍 Having never attempted removing a finish before, the 3 options I looked into were stripping as you suggested, heat gun and sander. Heat gun (looked like) the easiest - but it obviously wasn't for me 🙈 For some reason, I don't like the idea of the chemical option, having the body wood potentially, sitting in that stuff too long, doesn't seem right to me 🤷‍♂ Sander worked great though. If I ever try again - sander is the way I'd go 😁👍 But might also investigate this dipping method further. Would obviously be way easier to have someone else do it 😜

[@muleman72]

How about a hand staining like the Fazely Outlaws?

[@stevecassidyguitar]

It's actually a very similar option I went with 😀👍 The Bolt guitars system is a wipe on water based stain, I applied enough coats for a solid colour though

[@iwanttoplaywithspringsteen9188]

When there is a real market for relicing and a natural worn in aged look why do companies so rarely provide an option of thin top coat of paint . Would be an easy finishing process for the. And the customer could easily get the look they want . Definitely would like this option on a few my guitars but couldn’t be arsed with all that hastle , would totally frustrate the shit out me

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Mate! That's an awesome idea! 😀👍 Why has no one thought of this!? I'm not into relics personally, but i could totally see the appeal That feature on a guitar would sell very well I reckon - great shout! 😎👍

[@The_Macaroon]

You dont need to tske it back to the wood though? Just sand it, undercoat/prime it then paint.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

It's a rub on, water based dye I'm using from Bolt Guitars for the refinish. So it did have to go down to the bare wood for this one. Much to my greif 😅

[@The_Macaroon]

@@stevecassidyguitar I see, makes sense now. Don't think I could be arsed with all that though, looks a grind.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

@@The_Macaroon You're totally right. My curiosity cost me dearly 😂

[@philstevens9914]

Why not use paint stripper? I believe your main brand in the UK is Nitromors.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Having never attempted removing a finish before, the 3 options I looked into were stripping as you suggested, heat gun and sander. Heat gun (looked like) the easiest - it wasn't for me 🙈. For some reason, I don't like the idea of the chemical option, having the body wood potentially , sitting in that stuff too long doesn't seem right to me - then there's the smell and doing it at home. Sander worked great though. If I ever try again - sander is the way i'd go 😀👍 I wouldn't rule out chemical though - a lot of people have suggested this - Cheers 😀👍

[@confounder]

Because of restrictions on domestic use of chemicals, Nitromors is now a shadow of its former self.

[@stevecassidyguitar]

@@confounder Good to know - cheers mate. I'll likely stick with the sander next time then 👍👍

[@jamesonpace726]

Ooh, poor fellow! It's always ez when pros do it, but never us. Sand to rough enuf to adhere & spray away new paint, or buy another guitar....

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Yup! "Buy another guitar" proves to be the answer to every problem once again 😂👍

[@cameronmeikle6766]

Whit ye dayin man 🤣 use paint stripper lashes if it . Twice ! Then scrape and coarse sand .

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Whit ma dain? ... As mentioned several times in the vid - I have no idea! 😂🤷‍♂️ 1st time an ah that - Many lessons learned. But I'd just use the sander next time - was way easier 😁👍

[@An2oine]

Where are we at right now?

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Good Question! I'm currently editing the part 3 vid. and that will be up a week today. But since then, the refinish is complete 😅 It's currently with the tech getting new pickups and crazy switching options 🤓👍Hoping to have it back next week so I can gig it next weekend 😀🤞

[@michaelbelliveau8755]

Finish remover for furniture..wear gloves plenty of ventilation

[@stevecassidyguitar]

Good shout mate - However I think my finish removing experiments are over 🙈 I'd probably just go straight to the sander next time - or the best option... buy a new guitar. That's always the right answer!

[@jowyong6769]

"I hate relic-ed guitars. I wanna get my guitar there through years of honest playwear." Err...I don't think so mate. At least not with a modern day poly finish 🤷‍♂

[@stevecassidyguitar]

100% ! 😂👏👏👏

[@muleman72]

Are you leaving the cavities as they are?

[@stevecassidyguitar]

100% 😅 I don't have it in me to remove anymore paint. But.. I do actually like that I can see the original colour - makes it seem like it was "almost" worthwhile 😜

[@davelewis4215]

I bet stripping with a heat gun stinks and gives off some horrible fumes man 😳

[@stevecassidyguitar]

You're not wrong! It's a unique aroma I'd never experienced before, and wouldn't recommend either 🤢