Telecaster Refinish - Part 1

I had a Squier Telecaster that I tried to relic, but it didn't work out too well. So, now that I had a beat up guitar, I decided to try refinishing it. I tried to strip the paint with paint stripper, but the paint was so thick that it wouldn't work. So, now I was left with sanding. Actually, it is not a bad piece of wood. This is my first stab at refinishing a guitar, so I don't know how it will come out, but who cares?

[@skippy3840]

@NuggetPumpkin Thanks. Yes, I sanded it starting with 100 grit. It took a while to break through the thick red paint then get through the white primer, then went over it with 320 and it is VERY smooth. I think that I may paint a sunburst pattern on this one.

[@Jmorkavich]

But won't using stripper hurt the wood? I mean there are some paint, polyurethane removers that are quite harsh.

[@KleyDeJong]

Nice project!

[@skippy3840]

@BillyJimmyLee No it didn't. The paint stripper wouldn't do anything, so I had to sand. The red topcoat came off pretty easy, but the white undercoat was really thick, and it was a pain in the tight places. But once I reached the wood, i got it VERY smooth really easy with some 300 grit.

[@ripley4726]

Looks good.. I just tried using a heat blower, it does work but it will need sanding anyway after. yours looks better just sanded... what type of sander did you use

[@skippy3840]

Just an ordinary palm sander. The heat blower works but you have to be careful with it.

[@kevykev38]

Sad..... I don't know why people continue to SAND and use electric sanders to REMOVE paint on guitars. Use Paint stripper/remover you won't be losing valuable body contours. By sanding you are removing wood. be removing paint with stripper there is minimal wood damage and contour damage.

[@AXESLINGER2112]

u are a smart man!!! relic make no sense??