Paint checking

Gagaryn

Decided to give this a try when I had my tele apart for shielding. Just stuck it in the freezer then stuck it in front of the window in the sunshine. I'm quite happy with how it ended up. It's hard to photograph as it needs to be seen in particular lighting so looks a bit exaggerated in these photos. 

WezV

That's lovely.  Did you paint it too?  If so, how old is the paint?   

Gagaryn

WezV said:

That's lovely.  Did you paint it too?  If so, how old is the paint?   

No, this is a bitsa I got from Gumtree 3 years old. The body is MJT so I reckon they finished it, it did have light checking but was also strangely matt - I polished it up a while ago because it looked a but weird. There is an old NGD thread where you can see how it used to look - http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/13046/heaven-is-a-telecaster-part-2#latest

WezV

That makes sense, i reckon the freezer method will always work better with older paint.   But I am fairly sure MJT will check as soon as you look at them.

I have one in the garage  i keep meaning to do something with - it doesn't have the fine lines of yours, but it is heavily checked.   Similarly, its not a gloss finish.   A lot of relics avoid the gloss.   I tend to go shinier.  Most old guitars are still shiny even when worn and heavily crazed.  

flyingv

How long in the freezer?

Gagaryn

flyingv said:

How long in the freezer?

about 4 hours

wackojacko

That looks great! I've used compressed freezer spray and then hair dryer treatment before....good-ish results but it was a bit overboard. With the weather as it is I'll whack one in the freezer and then leave it in the conservatory. 

BigMonka

That look great, it's a cracking shade of green and the relic job/wear is nicely subtle.

scalino65

Hi. I found that if you keep doing it, you end up having some quite cool flaking too! I  put a little show polish on mine, then polished the body. Shoe polish stays in the cracks and makes them show up even more.

flyingv

With regards to freezing? anyone tried a les paul before? not sure whether there may be some neck movement or not?

4114Effects

flyingv said:

With regards to freezing? anyone tried a les paul before? not sure whether there may be some neck movement or not?

I used a can of PCB freeze spray for my Goldtop as I don't have access to a freezer large enough to fit a Les Paul in.  Seemed to work out pretty well.

flyingv

4114Effects said:

flyingv said:

With regards to freezing? anyone tried a les paul before? not sure whether there may be some neck movement or not?

I used a can of PCB freeze spray for my Goldtop as I don't have access to a freezer large enough to fit a Les Paul in.  Seemed to work out pretty well.

Cool! ( pardon the pun! ) have you any pics @4114Effects ?

4114Effects

flyingv said:

4114Effects said:

flyingv said:

With regards to freezing? anyone tried a les paul before? not sure whether there may be some neck movement or not?

I used a can of PCB freeze spray for my Goldtop as I don't have access to a freezer large enough to fit a Les Paul in.  Seemed to work out pretty well.

Cool! ( pardon the pun! ) have you any pics @4114Effects ?

Aye ... in the thread here... http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/106702/ngd-goldtop-goodness

Danielsguitars

I left a Lp in a case and put it in the boot of a car overnight during those lovely freezing cold night's 

Looks alot more realistic to me

flyingv

flyingv said:

4114Effects said:

flyingv said:

4114Effects said:

flyingv said:

With regards to freezing? anyone tried a les paul before? not sure whether there may be some neck movement or not?

I used a can of PCB freeze spray for my Goldtop as I don't have access to a freezer large enough to fit a Les Paul in.  Seemed to work out pretty well.

Cool! ( pardon the pun! ) have you any pics @4114Effects ?

Aye ... in the thread here... http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/106702/ngd-goldtop-goodness

4114Effects said:

flyingv said:

4114Effects said:

flyingv said:

With regards to freezing? anyone tried a les paul before? not sure whether there may be some neck movement or not?

I used a can of PCB freeze spray for my Goldtop as I don't have access to a freezer large enough to fit a Les Paul in.  Seemed to work out pretty well.

Cool! ( pardon the pun! ) have you any pics @4114Effects ?

Aye ... in the thread here... http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/106702/ngd-goldtop-goodness

Nice

usedtobe

That looks great! 

Zoolooter

I think a lot depends on the brand of nitro. I've used Rothko & Frost nitro twice and always had great results throwing it in the freezer.

Basher

wackojacko said:

That looks great! I've used compressed freezer spray and then hair dryer treatment before....good-ish results but it was a bit overboard. With the weather as it is I'll whack one in the freezer and then leave it in the conservatory. 

I tried that on a nitro strat body (compressed air spray).
However, I ended up with lots of tiny cracks, like the whole thing had shattered into a million pieces.
It's ok but seems distinctly different from the much straighter, longer cracks that I see on properly old guitars (or well done relics).

WezV

Yeah, that's common with the freezer spray technique.  You can see which areas got a bit more focus.

it can occur like that naturally, but still tends to be more consistent when it is.  Acoustic tops with thick lacquer sometimes go like that.  Almost like crazing on pottery.

you get the long cracks with the grain sometimes too.