Relicing

powerhand

Is there a definitive source for guitar relicing techniques?  I've done a forum search and have found little bits here and there, but not really any useful "how to" posts.  Thanks.

GoldenEraGuitars

powerhand said:

Is there a definitive source for guitar relicing techniques?  I've done a forum search and have found little bits here and there, but not really any useful "how to" posts.  Thanks.

You’ll tend to find there are a few techniques which are easy enough to source but most people’s techniques are unique to that person. It can also have cost time and money to produced the results hence why few people share the entire process from start to finish 

WezV

probably best to ask questions about specific wear you are trying to create.... many ways to skin a cat and some techniques work well for some styles and not so well for others

For me its 3 main stages, but i often skip forward and backwards trying to get it right.... and sometimes don;t

Wear
Damage
Patina

You may try a technique for wear or damage that looks terrible until you have added some patina

Danielsguitars

There's lots of trial and error before you find what works for you and the look you want

powerhand

WezV said:

probably best to ask questions about specific wear you are trying to create.... 

It’s the chipped look along the edges I’m trying to do. 

WezV

powerhand said:

WezV said:

probably best to ask questions about specific wear you are trying to create.... 

It’s the chipped look along the edges I’m trying to do. 

On what sort of guitar with what sort of finish.... do you have pics of something comparable to work from.

my technique for a chipped edge involves bad scraping technique with blunt tools.

gavin_axecaster

Dan Erlewine literally dragged the edge of a Tele along some bricks/stones to get that effect on a refin/repair he did.
The whole video is well worth watching but his ageing/relicing starts at 10m 06secs.

powerhand

gavin_axecaster said:

Dan Erlewine literally dragged the edge of a Tele along some bricks/stones to get that effect

Great video - thanks for sharing. 

Zoolooter

powerhand said:

WezV said:

probably best to ask questions about specific wear you are trying to create.... 

It’s the chipped look along the edges I’m trying to do. 

Oldish butter knife works very well for this.

axisus

powerhand said:

WezV said:

probably best to ask questions about specific wear you are trying to create.... 

It’s the chipped look along the edges I’m trying to do. 

My preference is to use liquid mask on the bare body so that when I spray those bits don't get 'painted' (as an initial step).

sawyer

I start with a dint then enlarge with a Yale type key using various points of key to create an eregular 'chip'. I try and leave tiny bits of finish in the 'Chip'. Soften the edges with wire wool and wax. Think where guitars wear. Forearm edge. Along bottom of guitar where it would be leaned against a wall/amp. Around the input. Buckle rash. Random dints/chips here and there. Rarely in the cutouts. Look at loads of genuine guitars on goggle and try to be less is better than more.

WezV

i am trying some masking on the current one, because it has a significant area of old wear we want to keep.   I am hopeful this will get me in the right  ball park, but i doubt it will give me an edge i am happy looks totally right.I assume i will still need to add a bit of manual wear and softening of sharp edges to get it there

I have used Washi masking tape from wilkos.   I tried this on binding and got amazingly clean lines

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-washi-masking-tape-smooth-48mm-x-20m/p/0454512


It cuts well, tears nicely, sticks well but peels off with no residue... and best of all, its a bit translucent so

you can see what you are doing



Obviously its just step 1, but i am confident this will get me where i need to be on this one

GoldenEraGuitars

It’s worth noting that the fretboard is very eco conscious. With that in mind I have recycled the paint from @WezV ‘s tele for this one

https://i.imgur.com/bO1LUZh.jpg