Nitro removal

ewal

A few years ago I refinished my Reverend Manta Ray, over-spraying the original poly finish with nitro. I fancy a change and would like to remove the nitro to go back to the original finish. Depending how successful that is, I might then try another nitro over-spray.

A quick Google suggests the easiest way to remove nitro is using acetone. Do those with experience recommend this approach? Or are there any other more effective products worth considering?

SteveRobinson

I find butanone (MEK) better as it dissolves lacquer just as well but has a higher boiling point so doesn't flash off like acetone does.

flyingv

Acetone and plenty of clean rag and elbow grease  

from this
https://i.imgur.com/jNzP5AQ.jpg

to this
https://i.imgur.com/c1tIp3x.jpg

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

And not a single sheet of sandpaper was harmed during the process

Kittyfrisk

flyingv said:

Acetone and plenty of clean rag and elbow grease  

from this
https://i.imgur.com/jNzP5AQ.jpg

to this
https://i.imgur.com/c1tIp3x.jpg

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

And not a single sheet of sandpaper was harmed during the process

Very nice refin  
But... humour me (please) with an honest question.
What is going on with the defined tide mark/wood colour change at the lower edge near where the scratchplate ends?

WezV

Multipiece body

thermionic

With a veneered back?

flyingv

thermionic said:

With a veneered back?

No, if you look closely you can see the join
https://i.imgur.com/N05KB77.jpg

flyingv

Kittyfrisk said:

flyingv said:

Acetone and plenty of clean rag and elbow grease  

from this
https://i.imgur.com/jNzP5AQ.jpg

to this
https://i.imgur.com/c1tIp3x.jpg

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

And not a single sheet of sandpaper was harmed during the process

Very nice refin  
But... humour me (please) with an honest question.
What is going on with the defined tide mark/wood colour change at the lower edge near where the scratchplate ends?

Multi piece body as said.

barnsleyboy

flyingv said:

Acetone and plenty of clean rag and elbow grease  

from this
https://i.imgur.com/jNzP5AQ.jpg

to this
https://i.imgur.com/c1tIp3x.jpg

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

And not a single sheet of sandpaper was harmed during the process

I love what you've done to this. It's got me thinking about having a go at refinishing my 2013 LP 50s Tribute. The finish has gone shiny in places and it's looking a bit tired. If I gave it a good going over with Acetone/ Butanone, would I be able to take the finish back to bare wood? What's the finish on the rest of the guitar? Looks like it's been oiled. Whatever it is, I want mine to look like that!!

flyingv

barnsleyboy said:

flyingv said:

Acetone and plenty of clean rag and elbow grease  

from this
https://i.imgur.com/jNzP5AQ.jpg

to this
https://i.imgur.com/c1tIp3x.jpg

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

And not a single sheet of sandpaper was harmed during the process

I love what you've done to this. It's got me thinking about having a go at refinishing my 2013 LP 50s Tribute. The finish has gone shiny in places and it's looking a bit tired. If I gave it a good going over with Acetone/ Butanone, would I be able to take the finish back to bare wood? What's the finish on the rest of the guitar? Looks like it's been oiled. Whatever it is, I want mine to look like that!!

Thanks @barnsleyboy  

Yes acetone and plenty of disposable clean cloth / rag- it clogs up pretty quickly’ and of course lots of elbow grease  
It took me a couple of hours’ and I had the whole guitar back to the bare wood’ which also exposed the faux binding. After paint and lacquer’ the sides and back were just bees waxed and buffed.

axisus

Get Namorita.




OK, I realise probably to obscure for you lot ....

barnsleyboy

thanks @flyingv - The top on mine is a bit meh, there are some small scrapes which look like they were in the manufacture and the finish is a bit orange pealy too, so I'm thinking why not! I'll probably need to do a bit of filling and prep work to get a glassy top - I'm sure black would show up absolutely everything.

So (please humour me) in order:

1. Strip all hardware - note to self, keep all the screws and washers in a safe place!
   
2. Acetone to remove finish,lots of rags
   
3. Prep any blemishes/ digs etc. sand nice and smooth
4. Mask up the top.
5. Primer, colour, top coats.
6. Remove masking tape,
7. Curing period,
8. Scrape Faux binding edge to get a sharp line?
9. Polishing to top
10. Apply straight beeswax and buff to everywhere else
11. Re-assemble - maybe with cream covers and poker chip.
    

Also like the look of the aged hardware on yours too - I'm assuming that you used the original gold and dunked them in some kind of chorosive solution?

A couple of photos below.

I've contemplated chopping her in for a TV yellow Epiphone which I like the look of, but I've changed the pickups to Iron Gear Platinum 90's, got rid of the PCB and put a decent 50's wiring loom in. I've also got rid of the Robotuners and replaced them with Tonepros Kluson equivalents, new knobs and thumb bleeders, so it's approaching Triggers broom territory!

If I refinish her, it's probably going to knock any resale value down, but with the shiny finish where the guitar should be matt,

I think that boat may have sailed anyway.

 

Sarge

@barnsleyboy mix a paste of bicarb and water, gently rub it into the shiny parts with a soft cloth, it should bring the matte back nicely. 

barnsleyboy

Oohh that's interesting - I'll give it a go. Although I'm almost convinced that I want to strip the finish and go with something very similar to @flyingv 's black top and waxed sides. I'm also plotting whether or not to widen out the pickup routes to fit humbuckers/ humbucker sized P90's.