Cost of a Refinish ?

mikeyrob73

Hey all 

Few questions for you knowledgable people. 

Just picked up a Tokai Love Rocks , i believe its Chinese. It plays and sounds utterly superb but i cannot stand the sunburst on it. How Difficult would it be to remove the Poly finish? how much would it cost to get someone to do it? Is it worth doing ? Is it something i can have a go at myself? 

So many questions 

jd0272

Just the top, or all of it? Not a cheap business tho.

mikeyrob73

Just the Top

jd0272

Paid £300 for mine ages ago, but the existing finish was nitro, not poly.

mikeyrob73

yeah , that would put in in the not really worth it price bracket :-) how difficult is removing a poly finish ? might have a go myself, if i fuck it its no biggie

thermionic

The problem would be removing the poly without damaging the wafer-thin veneer. Paint stripper or any kind of solvent won't touch it, you'd have to use heat gun and a palette knife or scraper. Not too bad on something like a Tele, but a disaster waiting to happen on a carved top with a veneer, I'd guess.

mikeyrob73

anyone ever looked under the veneer on one of these? to be honest the guitar plays and sounds just right, i just dont like that finish.

Danielsguitars

I tried getting the finish off an epiphone custom a few yeats ago and it pulled the back veneer off Poly is crap to remove and it'll definitely take the veneer if you put heat on it.

mikeyrob73

Reckon its a no go then ?

ChrisMusic

Any reason not to key it and refin over the top of the poly ?

chrisj1602

How about a solid colour over the burst?

mikeyrob73

That would probably work but would a finish take over the top of that thick poly?

Deadman

It would yes. You'd only need to flat it back with something like 400 or 600 grade. Going back to using heat: you'd likely melt the binding too.

Deadman

jd0272 said:

Paid £300 for mine ages ago, but the existing finish was nitro, not poly.



Next time give me a shout Jase.

mikeyrob73

What about taking the veneer off completely and seeing what's underneath?

Deadman

mikeyrob73 said:

What about taking the veneer off completely and seeing what's underneath?

Who knows. Might be good, might be bad. There's no way of knowing until you do it.

Sarge

if you're careful with the heat gun, have it on low setting,  at least 12" away and keep it moving you'll be fine. 
The idea is to gently warm the poly and ease a very blunt pallet knife/paper scraper underneath,  I've done 4 or 5 now and only had slight overheating issues on the first when I got the poly bubbling,  even then it was 2 mins with sandpaper to remove the melted poly patches. 
There's a few vids on YouTube, one where a Squier strat's poly is taken off in 2 pieces. 
Here's one I did earlier..... 
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/44392/westbury-standard-gettin-nekkid/p1

Deadman

Lovely job Sarge. 

mikeyrob73

That looks great Sarge, my worry is going through the maple Cap and ruining a good guitar I guess 

Sarge

It's easier than you'd think,  just remember.... warm, not hot! 

jd0272

Deadman said:

jd0272 said:

Paid £300 for mine ages ago, but the existing finish was nitro, not poly.



Next time give me a shout Jase.


Pinned on me mental notice board.