Removing finish with Heat Gun

[FernandoDuarte]

I'm having the chance to buy a Epiphone Dot body, to build someday a new neck to it. But may change the finish...

I know it's ok to remove poly finishes with heat gun on solid body guitars, but I've the feeling that may go wrong on a semi-hollow... What do you guys think?

[WezV]

i wouldn't bother - lots of laminations and glue joins you could ruin

so what kind of finish are you after - if its solid you may get away with doing it over the existing one - anything else will just involve a fair bit of sanding/scr@ping

[Philly Q]

I've never tried using a heat gun on a guitar, but having used it on window frames etc, I wouldn't!

You always end up burning the wood in places, and taking chips out of it.  And there are always stubborn bits where the paint won't completely come off.

[AndyR]

I'm with you Philly. I'm always intrigued by this tale of heat-guns and poly finishes... but I've used one, like you, and I'm not sure I want that effect on a guitar :lol:

Maybe poly finishes come off easier than years of gloss paint?

[WezV]

gloss paint tends to make a sticky mess when heat gunned

poly lacquer should get warm, expand and pop off the surface - there isnt really any need to scorch the wood but it will get warm... too warm to try on necks or thin laminations

it is easy to overdo though, takes some patience to do properly

[FernandoDuarte]

Thanks guys, was what I thought...

Wez, the idea is get a Epiphone Dot (335) body and make a new neck to it... But I'd change the finish too, for what I've read is poly... probably will have lacquer on it...