sanding the finish off a neck

[Stevepage]

Hy guys I want to sand the laquer off my Fender Strats neck down to the wood and then finish it all off with Boiled Linseed Oil for a really smooth feel that will age nicely.

I've been using a fine steel wool to sand the finish down but I only seem to be able to get down a tiny bit. Should I use a less fine steel wool then gradually use finer wools?

Or just keep using the fine steel wool and finish with wet dry sandpaper (1200 grade) ?

[WezV]

You will need to start with  120 grit sandpaper - or possibly 240 if you want to be carefull.  then work up the grades to about 1000 grit

give it a liberal coat of oil and leave it overnight, then wetsand the neck with the oil and 1000+ paper - probably going up to 1500.  When i say wetsand i mean apply some oil to the paper/neck and keep it lubricated with that as you sand.

you will need to buff of the gunk every so often

once its done leave it overnight again and personaly i would apply a coat of wax the next day - apply and polish it with 0000 wire wool.  Buff it out and reattach it!!!

[Henk]

Cant you just get the nitro off with thinner? Since its a Fender and you have the neck out anyway......

I really dont have enough experience to say you can though, probably there is some downside to it i dont know.

[WezV]

sandings just as easy - as long as you pay attention to the dust.  if its white its lacquer... keep sanding.  when the dust is maple coloured you can stop

[_tom_]

I just used the lightest grade sandpaper I could find in my garage to take the shine off my MIM neck and now its really smooth :D

[Canadian Steve]

I took all the laquer off my my USA Stratocaster's neck and I have no experience doing anything like that.  I started by using Nitromorse and a scr@per then sanded down the rest with sandedpaper and finished off with 0000 wire wool.  Then I oiled it and waxed it.  It was a lot easier than I expected and I'm very pleased with the results!