* do people prefer the first way, or the 'easy way' referred to at the end of the text?
* whats a good laquer to use?
* what gauge of wet and dry should i use to sand it down?
* do i need to strip my headstock of finish first?
1, definately the first way. french polish is more of an 'easy when you know how' kind of finish and being rubbed on can drag the ink off the decal
2, Unless you have the spray equipment i would say go for a can of clear lacquer from halfords but be aware that it contains a lot of thinners so doesnt build up very well and takes longer to dry. If you want nitro you can get it in cans here and this stiuff is nicer to work with:
http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/lacquer.htmlBe aware of not doing more than 3 coats a day with either of those because it prevents the previous layers from curing and can take much longer. waterslide decals are thinner than vinyl ones so you can build the lacquer over them easier but the doenside is sometimes the clear section of decal can be seen as a slightly different colour.
also, start with a dusting of spray to lock the lacquer in place and keep it light like that for the first day - otherwise the decal will run
3, get a multi pack of finishing paper from somewhere like halfords - avoid sanding the edges and be gentle - start with something like 600grit wet and dry lubricated with a tiny amount of washing up liquid in some water. might be best to use higher grits and go slower at first
4, it really depends on compatability with the finish thats on there but if its fender style stuff and not vintage you can usually get away with lightly sanding the old lacquer with 240grit to give it a nice key for the new coats. certainly ok with the halfords stuff but test somewhere first
