I use paint from the automotive industry.
The key to a deep shinig finish is several coats of clearcoat, wet sand till the orange peel is gone and polish to a shine using increasingly thinner polishing compounds ending wit a hard wax.
Remember to sand the primer and sand the color coat.
By Mr Ratrod on June 11, 2011. (I still don't know how to use the quote system properly what a dumb arse I am).
You can lay on the clearcoat, 4 to 6 coats is considered the standard. Allow a 3 hour minimum drying time between coats, and spray no more than 3 coats a day. To avoid breaking into any colour coats, don't sand until after a 2 or 3 coat buildup. Even then wet-sand lightly. Use water or white spirits, and sand with 400-grit wet-n-dry paper, drying off the finish with a clean, soft rag as you go.
Whether you sand between every coat is up to you-some do, some don't-experiment.
Don't sand on sharp edges, unsanded, they'll buildup the extra lacquer needed to rub out nicely with the final finish.
Clearcoat from aerosol cans builds up slower than from sprayguns.
For sprayguns a 50-50 mix (a ratio of 1:1) of thinner to lacquer to spray on smoothly. In humid conditions, a dash of
retarder (can be got from most good art shops for about a fiver) should be added to the lacquer to minimize blushing
(that cr@p white haze caused by trapped moisture).
When the final coat of lacquer clearcoat has dried at least a week (a month is better), wet-sand to a dull satin finish
prior to rubbing out.
A felt-faced block makes a good backer for the sandpaper. Use 3M 600-, 1000-, or 1200-grit wet-n-dry paper.
Immerse paper in clean water overnight before using. Rinse the paper often in clean water to wash away any clogging particles.
Rubbing out, hand rub with a soft clean rag and (I use Mequiar's Mirror Glaze #4). Rub with the grain in a circular motion. Fold the loose corners of the rag into your palm and use lots of elbow grease.
When you've got a good even shine, switch to Mirror Glaze #7 on a new rag, repeat with all that elbow grease and your done.
P.S. No matter how hard you try, some problems will befall you on your first jobs.
That means you can have lots of fun sorting them out. :D
I only wandered onto this thread because I'm thinking of revamping my Tele, so I thought I'd have a nosei.
Now all I've mentioned here is how to finish a paint job off.
I have not gone into any great deal about wood preparation, applying colour coats ect. Maybe another time for I only meant to spend a little time at the computer. Not to end up writing a f--kin novel. :lol:
