Painting from unfinished (Krylon Paints?)

[James_B_K_P]

First up, I have an unfinished Ibanez Destroyer/Iceman hybrid body on the way. I'm completely new to finishing guitars and have heard a lot of good things about Krylon spray paints. I'm just after a black high gloss finish and I'm going to sand a sort of fake binding around the edge down to the bare wood, then finish the whole body in clear coat (I'm aware that I'll need quite a few coats). I assume I'll also need to use a primer? Also, if anyone knows or any other cool paints I could use to get a sort of black glittery finish then please let me know. When I say glitter, I mean just a subtle hint of it. I seem to remember seeing a prestige Ibanez RG with the finish I'm talking about, I'll have a look!

[Copperhead]

I'm completely new to finishing guitars  

oh boy...
Might I suggest something a little less difficult for your first project?
This may be of some help:
http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/product/5095

Nonetheless, onward towards peril....

have heard a lot of good things about Krylon spray paints.

ummm.... no. Formulation has changed several times since this was true. Do Not Use. Very thick, soft and gooky.

I'm going to sand a sort of fake binding around the edge down to the bare wood

Unless you have a very steady hand I would suggest using a binding cutting tool to remove the finish.

then finish the whole body in clear coat (I'm aware that I'll need quite a few coats).

Laquer clear, yes. Automotive clear no, just one coat unless you're using pearls or flake which you would bury with a second coat.

I assume I'll also need to use a primer?

Yes. Zinsser Bullseye sanding sealer, which is pure shellac. Do not use their "shellac" which contains waxes that the paint will not adhere to.

Also, if anyone knows or any other cool paints I could use to get a sort of black glittery finish then please let me know.

I would suggest an automotive base coat/clear coat system for a black metallic finish.

House of Kolor is a good place to start to get some ideas.

[James_B_K_P]

Thanks for the reply Copperhead. Very helpful advice. I was told black gloss finish was one of the hardest to attempt first time so I bought some tinted nitro-cellulose lacquers. I'm going to sand the body smooth to like 2000 grit and spray the front scarlet, the sides black and leave the back unfinished. The lacquers are see thru so I'll hopefully get a nice grain through the finish. I'm then going to coat the whole thing in clear lacquer, sand it flat and buff it to a near gloss finish.This sound like it'll work? :)

[Philly Q]

You don't need to sand the body anything like as smooth as 2000 grit before painting - a slightly "rougher" surface actually gives the paint something to stick to.  I wouldn't go any higher than, say 240 or maybe 320.

You'll only need your 2000 grit to get the final coats perfectly smooth after painting, before buffing/polishing the finish.

[WezV]

what philly said.


if you sand the wood to 2000 grit its quite likely the paint will fall straight off  ;)  320 should be fine, definitely no more than 400 before paint, 400-600 between coats if needed.   

after you have done the intial 320 dampen the wood slightly, wait for it to dry completely and repeat the 320 grit.  you may want to do this a couple of times on basswood, it can be rather fuzzy.  the water will raise any fuzziness so it can be sanded off.   if you dont the first coat of lacquer may raise the grain and make it look really uneven. 

[James_B_K_P]

Ahh ok, I had no idea I only had to sand to 320 grit. That's saved me a lot of time thanks! WezV, does the whole dampening the wood and re-sanding thing still apply to poplar?

[Deafcat64]

You might try going with a good nitrocellulose lacquer. Enamels are some times tricky to buff to a decent finish. You can get nitro lacquer in spray cans as well, and lacquer is much easier to repair if you ever have need to.

[James_B_K_P]

I went ahead and sprayed the front with about 8 coats of scarlet tinted nitrocellulose lacquer and finished it with a few coats of clear. It's still drying but I'm pretty happy with the result so far, especially for a first attempt! I've got a can of black tinted lacquer for the sides and I'm just spraying the back clear. Can't wait to get this baby finished :D

(Incase anyone is wondering, I'm borrowing my dad's school's workshop while it's the summer holidays. The desk mounted vices have come in very handy and it's very well ventilated! I'm not sure how this would have worked out at my house...)