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My tele has a stripey top and dark blue stain. I want to change it to aqua/turquoise. I am going to need some advice, and some help with supplies.

1. what is the easiest way to strip the existing lacquer? There is a plastic binding which I don't want to damage.
2. does anyone have some black dye to do the stripes, please?
3. does anyone have any turquoise/aqua dye, please?
4. what's the best cheap electric spray outfit for this kind of job?

Cheers!

What's the existing finish? Poly? Oil? Nitro?

It's nitro.

At guess id paint strip it (beware that stuff is lethal) sand, clear seal, sand, clear seal, apply stripes, tint topcoat, spray, sand, spray, sand, spray, sand, spray, wet and dry, polish. Lots of work.

MakoGat wrote:At guess id paint strip it (beware that stuff is lethal) sand, clear seal, sand, clear seal, apply stripes, tint topcoat, spray, sand, spray, sand, spray, sand, spray, wet and dry, polish. Lots of work.

Will the stripper destroy the plastic binding?

werdna wrote:

MakoGat wrote:At guess id paint strip it (beware that stuff is lethal) sand, clear seal, sand, clear seal, apply stripes, tint topcoat, spray, sand, spray, sand, spray, sand, spray, wet and dry, polish. Lots of work.

Will the stripper destroy the plastic binding?

Yes it probably will....

You need to really take that down to bare wood if its been dyed before, and probably further if its not been sealed properly. I've not done a guitar with binding, grant would be your best bet to comment, I could be wrong but I'd be steering clear of stripper, unless I was planning on rebinding. And obviously avoid heat gun!!!

Bg wrote:

werdna wrote:

MakoGat wrote:At guess id paint strip it (beware that stuff is lethal) sand, clear seal, sand, clear seal, apply stripes, tint topcoat, spray, sand, spray, sand, spray, sand, spray, wet and dry, polish. Lots of work.

Will the stripper destroy the plastic binding?

Yes it probably will....

You need to really take that down to bare wood if its been dyed before, and probably further if its not been sealed properly. I've not done a guitar with binding, grant would be your best bet to comment, I could be wrong but I'd be steering clear of stripper, unless I was planning on rebinding. And obviously avoid heat gun!!!

The other option is just sand back to bare wood.....

Just put a solid colour over it. Cobra blue is very nice.

I think you should heat gun it and replace the binding, can't see an easy way to not destroy it!

Conway wrote:Just put a solid colour over it. Cobra blue is very nice.

Nah its tacky in a gold toilet sort of way....

What's a reasonably priced electrical spray kit please?

Request: does anyone have any stain in dark blue (not turquoise) please? Only need a few drops and will pay in cash, massage etc.

I've not stripped back a nitro guitar before either. But is a heat gun & nitro really a sensible combination?

olegmcnoleg wrote: ↑Fri Sep 22, 2023 9:49 am I've not stripped back a nitro guitar before either. But is a heat gun & nitro really a sensible combination?

I sanded back. Nitro sands off quickly.

werdna wrote: ↑Fri Sep 22, 2023 9:54 am

olegmcnoleg wrote: ↑Fri Sep 22, 2023 9:49 am I've not stripped back a nitro guitar before either. But is a heat gun & nitro really a sensible combination?

I sanded back. Nitro sands off quickly.

Yes I'm sure it does, and it has a very low flash point too. And the vapours are not good for you.