Step By Step Restoration-1979 Gibson "The SG" P3
The refinish is about one-third complete. Suprised? A
good laquer finish from spray cans takes as many as 40
coats for a beautiful mirror finish. If you are one of the
few lucky ones with a spray booth and pressure
equipment, you can reduce the time greatly.
Nevertheless, you have one big advantage over Gibson
in finishing this guitar...time. Take your time in spraying
and wet-sanding the finish, and you can achieve a finish
that exceeds a factory finish.
good laquer finish from spray cans takes as many as 40
coats for a beautiful mirror finish. If you are one of the
few lucky ones with a spray booth and pressure
equipment, you can reduce the time greatly.
Nevertheless, you have one big advantage over Gibson
in finishing this guitar...time. Take your time in spraying
and wet-sanding the finish, and you can achieve a finish
that exceeds a factory finish.
Let the newly-stained guitar
air dry for 24 hours. Wait for a
sunny, dry day for spraying
laquer...if you don't, expect
the new finish to have a milky
fog...
air dry for 24 hours. Wait for a
sunny, dry day for spraying
laquer...if you don't, expect
the new finish to have a milky
fog...
Visit Stewart-Macdonald Luthier Supply's website for
some excellent guitar laquers. I recommend purchasing
one can of Laquer Sealer and at least four cans of
Laquer per guitar. The job always seems to require at
least one more can than you estimate!
Check that the surface is completely dry before
spraying several coats of laquer sealer...the sealer is
highly recommended to limit the number of laquer coats
needed later.
Allow at least ten minutes between coats of laquer...a
thin coat is better than a thick one and will insure that
the finish goes on smoothly. I tend to spray laquer for
days...20 coats for a thin finish and at least 40 coats for
a glassy finish.
Wait at least 24 hours before wet sanding. Many
guitar-makers wait a week before buffing...the best
luthiers wait one month or more before wet sanding or
buffing. If you have a commercial-grade buffer in your
shop, your finishing tasks will be much shorter...for the
rest of us, read on...wet sanding is a great physical
workout!
some excellent guitar laquers. I recommend purchasing
one can of Laquer Sealer and at least four cans of
Laquer per guitar. The job always seems to require at
least one more can than you estimate!
Check that the surface is completely dry before
spraying several coats of laquer sealer...the sealer is
highly recommended to limit the number of laquer coats
needed later.
Allow at least ten minutes between coats of laquer...a
thin coat is better than a thick one and will insure that
the finish goes on smoothly. I tend to spray laquer for
days...20 coats for a thin finish and at least 40 coats for
a glassy finish.
Wait at least 24 hours before wet sanding. Many
guitar-makers wait a week before buffing...the best
luthiers wait one month or more before wet sanding or
buffing. If you have a commercial-grade buffer in your
shop, your finishing tasks will be much shorter...for the
rest of us, read on...wet sanding is a great physical
workout!
Wet-sanding is a labor of
love...
Work cautiously near the
edges of the guitar to
prevent a sand-through to
the stain.
love...
Work cautiously near the
edges of the guitar to
prevent a sand-through to
the stain.
Wet Sanding...The Never-Ending Story...
Wet sanding is very laborious, yet this is where you will
begin to see the fruits of your labors. Gather
sandpapers in the following grits: 1000, 1500, and
2000. If possible, allow the sandpaper to soak for 24
hours before beginning to sand. Start with 1000 grit;
wrap firmly around a foam or rubber sanding block and
begin to sand gently in a circular motion. After a bit of
dust begins to appear in the puddle, use the rubber
block as a squeegee and observe your work. You will
notice that the tops of the "hills are being sanded
away...work slowly till the "hills and "valleys" become
one smooth as glass surface. Be careful on edges, they
are extremely delicate!
The overwhelming objective to wet-sanding the new
finish is to achieve a mirror finish without any
sand-throughs in the laquer...they will really slow you
down, but they are not fatal. If you suffer a sand-through
to the wood...don't panic! Just let the guitar dry and
re-apply stain to the area. After drying, respray several
layers of laquer and begin again...
Wet sanding is very laborious, yet this is where you will
begin to see the fruits of your labors. Gather
sandpapers in the following grits: 1000, 1500, and
2000. If possible, allow the sandpaper to soak for 24
hours before beginning to sand. Start with 1000 grit;
wrap firmly around a foam or rubber sanding block and
begin to sand gently in a circular motion. After a bit of
dust begins to appear in the puddle, use the rubber
block as a squeegee and observe your work. You will
notice that the tops of the "hills are being sanded
away...work slowly till the "hills and "valleys" become
one smooth as glass surface. Be careful on edges, they
are extremely delicate!
The overwhelming objective to wet-sanding the new
finish is to achieve a mirror finish without any
sand-throughs in the laquer...they will really slow you
down, but they are not fatal. If you suffer a sand-through
to the wood...don't panic! Just let the guitar dry and
re-apply stain to the area. After drying, respray several
layers of laquer and begin again...
Remember the headstock laminate? Here is the
appearance after 40 layers of laquer and wet-sanding to
2000 grit! Use very little water while wet-sanding the
headstock...water enters the tuner holes and causes
the wood to swell...almost a guaranteed sand through!
Just use damp sandpaper and a sanding block in this
location...work slowly...and prayer always helps...
appearance after 40 layers of laquer and wet-sanding to
2000 grit! Use very little water while wet-sanding the
headstock...water enters the tuner holes and causes
the wood to swell...almost a guaranteed sand through!
Just use damp sandpaper and a sanding block in this
location...work slowly...and prayer always helps...
