paint, undercoat, clearcoat...

[nateb]

This is getting a little bit confusing. I have been doing research and people are giving conflicting information. So, back to you guys....

Two Questions :

What is the best paint, clearcoat, and primer/sealant to be using? I am shooting for a black/purple pearloid mixture (black in dark/purple highlights under light) with a gloss black headstock.

When you seal a neck, what is the coat that you put on the back inorder to keep it slippery and also retain the natural wood finish? There is going to be a little bit of paint / pinstriping on the back(from the tip of the headstock tapered off a little past the locking nut retaining screws.)

-Nate

[rps14a]

Re: paint, undercoat, clearcoat...

just oil the neck. it will protect it and keep it playing like a dream.


chris

[Bengal65]

Re: paint, undercoat, clearcoat...

Check into "House of Kolor" for those colors you are looking for. A easy site to find them is www.eastwood.com. These are unlimited in types of shades, pearls, metallics, candies and others. Primer-Sealers, Best in my MHO is PPG DP series epoxy urethanes (2 part). I use the DP White primer on most guitars. For a good durable finish on the neck that is slippery is a satin clear, available in Nitro Lacquer bulk or spray cans from Stew Mac, or PPG or Dupont Urethane clear from an automotive paint supply. For necks I like to use Stew Mac satin clear lacquer in a spray can. Spray it, dry 2 weeks and buff it out. Quick and easy and will provide for a great durable finish. It will be transparent, but have a nice slick feel. Or you can oil it. Urethane clear dries hard in 2 days, so they buff out faster. It's up to you. You can do a search for what oil to use as it has been discussed in great detail here lately. (Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil) is what J/C uses. Of course the above recommendations for spraying urethanes in colors will depend if you have the necessary equipment to perform the painting. Or you could find a bike shop in your area that uses a specialty paint shop and they'd fix you right up. Lots of good choices. Good Luck! Also check out www.reranch.com for other ideas with Nitro Lacquer and links to the guitar refinishing forum.

[DonP]

Re: paint, undercoat, clearcoat...

Are DK-1 necks oiled from J/C? I picked up a used neck and it was oiled, but I'm not sure if it came that way.

Agreed on the satin clear is a good choice.

If you are looking to paint on the cheap, the book "how to get a factory finish with spray cans" recommends Krylon you can get at any WalMart.

[mm2002]

Re: paint, undercoat, clearcoat...

One thing that always scares me in these "painting advise" threads is the lack of warning people about "two part" urethane paints and primers. I envision some unsuspecting individual running down to Lowes for a cheapo spray gun and compressor, then going to the auto body supply for some urethanes, then going home and spraying away in the garage. Don't do it! Any two part paint or primer is very dangerous to breathe. You'll be very lucky if the salesman at the auto body supply cares enough to educate you about this. Here is the best info you'll find: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/
Garage painters please stick with lacquers or spray cans. Even then, ventilate the area and wear a paint respirator.

[nateb]

Re: paint, undercoat, clearcoat...

[ QUOTE ]
Check into "House of Kolor" for those colors you are looking for. A easy site to find them is www.eastwood.com. These are unlimited in types of shades, pearls, metallics, candies and others. Primer-Sealers, Best in my MHO is PPG DP series epoxy urethanes (2 part). I use the DP White primer on most guitars. For a good durable finish on the neck that is slippery is a satin clear, available in Nitro Lacquer bulk or spray cans from Stew Mac, or PPG or Dupont Urethane clear from an automotive paint supply. For necks I like to use Stew Mac satin clear lacquer in a spray can. Spray it, dry 2 weeks and buff it out. Quick and easy and will provide for a great durable finish. It will be transparent, but have a nice slick feel. Or you can oil it. Urethane clear dries hard in 2 days, so they buff out faster. It's up to you. You can do a search for what oil to use as it has been discussed in great detail here lately. (Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil) is what J/C uses. Of course the above recommendations for spraying urethanes in colors will depend if you have the necessary equipment to perform the painting. Or you could find a bike shop in your area that uses a specialty paint shop and they'd fix you right up. Lots of good choices. Good Luck! Also check out www.reranch.com for other ideas with Nitro Lacquer and links to the guitar refinishing forum.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bangle,

Why are you always my savior? =) I showed this to my painter and he said "I totally understand what he is talking about." It's good to have ex-bodyshop guys in the family who have their own spray equipment and areas to do it.

Thanks once again,

Nate

[Bengal65]

Re: paint, undercoat, clearcoat...

Allright, great [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] I learned about using these products the hard way. By trial an error. I did have some instruction in the past by a good body man and it helped greatly. I've been painting cars and motorcycles for a hobby for years. When I was a kid, I was doing car models, so the projects just kept getting bigger. I don't do much painting these days since, I do my painting in the house because of the weather here most of the year (well ventilated booth and safety equipment I might add), plus it cuts into my guitar playing time as well! I'm just starting to get back into airbrushing and using Createx Auto Air, water based colors and doing graphics. You can do all your color work using these non-toxic water based paints (they are actually poly based and cure with a heat gun) and when your done, clear coat it with a good clear like PPG OMNI clear (your body man will know this as an economical version of the standard PPG Urethane clear coats.
Sounds like your heading in the right direction.

[sully]

Re: paint, undercoat, clearcoat...

that createx is crazy stuff; i knew a guy that used it and showed me that you can use prep-sol on it to clean it, and the solvent would just flash off, but get water on it, and bye bye! crazy stuff, for sure. they've got some great colors, and from what i've seen, it looks very inexpensive.

sully

[Bengal65]

Re: paint, undercoat, clearcoat...

Yea, Sully. I've been researching the stuff and talked to a few Graphic specialists, like Helmet and bike painters. I wouldn't surprised that guy's like Mike Learn in the J/C Custom shop use the water soluable type. It's a lot easier on air brushes and overall safety etc., plus it dries fast and you can tape and using masking film on it without it lifting. The colors they offer are amazing. When you're all done, you clear coat it with a good Urethane. Createx/Auto Air actually recommends the specific type of PPG product to use for clearing. Basically the process is; you paint on the primer on your guitar body any Urethane base, like PPG DP40, (40,50,60 are just color designators),(preferably a light color like white, if your using light colors as your final look and you use less paint that way).then sand to a 800 Grit. Then you can apply the Createx colors. Do all your masking, pinstriping etc. Then finish the job with the clear coat. After that, you can do your normal wet sanding and buffing. Pretty neat stuff. I'm getting setup to do a project at this moment.

[LouSiffer]

Re: paint, undercoat, clearcoat...

I use the Createx. Good product and as stated before, easier to clean the airbrushes up. Sull is right, you need to clear coat it when you are done.