Hey guys, I've read the topic about how to repaint an electric guitar.

You see, I'm planning on repainting my Dean some day (might try purple ^^).
And it would be nice if I could change the color on my acoustic as well...

It's a cheap Valencia, nylon strings 'n' such. No electronics.
Do you guys have any hints on how to do it? Because the wood is rather thin, and it would be a waste to break it.

Thank you in advance ;


It's this kind of guitar:

I've done a couple for show. If you paint, you will dull the tone, period. Most acoustics were meant to have a very thin breathable finish. Classical guitars also have a very thin, and light bracing so heavy sanding isn't the thing to do. Very light sanding and very thin coats of paint would be best.

Thanks
Got any idea what tools I best use for this?

I would use sand paper and a sanding block on the areas I could and in the areas I couldn't I would use a sponge wrapped in sand paper... watch your sand paper grits though and don't sand more than you have to, bear in mind that this is an acoustic and that anything you do could affect your tone, unlike in an electric where what you hear is mostly effected by your pickups and amp.

Okay, thank you
well, I think that might do the trick
what do you recommend to paint with? A friend of mine said I shouldn't spend too much money on an airbrushpistol (never painted guitars/paintings before), but I should use spraycans.

spraycan could work... but like someone else said that it could dull the tone. I've found some places that sell violin that to me looks like it might be useful in repainting an acoustic. I think you could change the hue by mixing it with stain.

the what?
sry, I'm not American so I don't understand everything... but I'm trying

Hue? Basically it's the color.

Oh, no no, what I meant was, what do you mean by "change the hue by mixing it with stain"? What's the hue? And what exactly do you mean by mixing it with stain?

Hue is the color of something. and stain is a type of pigment used when makeing some guitar and funiture and other wood crafts.

aah, okay, thanks

Renz -
I will give you and everyone else a quick "Home Guitar Finishing Lesson"
This is what I used to do about 35 years ago.

You might try removing the finish with a heat gun and a paint scraper or flexible putty knife would be best. If guitar is poly, it should peel pretty
easily with heat gun. Be careful, use the heat and not so much pressure with putty knife so you do not gouge the wood. Also good idea to sand the corners of the putty knife so it is harder to gouge the guitar.

Once finish is removed, you can sand with 150, 180 and 220 sand paper. 220 is all you need before staining.
Then you can pick any stain at any paint section of a store. Stain on wood, and let dry 24 - 48 hours.
After that, you can spray with lacquer from a spray can. Make sure it is real lacquer...most stores like Home depot sell this.
Spray about 4 coats...then sand lightly with 220 grit sand paper...all you are doing at this point is knocking off the bumps.

Then you can spray about 4 more coats. You need to put on only 2 coats a day...1 in morning and 1 at night.
After 8 coats, sand smooth with 320 sand paper, but this time, you want to sand off all the gloss. Be careful on edges so you do not sand
thru.

Then you can put on 2 - 4 more coats...and let it dry for at least a week, 2 is better.

Then you need to sand with 600 grit sand paper...once again, all the gloss should be gone when you are done sanding.
Then you get a lambs wool buffing wheel that goes on a hand drill (also available at Home Depot).
Get DuPont Rubbing compound, you find it in the automotive section like where you buy car wax.
Just keep putting this on the guitar and buffing with the lambs wool buff on the drill.
Do the whole guitar, being careful near the edges. You will see it glossing up and all the sanding scratch marks going away.

Then polish with Lemon Pledge. Do not use Pledge before the guitar is done as once you put this on, very difficult to fix paint.

Thats all there is too it!
Then post pics here.

GOOD LUCK!!!
Dean Z

Thank you!

That was a big help.
But I first need to get all those materials.

And that's not the only thing keeping me away from a purple acoustic guitar...
Good weather is rare here in Belgium, haha.

But I think it should be complete at the end of the summer, so I can post the pictures.

Thanks a lot!