polyurethane revoval advice.

voxac30dude · 08-08-2008, 02:45 AM

ok so i went to the store today looking for a remover and i found one called clean strip ks-3.
im doing it to a mexican fender stratocaster(never on a epi les paul).

does anyone have any tips for me on removing urethane finishes?

Dino · 08-08-2008, 09:31 AM

Aircraft remover.

voxac30dude · 08-08-2008, 01:51 PM

woah. aircraft remover could burn the wood.
can someone please post that thread about striping the finish off a les paul and re painting it?

Dino · 08-08-2008, 02:21 PM

If it's poly, aircraft remover works well BUT, do not use it or any other chemical stripper on guitars with binding or it will melt it right off!

Chemical stripper is fine for the Strat, but I'd stick with sandpaper for the Les Paul.

voxac30dude · 08-08-2008, 03:05 PM

thanks. yeah it's a mexican fender strat with a nasty blue finish i just hate. if all goes well with this one im gonna do it to my epi studio.

wantsa58 · 08-08-2008, 07:36 PM

i used poly stripper to strip my neck, but as dino said you have to keep it off of binding etc. If it gets on anything like that it will melt. Even with the stripper i had to use lots of sandpaper and razor blades.

bildozr · 08-08-2008, 08:04 PM

Get a heat gun, and a razorblade. I sanded one down one time. I will never do it again.......

dennistruckdriver · 08-08-2008, 08:10 PM

Sand it smooth, and then paint over it. Poly is a nearly indestructible finish that will be a great primer if you get a good bond to it.

voxac30dude · 08-09-2008, 01:44 AM

well my plan is to clear coat the natural wood. will i be able to strip most of the paint off and get down to the raw wood? can i use a power sander with a light grit?

diceman · 08-09-2008, 01:53 AM

Do Mexi-strats usually have nice wood grain under the paint? (I honestly have no idea - just raising the question)

voxac30dude · 08-09-2008, 03:21 AM

it's solid alder. im not shure how alders grain varies from tree to tree. iv heard it's similar to ash.

voxac30dude · 08-09-2008, 03:25 AM

this is alder with a brown sunburst.

BCRGreg · 08-09-2008, 08:11 AM

voxac30dude · 08-09-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCRGreg

haha. lmfao. i wish there was some high frequency sound grenade that could shatter the urethane off.

captain tightpants · 08-09-2008, 12:52 PM

If it's a Mexican Strat, the chances are good that it's at least a 5 piece or more body. I have a '94 MIM I stripped down, it's a 7 piece body. Fender puts a laminate on the back and face of the body for the sunburst finish. under the laminate looks like a cutting board. I had no idea untill I got the finish off.

Chupy · 08-14-2008, 03:49 AM

A heat gun is the magic tool, plus a razor blade and sanding. Just wear a respirator to keep the fumes out of your lungs.

djwilbanks · 08-14-2008, 11:20 AM

I used Kleen Strips Poly Stripper for wood, a scraper, razorblade, and good ol' fashion'd elbow grease.

dennistruckdriver · 08-16-2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCRGreg

For God's sake, Dude, stop trying to reinvent the guitar, and just play the dang things!
How many of the 'mods' you have posted about have you actually done to your pore ol' mistreated Epiphone Les Paul?

djwilbanks · 08-16-2008, 10:47 PM

he's talking about his strat, dennis. GAH!

dennistruckdriver · 08-17-2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djwilbanks

he's talking about his strat, dennis. GAH!

I know that! I guess he has 'modded' the LP to death, and is now picking on poor defenseless Fenders!

djwilbanks · 08-17-2008, 11:19 PM

Defenseless? haven't you ever seen that video on youtube where a kid breaks his strat's headstock off his friend's chest trying to throw the guitar around his body?

jimmyq · 08-18-2008, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djwilbanks

Defenseless? haven't you ever seen that video on youtube where a kid breaks his strat's headstock off his friend's chest trying to throw the guitar around his body?

Link?!?

Lagaidh · 08-18-2008, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyq

Link?!?

Agreed. This sounds like Must See TV!

djwilbanks · 08-18-2008, 08:37 AM

ask, and ye shall recieve:

YouTube - guitar flip goes wrong

fisheric · 08-25-2008, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain tightpants

If it's a Mexican Strat, the chances are good that it's at least a 5 piece or more body. I have a '94 MIM I stripped down, it's a 7 piece body. Fender puts a laminate on the back and face of the body for the sunburst finish. under the laminate looks like a cutting board. I had no idea untill I got the finish off.

yea, thats what they mean by solid. dont expect to strip that and do a natural finish. as a matter of fact are you sure its alder? prolly agathis. save yourself the trouble of stripping by scuffing the surface wipe down with lacquer thinner and then paint over the top with olive green... mmmm olive green strat.

man i've been dreaming of a sage green strat all weekend.

anyone else remember that color? i think that is one of the best strat colors ever.

fisheric · 08-25-2008, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCRGreg

hahahahaha

lmfao

08-08-2008, 02:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
voxac30dude Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: hawaii Posts: 257 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	polyurethane revoval advice. ok so i went to the store today looking for a remover and i found one called clean strip ks-3. im doing it to a mexican fender stratocaster(never on a epi les paul). does anyone have any tips for me on removing urethane finishes?

08-08-2008, 09:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dino Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 975 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. Aircraft remover.

08-08-2008, 01:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
voxac30dude Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: hawaii Posts: 257 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. woah. aircraft remover could burn the wood. can someone please post that thread about striping the finish off a les paul and re painting it?

08-08-2008, 02:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dino Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 975 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. If it's poly, aircraft remover works well BUT, do not use it or any other chemical stripper on guitars with binding or it will melt it right off! Chemical stripper is fine for the Strat, but I'd stick with sandpaper for the Les Paul.

08-08-2008, 03:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
voxac30dude Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: hawaii Posts: 257 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. thanks. yeah it's a mexican fender strat with a nasty blue finish i just hate. if all goes well with this one im gonna do it to my epi studio.

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08-08-2008, 07:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
wantsa58 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 500 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. i used poly stripper to strip my neck, but as dino said you have to keep it off of binding etc. If it gets on anything like that it will melt. Even with the stripper i had to use lots of sandpaper and razor blades. __________________ Heritage Cherry Sunburst Epi Les Paul Standard Vintage Dimarzio Super Distortion pups 50's style wiring harness from Jonesy "MLP's Official Thread Pirate Plunderer" MLP Thread Pirates

08-08-2008, 08:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
bildozr Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Middle uh no where Flawda Posts: 1,514 Thanks: 20 Thanked 19 Times in 7 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. Get a heat gun, and a razorblade. I sanded one down one time. I will never do it again....... __________________ I unintentionally throw gas on the fire http://customguitar.forumotion.net/forum.htm Epi Les Paul Standard Plus Top Cherry Sunburst w/ Bigsby B70 MLP Thread Pirates "That creepy guy with the parrot and the glass eye"

08-08-2008, 08:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
dennistruckdriver MLP Trucker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South of South St. Louis, MO. USA Posts: 3,938 Thanks: 27 Thanked 55 Times in 10 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. Sand it smooth, and then paint over it. Poly is a nearly indestructible finish that will be a great primer if you get a good bond to it. __________________ Life without music would be TOO DANG QUIET!!! -Dennis The Truck Driver, 2008

08-09-2008, 01:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
voxac30dude Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: hawaii Posts: 257 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. well my plan is to clear coat the natural wood. will i be able to strip most of the paint off and get down to the raw wood? can i use a power sander with a light grit?

08-09-2008, 01:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
diceman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6,449 Thanks: 16 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. Do Mexi-strats usually have nice wood grain under the paint? (I honestly have no idea - just raising the question) __________________ 1969 Gibson Deluxe / 08 Gibson R8 / Epi Elitists: Standard & Custom / Epi Custom & Studio Goth - '65 Fender Jaguar My Band: www.comeupswingingmusic.com or www.myspace.com/comeupswinging

08-09-2008, 03:21 AM	#11 (permalink)
voxac30dude Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: hawaii Posts: 257 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. it's solid alder. im not shure how alders grain varies from tree to tree. iv heard it's similar to ash.

08-09-2008, 03:25 AM	#12 (permalink)
voxac30dude Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: hawaii Posts: 257 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. this is alder with a brown sunburst.

08-09-2008, 08:11 AM	#13 (permalink)
BCRGreg Grumpy Old Luthier Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,728 Thanks: 23 Thanked 71 Times in 15 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. __________________ Cool guitars, extreme repairs and brutal honesty. www.bcrmusic.com www.grumpyoldmenband.com http://www.youtube.com/user/unkagreg www.ristguitars.com

08-09-2008, 12:52 PM	#15 (permalink)
captain tightpants V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orland CA Posts: 1,975 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. If it's a Mexican Strat, the chances are good that it's at least a 5 piece or more body. I have a '94 MIM I stripped down, it's a 7 piece body. Fender puts a laminate on the back and face of the body for the sunburst finish. under the laminate looks like a cutting board. I had no idea untill I got the finish off. __________________

08-14-2008, 03:49 AM	#16 (permalink)
Chupy Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 75 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. A heat gun is the magic tool, plus a razor blade and sanding. Just wear a respirator to keep the fumes out of your lungs.

08-14-2008, 11:20 AM	#17 (permalink)
djwilbanks V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: NE Arkansas Posts: 4,675 Thanks: 34 Thanked 17 Times in 9 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. I used Kleen Strips Poly Stripper for wood, a scraper, razorblade, and good ol' fashion'd elbow grease. __________________ Fender Deluxe Stratocaster \| Fender/Rist Custom Telecaster \| Crate V18-112 "My loony bun is fine Benny Lava!"

08-16-2008, 10:47 PM	#19 (permalink)
djwilbanks V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: NE Arkansas Posts: 4,675 Thanks: 34 Thanked 17 Times in 9 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. he's talking about his strat, dennis. GAH! __________________ Fender Deluxe Stratocaster \| Fender/Rist Custom Telecaster \| Crate V18-112 "My loony bun is fine Benny Lava!"

08-17-2008, 11:19 PM	#21 (permalink)
djwilbanks V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: NE Arkansas Posts: 4,675 Thanks: 34 Thanked 17 Times in 9 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. Defenseless? haven't you ever seen that video on youtube where a kid breaks his strat's headstock off his friend's chest trying to throw the guitar around his body? __________________ Fender Deluxe Stratocaster \| Fender/Rist Custom Telecaster \| Crate V18-112 "My loony bun is fine Benny Lava!"

08-18-2008, 08:37 AM	#24 (permalink)
djwilbanks V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: NE Arkansas Posts: 4,675 Thanks: 34 Thanked 17 Times in 9 Posts	Re: polyurethane revoval advice. ask, and ye shall recieve: YouTube - guitar flip goes wrong __________________ Fender Deluxe Stratocaster \| Fender/Rist Custom Telecaster \| Crate V18-112 "My loony bun is fine Benny Lava!"

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