Flip-flop S (2)

The flip flop finish of my Ibanez S521 was the end product of spraying Krylon paint. Yes, it's a budget, home DIY adventure which turned out OK. Here's how it went:

1. Guitar body was detached from the neck & all hardware & electronics removed
2. The top surface was sanded off. Essentially, it removed the lacquer coat while keeping the original finish in tact. I had no intention to remove the finish entirely because it would mean dealing with a bare wood surface which requires a pore filler coat. Sanding off the lacquer means giving the subsequent coat of paint a better 'grip' onto the surface.
3. A black base coat was applied as recommended by Krylon. This would give a prominent glitter effect.
4. 3 layers of flip flop paint was applied with sufficient drying time in between to prevent smudges / cloudy build ups.
5. 2 lacquer coats were applied to finish things off.

A bit on the drying process - the 2nd & 3rd coats of Krylon received a sun-dry treatment. This was after discovering the first layer manifesting that sticky feel despite leaving it to dry indoors, overnight. The heat helped a lot. The image above shows my absolute novice approach in exposing the guitar body to the hot afternoon sun. That's right, it was left to rest on the railing at the staircase landing where the sun shines in. On some days, I see residents leaving their laundry here to dry as well. 

If you are an absolute amateur like me in dealing with (partial) guitar re-finishing, fret not, things would turn out OK with the right amount of diligence along the way. I did everything using spray cans, no costly air brushes involved. Also, paint types are generic but suitable for wooden surfaces. Do shop around before purchasing but do not skimp on paint because the cheaper ones won't do you good in terms of visual appeal & quality finish. 

Head issues (3)

Here's the RG560 headstock all taped up & ready for re-lacquering. The lacquer acts as a final overcoat to protect the new decal from being scraped / wiped off. 

This is the Watco brand lacquer used in this process. It's available at the local hardware stores here for about $20. I intended to purchase a guitar-specific lacquer product from Stewmac but decided against spending more money & waiting longer for it to arrive. FYI, it contains nitrocellulose, the same ingredient used in guitar finishing that will age nicely over time. I have no expectations for that to happen, really. Just glad that it's suitable for such guitar-related adventures.

My makeshift spray booth; just a flattened out box. This was done at the common corridor when the neighbours were all away at work / school. Remember to don at least an N95 face mask to prevent those invisible particles from entering your respiratory system. Also, a non-windy day is crucial for any spraying activity to take place. Seven coats of lacquer were applied with ample drying time in between. Thirty minutes of drying is recommended but I only did twenty because I blasted the table fan at it. There were cloudy build-ups along the way but this was successfully polished away using just normal guitar polishing fluid before the subsequent coat was applied. 

The protective tape was removed & you can see the original colour of the headstock there - Ibanez calls it jewel blue. I did not re-finish the headstock in black. The decal & blue overcoat came off on that fateful day when I cleaned the headstock with a simple intention of re-stringing this guitar. Someone I talked to mentioned the possibility of the blue turning black over time due to repeated exposure to light & chemicals. I have no idea if this would indeed happen to solid finishes over time but this RG560 will be 30 years old come December & the time element here might attest this understanding.

Okie dokie, it's all strung up (D'Addario 9s) & ready to rumble. I gave the final coat of lacquer an overnight drying before fixing the hardware. FYI, the pickups here are DiMarzio PAF (b), Fast Track 1 (m) & Half Track (n). This guitar had been through quite a rough ride but it's still good as ever. I will share what happened throughout its 30 years of existence in time to come. 

Wishing you a good week ahead, please stay COVID-free & stop believing the KTV outlets are equal to an F&B establishment despite the authorities licensing them as such. Idiots, yes?

Previously (click):

• Head issues
• Head issues (2)