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.