New nitro over old...

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Ron Adair
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 11:20 pm

New nitro over old...

Post by Ron Adair »

1st post!

My 20 year old Les Paul Custom needs a refresh/respray. The old finish is mostly good, but the lacquer is separating where the binding meets the body & neck. I know this is part of the natural aging process; as different materials settle in they tend to take the finish along for the ride.

I’m not concerned with keeping the guitar original. I want to “freshen” it up with a respray. Smooth out the wood/binding finish issue, fill dings, dents & scratches and then respray. Nothing goes through to the base color (trans wine red).

In a former life I manufactured high end overlaid jewelry & music boxes. I started my “finishing” career with lacquer & migrated to two part poly for durability. I’ve sprayed a lot, just not guitars.

I’ve got an Iwata LPH80 & was planning on using Behlen nitro. Any pitfalls of which I should be aware?

Thanks much!
Clay Schaeffer
Posts: 1674
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:04 pm

Re: New nitro over old...

Post by Clay Schaeffer »

What kind of finish did they use 20 years ago? Not all lacquers will melt into one another.
Ron Adair
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 11:20 pm

Re: New nitro over old...

Post by Ron Adair »

Clay Schaeffer wrote:What kind of finish did they use 20 years ago? Not all lacquers will melt into one another.

Good point. I’ll test a spot under the pick guard.
Joshua Levin-Epstein
Posts: 243
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:58 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: New nitro over old...

Post by Joshua Levin-Epstein »

You might want to leave the pickguard off in the future. Test under a tuning machine.
Ron Adair
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 11:20 pm

Re: New nitro over old...

Post by Ron Adair »

Joshua Levin-Epstein wrote:You might want to leave the pickguard off in the future. Test under a tuning machine.
Man, you guys are full of good ideas.

Thanks, I'll test under a tuner.
Clay Schaeffer
Posts: 1674
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:04 pm

Re: New nitro over old...

Post by Clay Schaeffer »

Good ideas often come from regrets.... "I wish I would have..." :roll:
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