Stripping off water based lacquer help

TEST ON SCRAP FIRST! If your question is about repair work, either regluing or refinishing, please post it in our Repair Section.
Post Reply
Robert Freemond
Posts: 118
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:11 am
Location: Van Nuys Ca.
Contact:

Stripping off water based lacquer help

Post by Robert Freemond »

Greetings from a very quiet California.

I've been trying to strip a Tele that I made a few years ago & nothing seems to work.
I thought maybe the stripper had gone bad so I got some new stuff - still nothing!
I think I used Target coatings - EM6000.

Anyone have experience ?
User avatar
Bob Gramann
Posts: 1101
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:08 am
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Contact:

Re: Stripping off water based lacquer help

Post by Bob Gramann »

Alcohol dissolves EM6000. I use Everclear so I don’t poison myself with the denatured stuff, but if you wear gloves and take it outside while you rub the finish off with an alcohol wet rag, you should be fine. If alcohol doesn’t dull it pretty fast, then it’s not straight EM6000.
Robert Freemond
Posts: 118
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:11 am
Location: Van Nuys Ca.
Contact:

Re: Stripping off water based lacquer help

Post by Robert Freemond »

Thanks very much, Bob - I'll give a go.
Chuck Tweedy
Posts: 1182
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:25 pm
Location: San Diego, CA

Re: Stripping off water based lacquer help

Post by Chuck Tweedy »

good luck getting denatured alcohol in CA now
Likes to drink Rosewood Juice
User avatar
Barry Daniels
Posts: 3186
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:58 am
Location: The Woodlands, Texas

Re: Stripping off water based lacquer help

Post by Barry Daniels »

A guitar does not have that much surface area so sanding and/or scraping a finish off is a reasonable option. I have done it several times. Sometimes paint stripper is not recommended if you have plastic trim.
MIMF Staff
Robert Freemond
Posts: 118
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:11 am
Location: Van Nuys Ca.
Contact:

Re: Stripping off water based lacquer help

Post by Robert Freemond »

Thanks for the help everyone - The job is done!

I've been trying to load a photo, but I must be doing something wrong
Post Reply

Return to “Glues and Finishes”