software

anyone have any tips for me?

I want to try to attempt this, I have a sprayer and a little skill, but i need a good source for the actual paint and flake and things like that and some advice if you've got it about shooting metallics.

Build the colour slowly,don't try to do it all in one pass.
The key to a good finish is good prep work.
Make sure that your surface is level and clean,then shoot a thin coat of clear,(called a spit coat.I like to do mine at a 3-1 thinner to clear ratio in a quicker movement than spraying colour or top coat.
Allow to dry,(not just surface cure) and scuff LIGHTLY and clean.
Prime if you want to,(remember that whatever colour prime you choose will affect the paint's colour),and then start laying down thin coats of colour.
Flake looks nice when you put a layer of clear every so many coats,it allows light to get under colour layers and gives it nice depth.But that is a lot more work and will use up more materials.

thanks so much john, i'm really going for the deep look, so i don't think i'll mind the extra spraying.

what would you suggest for getting that super-high-gloss finish? I've never really done anything too shiny, just a flat refin, some relic'ing, etc. I've been feeling the vintage vibe, but i want to try something flashy. I've heard about using 0000 steel wool to help polish, but it never seems to work?

also, how do you feel about using nail polish on a guitar?


Originally Posted by RushOfBloodalso, how do you feel about using nail polish on a guitar?

It works! Most nail polish is acrylic and thins with acetone. On one of the Flame jobs I did I used pearl white nail polish. You need good equipment
to spray metal flake. like a good HVLP gun and a good compresser and a lot
of patiance cleaning the tip (that will jam up easy w/t metal flake. I good
soucre for trick paint is HOK House of color. there up an the web Just do
a search.

When sanding you have to start off a little lower on the mo scale,(abrasiveness),maybe 600 and work your way up to 2000.
Wet sand,(a touch of dishsoap in the water really helps),with a felt covered block and don't sand in one spot for too long.Wear old clothes.
When I wet sand I'll lay some towels down and throw a movie in,if it seems like it's taking forever than you're probably doing it right.
After sanding you need to buff and polish.
Personally I like the the Maguire's stuff.It costs a bit more but it's worth it.
After sanding,(and try to get the grits as close together as you can),start with a scratch and swirl remover,then a deep cut polish/med cut/light cut/fine cut.Then go to just polish and finish with a glaze coat.
One thing that is super important is to give it some time after final spray.
Set the guitar aside for a week or so and sand then do the scratch and swirl remover.Let sit for another week and re-examine.If it shows fine sratches do the scratch and swirl polish again.
On a good finish you should be able to read a book in it with out any distortions to the shape of the lettering.

thanks again guys! the sanding has begun!

Be careful that your sprayer doesn't get clogged. I know next to nothing about finishing, but I was asking about metalflake finishes once, and I remember being told that metalflakes can cause the spray gun to clog.

Ryan

this place is helpful
www.projectguitar.com