Varnish finish

[brummie]

Hi everyone,
I have an Alder jazz body with poor paintwork, I'd like to strip it and varnish it like this

[attachment=21763:jazz.png]

I've read up the finishing process but need sme advise about the application. Do I use a clear varnish or is it some sort of laquer.
Any tips but no sarcasm please.
Cheers

[BOD2]

Do you definitely want a "varnish" finish rather than an "oiled" finish ?

It's just that a good varnish finish can be difficult to achieve in a domestic environment (it's usually too dusty or the temperature is not ideal). Whereas an oiled finish is much easier.

[brummie]

[quote name='BOD2' post='430623' date='Mar 10 2009, 03:51 PM']Do you definitely want a "varnish" finish rather than an "oiled" finish ?

It's just that a good varnish finish can be difficult to achieve in a domestic environment (it's usually too dusty or the temperature is not ideal). Whereas an oiled finish is much easier.[/quote]

Good point, I'm flying blind here but have really been taken by the finish on the Jazz pictured.
What I don't want to do is attempt something that could be a nightmare to restore, I've presume oil seeps into the wood - that would make it pretty much the done deal no matter how bad it was.
If the finish pictured is a varnish - would it be appropriate to get a furniter restorer to attempt it?

[BigRedX]

Also before you strip the old finish off, be aware that solid finish bodies tend to have the less attractive woods underneath and there may be some ugly joins with no attempt to match the gain patterns.

[BOD2]

Yes, the oil does seep into the wood, but I don't believe it gets that deep. You'd probably be able to sand out an oiled finish at a later date, if necessary - the oil does naturally dry out and needs to be reapplied occasionally to keep it fresh.

There's also a "waxed" finish like Warwick use. Again, since it's applied with a cloth it's much, much easier to get a smooth even finish.

I don't know that furniture restorer's use the sorts of finishes applied to guitars. I might be wrong but they're more likely to be expert in "French Polishing" and that sort of thing. Guitar hard finished are usually sprayed on. If you were wanting a solid painted finish the usual advice is to ask at a car body shop, since that's the same type of finish applied to cars. Clear lacquer is also applied on top of some car finishes so maybe a car repair shop might be able to do a clear finish too ?

But note BigRedX's comment about the wood underneath.

[leonshelley01]

I did it to an Ibanez RG470 as the "purple sparkle" was particularly hideous, but rather than varnished I used a coloured beeswax and it turned out great. Tried the same thing on an Aria STB and it looked like a jigsaw puzzle, although I was impressed that using so many parts in a body still constituted it being "solid"!

[brummie]

It is one piece of good looking Alder, but now I'm not sure what I'm going to do, cheers for the replies so far.
cheers

[EBS_freak]

You want a sprayed on polyester finish that can be polished properly on a wheel. Everything else will look pants in comparison. Not putting a downer on it... it's the truth.

[brummie]

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='430769' date='Mar 10 2009, 05:40 PM']You want a sprayed on polyester finish that can be polished properly on a wheel. Everything else will look pants in comparison. Not putting a downer on it... it's the truth.[/quote]

Is that a polyester varnish? if so you make it sound possible (the glass is half full) not a downer if it is possible, could I get a finish as smooth as your avatar's backside?

[EBS_freak]

You could get it smoother than that backside. The key to a good poly finish is a good compressor and gun, a mask, extractor, good pre sanding skills, post sanding skills... And care and patience whilst polishing. If this is for you, then go for it. A pro polish job would cost you around £100.

[EBS_freak]

Years of experience helps too!

[rockpig]

try french polish rubbed on by hand looks stunning very thin, let's the wood breathe. however less hard than spray lacquers but very easy to touch up.