Gentle body finish removal

[Beedster]

Folks I have an old Jazz body that was once Oly White but now a lovely nicotine yellow. A previous owner has however overpainted the back, which has some serious buckle rash, in white. I have no idea what paint they've used, but it looks quite thinly applied. I'd like to get that new finish off the back but leave as much of the original worn finish as possible. Importantly where the original finish is worn through to the wood I'd also like to explose the wood if possible. Gut feel is several hours with sandpaper which will at least allow me some control of the just how much of the finish comes away, but I'm happy to hear better suggestions if you happen to have any 👍

[Beedster]

Some pics

 

Front (in case you're not aware that this is the front), lovely aged, yellowed, cracked....  

 

 

Back, you can see the buckle rash and other wear under the new finish

 

[ezbass]

I think you’re bang on with sandpaper. Try a small area to see if it actually reveals the original, yellowed finish.

[bloke_zero]

I'm wondering about a small amount of solvent on a cotton pad - if it wasn't too wet and you were super careful - you could always try a small spot and see. Sandpaper I'd worry that it would be hard to not take off the top layer of nitro. I am claiming no expertise!

[Doctor J]

I'd try T-Cut before sandpaper.

[JPJ]

Personally, I think you’ll be lucky to sand through the new paint and leave the aging on the original paint intact. Sandpaper might be way too aggressive unless you are thinking of 2000 grit and above wet sanded. Might be worth trying some alcohol rubbed with wire wool first to see how easy the new paint releases from the old?

[BigRedX]

Weird how some "mojo" is acceptable and some isn't 😉

[Crusoe]

I'd go with @bloke_zero's suggestion - the way you see museum art restorers doing it on paintings to remove old, yellowing varnish. try it on a small area with a cotton bud first.

[PaulThePlug]

Isoprope or naptha (lighter fluid) on a rag...

[Beedster]

So, this is where I've got to........

 

 

Very light sandpaper revealed that under the white paint a previous owner appears to have sanded the original finish before applying the paint (where the finish is worn through to the wood is very very smooth, and while there's enough original finish to work with - on which the lovely checking is still visible - even that has signs of previous quite heavy sanding. Also looks like there's been a repair under the rout, I'd guess a battery compartment was installed and then filled. Think I'm going to do some very mild relicing to the wood so that it matches the feel and colour of the other areas of bare wood which are significantly darker. 

[BlueMoon]

1 hour ago, Beedster said:

Think I'm going to do some very mild relicing to the wood so that it matches the feel and colour of the other areas of bare wood which are significantly darker. 

I’ve found freshly used tea-bags surprisingly effective on bare wood areas, although I’m no expert on relic-ing.