Stratocaster Guitar Refinish - Part 3

So I finished the paint and gave it about 12 coats of clear laquer. It did not come out as smooth as I wanted, but should be fairly decent. Ready for a set of strings and a test drive.

[@KleyDeJong]

Man that thing looks killer. Makes me want to try a refinish of my own - or maybe try to find a cheap blank tele body and finish it myself...

[@jimmunhall]

Just a little heads up. If you used lacquer over enamel paint that will pose a problem with the clear coat not curing well. You should always use polyurethane over enamel. If the base color coat is acrylic then lacquer will be fine.
After doing multiple clear coats you should use 2000 grit sandpaper to wet sand the Orange peel look. The guitar will appear 100% flat or cloudy if you have sanded it all (which you should. Continue to wet sand softly and wipe off water until the guitar is all flat looking and cloudy.
Next apply a rubbing compound wax and rub it in till dry. Wipe off compound and your done, perfect shine and no more orange peel. Hope this helps.
Jim

[@LaroldC]

I think it looks great. I actually like the non-gloss finish, it's friendly. I found this video because I was looking for refinishing tips. I bought a great Fender replacement neck for a gorgeous all-black MIM Strat and I want to color-match the headstock. I ordered a Fender logo decal and now I wanted to see what people are doing as far as getting the true gloss finish without ripples or bubbles. Thinking: Paint stripper, wet sand, primer, enamel, heat gun, logo, then gloss-poly finish.

[@mrmaxwellrocks]

Looks great! I'm itching to try it myself with a Squier P-bass.

[@LaroldC]

Nice. I'm gonna try that. Thanks.

[@jewlzben]

Use 320 grit on the primer followed by 600 grit, if using an acrylic laquer do three double header coats, and a final coat with 60% more thinners than normal, sand this back with warm soapy water, and 2000 grit paper that has been soaking in water over night to remove all orange peel, repeat the exact same process with the clear, This thing will look like a mirror, Im in the process of rebuilding also.

[@almfoto]

I guess I'll have to take your word for it.

[@skippy3840]

@TheInsomniacGuy No, there are two coats of white primer followed by 4 coats of antique white paint, then the coats of clear.

[@skippy3840]

I got the spray paint at Home Depot, I think it was called "wildflower", or something like that.

[@Tochudin]

I love that color

[@maxsmeraldi]

Yeaah!! wonderfull !! i'm sorry that this guitar don't have a tremolos bridge!!!
Amazing!!

[@skippy3840]

@AKingJohnR I really wanted to put the tortoise shell pickguard on it, but that pickguard was for a '62 style and just would not line up. But the guitar really sounds good, I am surprised.

[@AKingJohnR]

awww why isnt the nice brownish redish tortoise shell pick gaurd on it? that would sharpen it up, i think.

[@Jamesbond22855]

So why did you not put the other pickgaurd on it?

[@rishi14494]

will a standard fender neck plate match up on a squier bullet strat?

[@12footgrave]

I know it's been a year since you asked, but yes.

[@ralfcaetano]

why didn't you wet sand?