I'm building a barncaster and have been all over the net looking for relic video's and wood age techniques. I know you don't like relics, but this is one of the more believable that I've seen. Very nice. I agree with you. It looked better after the paste and steel wool. Fender Custom Shop puts a sheen on their relics, and it just screws up the whole effect.
If you've got room leaving the body in the freezer for a day works great. A heat gun (or even a really sunny day here in Florida) will bloom the checks quite nicely. If you're looking for a lacquer blend that will freeze-check very much like the 50's/60's Les Pauls use a 70-30 mix of Mohawk's instrument lacquer to piano lacquer. This mix also sun-ages really well if you put it in a jug and leave it in the sun for a month.
All the tree huggers just had a meltdown when you cut the refrigerant hose, I'll bet several even passed straight out. Again with the Hatin' on teles lol. There would also be severe scratching just above and at the bottom of the pickguard area where heavy strumming could occur.
I was thinking of doing my next project using crackle paint finish. Just to see what it looks like! My old Telecaster hasn’t got any cracking in the finish I don’t know if that’s because of the weather in the UK 🇬🇧. But apart from the stuff that has worn off over 30 years it’s still perfect.
If you're thinking of using spray cans to get the crackle finish go with a nice dark under coat, something like that. Leave that to cure, do the colour you actually want to crackle, then instead of waiting for it to cure, spray your first coat of clear when it's just touch dry, what happens is the clear will dry quicker than the paint underneath, so as it dries, it pull the paint underneath apart with it.. Then leave that for a few days to dry properly, then you can go ahead and clearcoat as you would normally.
Great video Brad. I'm just started stripping an old Squier stratocaster as I want to refinish and your videos have been so helpful 👍. I think I'm going to go for a sonic blue colour but might try and do a light relic with some subtle checking and scraping. Never done anything like it before so this might be a stupid question but do I need to use a primer before I paint if I'm going for a relic look?
When you expose that wood, the rest is still sealed. You can carefully apply a stain to the exposed areas, and it should just wipe off the finished areas. The key here is that you need oil based stain. The water based stuff shouldn’t be used so close to the finished areas in my opinion, and the spirit based version can harm the lacquer. Do this prior to the wax stage, and the steel wool should allow you to rub back that stained area to give it an even more worn look.
You can use Lampblack to darken the wood where it is exposed to "grey" it and make it look old. Also you can, like Brad said, using alcohol or spirit based stains will trash nitro. Lampblack would be my first choice. Most of the guys that do relic'ing on a professional scale use lampblack as it won't damage the lacquer.
I suppose you could use pencil lead, but I'm not sure if you really want to rub graphite into wood. I don't know off hand that there would be any serious detriments using graphite in this way. The only thing I can think of is you might have issues getting a finish to stay on it down the road. I would stick with Lampblack for the amount you'd use, it's pretty cheap, and less possibility of issues later down the line.
It looks great Brad, and another great video. I'm personally not a fan of artificially relic'ed guitars. I'm of the mindset, play it hard and let it relic over time. Your relic job looks pretty good though.
Frankly Dave I agree with you. It’s not how I would do my guitars, but I’m hoping the information will still have value to some. As you know, my version of a worn/distressed looking guitar usually looks like it was pulled out of a burned down post-apocalyptic building haha.
Back in the 80's, we cried when we got a scratch on our guitars. What has the wold come to? Would the paste wax work for someone who doesn't want a clear coat on a frankenstrat, but wants to add some protection to non laquer (krylon) spray paint?
using an automotive AC recharger for cold is terrible for the environment. Freon isnt the best thing for the ozone, it would be better to used a CO2 fire extinguisher or even a spray duster held upside down to get the cold. other then that super helpful video.
Joe Evans as a former A/C man I can tell you that is false. The refrigerant in your car has been a harmless HFC since 1994, and you can’t buy old CFC R-12 for your old car. What he is doing is quite harmless.
Yeah, alot of people don’t realize that actual freon (which was actually pretty bad) hasn’t been used in a couple decades. Everyone still calls modern refrigerants freon, its kind of slang now, so the misunderstanding persists.
This would be great for a guitar neck too! Stewmac just uploaded a video on staining it to match an old jazz bass neck. Here it is: ua-cam.com/video/u7ExkY6CdlM/v-deo.html
Brad Angove I need help doing a custom strat I took a rotary drill kit to the body taking off paint I stopped I noticed it was messing up the wood a little can I smooth that out and idk what kinda of paint is on there its a fender body 09 black I have no heat gun tho just need a better way thanks for the vids bruh I know paint thinner or lacquer but idk Wich one will work the best
I'm building a barncaster and have been all over the net looking for relic video's and wood age techniques. I know you don't like relics, but this is one of the more believable that I've seen. Very nice. I agree with you. It looked better after the paste and steel wool. Fender Custom Shop puts a sheen on their relics, and it just screws up the whole effect.
I’m glad you found the video worthwhile. Thanks Steve.
Nice job Brad. Looking forward to the next stage of the project. 👍🏻
Thanks.
If you've got room leaving the body in the freezer for a day works great. A heat gun (or even a really sunny day here in Florida) will bloom the checks quite nicely.
If you're looking for a lacquer blend that will freeze-check very much like the 50's/60's Les Pauls use a 70-30 mix of Mohawk's instrument lacquer to piano lacquer. This mix also sun-ages really well if you put it in a jug and leave it in the sun for a month.
Yeah, the freezer is helpful for the smaller chequing.
i just did my first guitar paint job. i like to call it "reliced" to cover my multitude of mistakes,but hey that's ok. rock on man,love ur video's
Haha the old “distressed” look where you just scrape off whatever went wrong. Gotta love it.
Crazing/checking looks really cool
Thank you.
awesome work brad, it came out really good!
Thank you. I’m glad you like it.
I love the result!
Glad to hear it.
All the tree huggers just had a meltdown when you cut the refrigerant hose, I'll bet several even passed straight out. Again with the Hatin' on teles lol. There would also be severe scratching just above and at the bottom of the pickguard area where heavy strumming could occur.
Came out great
Thanks Tim.
great video as always Brad, Thats going to look really cool, Cheers
Nice! I like how it turned out.
Thanks.
I was thinking of doing my next project using crackle paint finish. Just to see what it looks like! My old Telecaster hasn’t got any cracking in the finish I don’t know if that’s because of the weather in the UK 🇬🇧. But apart from the stuff that has worn off over 30 years it’s still perfect.
Your tele is beautiful.
Brad Angove she is indeed for an old girl...
If you're thinking of using spray cans to get the crackle finish go with a nice dark under coat, something like that. Leave that to cure, do the colour you actually want to crackle, then instead of waiting for it to cure, spray your first coat of clear when it's just touch dry, what happens is the clear will dry quicker than the paint underneath, so as it dries, it pull the paint underneath apart with it.. Then leave that for a few days to dry properly, then you can go ahead and clearcoat as you would normally.
Will these techniques work if you use a solid color paint?
Yes. I have a video coming out this Thursday on that.
I know that's not Freon anymore, but, are you allowed to just exhaust the r-12 like that?
I smear old engine oil over to fill all the checking cracks, to mimic the dirt and grime that gets caught in there
Great video Brad. I'm just started stripping an old Squier stratocaster as I want to refinish and your videos have been so helpful 👍. I think I'm going to go for a sonic blue colour but might try and do a light relic with some subtle checking and scraping. Never done anything like it before so this might be a stupid question but do I need to use a primer before I paint if I'm going for a relic look?
It depends on how you want it to end up looking. A sealer is usually a good idea to help things look smooth.
Do you need to add another layer of protection (such as clear coat), or is this finish enough? Just starting out with this guitar painting stuff.
Usually you would relic after the clear coat to get a more authentic look and feel. You wouldn’t clear coat again afterward.
Very well done bud👍im digging that look makes me wanna do that to one of mine🤘
Thanks Blake. Glad you like it.
Great series, Thanks! How would you age the now exposed wood like "graying" it?
When you expose that wood, the rest is still sealed. You can carefully apply a stain to the exposed areas, and it should just wipe off the finished areas. The key here is that you need oil based stain. The water based stuff shouldn’t be used so close to the finished areas in my opinion, and the spirit based version can harm the lacquer.
Do this prior to the wax stage, and the steel wool should allow you to rub back that stained area to give it an even more worn look.
You can use Lampblack to darken the wood where it is exposed to "grey" it and make it look old. Also you can, like Brad said, using alcohol or spirit based stains will trash nitro. Lampblack would be my first choice. Most of the guys that do relic'ing on a professional scale use lampblack as it won't damage the lacquer.
What about some simple pencil lead? I've seen it used on the back of a rubbed down neck to give that aged look to new wood. It did look authentic.
I suppose you could use pencil lead, but I'm not sure if you really want to rub graphite into wood. I don't know off hand that there would be any serious detriments using graphite in this way. The only thing I can think of is you might have issues getting a finish to stay on it down the road. I would stick with Lampblack for the amount you'd use, it's pretty cheap, and less possibility of issues later down the line.
How’s the durability on that? I would be concerned about it continuing to come off on my hands afterward.
as much as i love a relic finish, i still cringe at the sight of a new finish being deliberately damaged lol
Fair enough.
It looks great Brad, and another great video. I'm personally not a fan of artificially relic'ed guitars. I'm of the mindset, play it hard and let it relic over time. Your relic job looks pretty good though.
Frankly Dave I agree with you. It’s not how I would do my guitars, but I’m hoping the information will still have value to some.
As you know, my version of a worn/distressed looking guitar usually looks like it was pulled out of a burned down post-apocalyptic building haha.
Freddysfrets here on UA-cam has some really cool ways of relic'ing as does Dr. Nitro. Check out their channels as well if you've not already.
Did you cut your left thumb doing this? I thought I saw blood on it. Anyway, great job and video!
Nope; didn’t cut my thumb. Might have had some red dye on there from another project though. Happens all the time haha.
Back in the 80's, we cried when we got a scratch on our guitars. What has the wold come to? Would the paste wax work for someone who doesn't want a clear coat on a frankenstrat, but wants to add some protection to non laquer (krylon) spray paint?
Carnauba wax would probably be more effective for that purpose. Aka automotive wax. This would also work, but is less protective.
Great. I have some of that already.
Good to hear.
Protect your self next pan blow torch with lighter next to it
using an automotive AC recharger for cold is terrible for the environment. Freon isnt the best thing for the ozone, it would be better to used a CO2 fire extinguisher or even a spray duster held upside down to get the cold. other then that super helpful video.
I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.
Joe Evans as a former A/C man I can tell you that is false. The refrigerant in your car has been a harmless HFC since 1994, and you can’t buy old CFC R-12 for your old car. What he is doing is quite harmless.
Fair enough. i guess i was working on improper info. Still think Compressed air cans might be a cheaper option.
Yeah, alot of people don’t realize that actual freon (which was actually pretty bad) hasn’t been used in a couple decades. Everyone still calls modern refrigerants freon, its kind of slang now, so the misunderstanding persists.
Looks like you're trying to get that green lighter to explode...lol...
How’s that?
@ 1:29 - 1:35
Haha I didn’t notice that. Gotta love depth perception haha.
This would be great for a guitar neck too! Stewmac just uploaded a video on staining it to match an old jazz bass neck. Here it is: ua-cam.com/video/u7ExkY6CdlM/v-deo.html
Hump the body kids true belt buckle rash dont be afraid to go the distance hump that body 😎
Exactly. Go to town on it.
Brad Angove I need help doing a custom strat I took a rotary drill kit to the body taking off paint I stopped I noticed it was messing up the wood a little can I smooth that out and idk what kinda of paint is on there its a fender body 09 black I have no heat gun tho just need a better way thanks for the vids bruh I know paint thinner or lacquer but idk Wich one will work the best
Not impressed with this job.
Cool story.