[Dumple Stilzkin]

Ok I have a 98 rg7620 in VK, and its one of the ugliest VK finishes I have seen (is it just me or does this shade vary greatly?) and I have an intense hankering to make it natural, as I have seen some on the board that looked GREAT! I was thinking of sanding it down and just tongue oiling it. What do you think? Also what sandpaper am I going to need? I have sanded down guitars before but its been years, I really want this one to turn out awesome. Thank you very much for your time.

[Leon]

that sounds like a great idea. and, i have no idea what tools are necessary . mine was done by it's previous owner. but it's certainly a cool idea. even if the woodgrain is kinda weird underneath, it'll definitely give your guitar a one-of-a-kind character.

[Dumple Stilzkin]

Yours looks great BTW, do you know what it is sealed with?

[Allen Garrow]

Well if you have access to an orbital sander it will certainly make life easier. If so, start with 220 grit for the removal of poly and paint and into the sealer coat. 320 from there to start removing swirl marks caused by the sander. You could probably just stop at 400 grit ( sanding with the grain ) then seal it. Be very, very careful when sanding near the edges,,, one slip and you can fuk up the nice sharp edges of the body. The same goes if you use this on the sides. You may just want to sand by hand using a sanding block. A sanding block with help maintain a level surface.

If you don't have a sander, you can acheive the same results by hand starting again with 220 grit and finishing with 400 or even 600. The hardest part of sanding is getting the edges and inside the horn. Patience is the key. Go like hell and throw some elbow into it at first. As you get closer to the actual wood finish be more deliberate and careful.

Now Donnie just had a similar project in which he used some Chemicals? Poly clear coats are a bitch to sand, and if you use chemicals they are pretty hardcore. I don't use chemicals on my refins, however it does from what I have heard cut some time and safes the arms and hands.

~A

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Dumple Stilzkin

Yours looks great BTW, do you know what it is sealed with?

thanks. i haven't a clue . i think someone told me once that it was some kind of clear coat, but i'm not sure.

[Dumple Stilzkin]

I think im going to hand sand it and then I THINK tung oil it, not too sure. Starting this project up here real soon, I will take pics.

[Pablo]

IMHO ssanding is a very poor solution to stripping a guitar body - nomatter how carefull you are, you'll sand pits in the body.
My suggestion: heat gun.

Cheers

Eske

[Donnie]

A heat gun will be nice to start with. But you'll eventually have to sand the shitty looking veneers off the front and back to make it look its best. They are pretty thin and 150 grit and a decent palm samder should take it off. Just be sure to keep the sander level.

[nyck]

After you sand the body, you can use Tung oil on it. You can apply it with a cloth or a paper towel like I did on my neck. I suggest you put at least 15 coats of tung oil on it. Make sure you get some 0000 grade steel wool so you can smooth out the wood. Wait atleast 10 hours between each coat and use the steel wool after each coat before you apply another coat.

[Elysian]

Originally Posted by Donnie

A heat gun will be nice to start with. But you'll eventually have to sand the shitty looking veneers off the front and back to make it look its best. They are pretty thin and 150 grit and a decent palm samder should take it off. Just be sure to keep the sander level.

heat gun is a good idea though, it'll get you down to the sealer type coating, then you sand through that, and then sand through the veneer(if its got one), and your good to go, less time spent...