Thought I'd share a technique I used to make a modern shiny plastic 3 ply guard look a better fit on a slightly fooked up guitar. I started with a standard 3 ply mint green guard from Guitars Electric because pre aged pickguards are too expensive!
- Rough up the surface to get rid of the shine - I used micro mesh (wet) but I'm sure wire wool would work,
- rub in brown furniture wax - I used Antiquax,
- Then rub it off again - I wet sanded with micro mesh again, remove more from the parts you want lighter,
- You're done! The wax actually stains the plastic so doesn't rub off.
- I gave it a light buff with finer micro mesh to get rid of any obvious scratch marks - leaves a dull surface that looks like it has always been that way.
Behold! Clicking the link should open a larger image - I think it looks pretty good.
Comments
never had much luck with the coffee/tea soaks, and I hate oversprayed guards
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Funnily enough I had been planning on getting wood stains to use but had the wax already so gave it a try first and it worked. I didn't leave it on for any length of time - just a couple of minutes. I'd suggest you have more control and less risk of a patchy result if you don't leave it for long and repeat the process if you want it darker. I was trying to avoid an overtly "relic" look so buffed off almost all the stain.