Les Paul Studio refinish help

jdbwales

Hi all, just after a little help as I’ve hit a bit of a wall on refinishing. 

I’ve started sanding down the top of my LP Studio Faded T ready to either stain and oil or to shoot a solid colour (undecided as yet). 

I’m just wondering about some of the streaks in the maple - I’ve managed to get rid of a lot of the finish (will be removing the bridge posts later and sanding more) but am wondering how I can get through to the more ‘golden’ streaks (I assume this is the unfinished maple).

 Sanding isn’t doing much at this point so I’m open to ideas on how to shift it - is it a sanding sealer? 

Also if I do go for a solid colour would it just be a matter of sanding back a bit more, shooting primer and colour?

Thanks! Pictures below for clarification. 

https://imgur.com/gallery/Ej4JFPx

Andyjr1515

Hi
Just a bit more graft, I'm afraid - I'm pretty sure I can see a pinky tinge in most areas.

The sanding gets tougher because now you are through the soft finish and now starting to get to the hard maple...

I never try to do this in one go - I give it a rest, frequently renew the abrasive paper and keep coming back to it.  It seems like nothing is happening, but it is...and you will get there relatively quickly.

jdbwales

Thanks Andy - yeah I think probably a giving it a rest and coming back will help! Tempted to get some
Nitromors and do the back and sides as well now...

poopot

jdbwales said:

Thanks Andy - yeah I think probably a giving it a rest and coming back will help! Tempted to get some
Nitromors and do the back and sides as well now...

It’s a nitro finish... acetone will get it off really easy... nail varnish remover!... The finish will just wipe off.

jdbwales

poopot said:

jdbwales said:

Thanks Andy - yeah I think probably a giving it a rest and coming back will help! Tempted to get some
Nitromors and do the back and sides as well now...

It’s a nitro finish... acetone will get it off really easy... nail varnish remover!... The finish will just wipe off.

I started off using lacquer thinners on a rag but they didn’t seem to do much to be honest!

poopot

jdbwales said:

poopot said:

jdbwales said:

Thanks Andy - yeah I think probably a giving it a rest and coming back will help! Tempted to get some
Nitromors and do the back and sides as well now...

It’s a nitro finish... acetone will get it off really easy... nail varnish remover!... The finish will just wipe off.

I started off using lacquer thinners on a rag but they didn’t seem to do much to be honest!

Acetone will strip it... thinners will take a while longer...

jdbwales

poopot said:

jdbwales said:

poopot said:

jdbwales said:

Thanks Andy - yeah I think probably a giving it a rest and coming back will help! Tempted to get some
Nitromors and do the back and sides as well now...

It’s a nitro finish... acetone will get it off really easy... nail varnish remover!... The finish will just wipe off.

I started off using lacquer thinners on a rag but they didn’t seem to do much to be honest!

Acetone will strip it... thinners will take a while longer...

Sod’s law really! Right, I’ll give that a shot....ta!

SteveRobinson

poopot said:

Acetone will strip it... thinners will take a while longer...

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is a pretty good solvent for lacquer. It's less volatile than acetone so sticks round longer to get into the finish.