Guitar shielding paint or copper foil adhesive tape

Devil#20

I want to shield the cavities of a single coil guitar and was wondering if the conductive paint is as good as copper foil tape. I've done the latter before and it's a bit of a faff and takes a while. I've never used the paint so if I go that route what the recommendation. The guitar specific ones are predictably expensive but their are other conductive paints available that should probably work. 

Sporky

I used spray-on conductive  paint in my Talman, and brush-on in my cello. The latter was easier. Both knocked out 90%+ of the buzz from old fashioned dimmers. The I got proper dimmers and the rest went too. 

mrkb

I’m doing copper foil screening in a PRS Vela cavity at the moment. It’s a pain in arse as there’s lots of complex surfaces. Will paint next time I do one.

is it critical to shield every little surface of the cavity?

Sporky

I wouldn't say critical, but the better the coverage the better the shielding. Noise gets in through gaps. 

ICBM

Foil is better than paint, but it is a faff. Paint can be quite effective - although the quality varies - but I'm certain that foil is better because I've re-done a few which had paint shielding but were still noisy, and the foil stopped it completely.

To do foil really thoroughly you not only have to cut pieces to cover every bit of the surface, you also need to solder the joints - the 'conductive' adhesive isn't good enough, at least in the longer term when it dries out. All you need is one small spot of solder across the join between any two pieces, so it isn't as hard as that sounds.

I think Jonathan @FelineGuitars either has or can recommend a specific type of (I think) very high nickel content paint which is better than the typical - and very dirty to work with - carbon-based stuff.

Devil#20

ICBM said:

Foil is better than paint, but it is a faff. Paint can be quite effective - although the quality varies - but I'm certain that foil is better because I've re-done a few which had paint shielding but were still noisy, and the foil stopped it completely.

To do foil really thoroughly you not only have to cut pieces to cover every bit of the surface, you also need to solder the joints - the 'conductive' adhesive isn't good enough, at least in the longer term when it dries out. All you need is one small spot of solder across the join between any two pieces, so it isn't as hard as that sounds.

I think Jonathan @FelineGuitars either has or can recommend a specific type of (I think) very high nickel content paint which is better than the typical - and very dirty to work with - carbon-based stuff.

I did exactly that on my test bed Telecaster and it worked well. I think on the basis of what you said I'm going to stick with copper tape. The adhesive on the stuff I used didn't seem to be very conductive, it at all, and I ended up soldering across the joins and testing at various points from end to end to check 'alles im ordnung'. 

Roland

I prefer copper tape to paint. Even if you can get proper black carbon paint, the type used to coat items before copper plating, it doesn’t conduct as well as tape. The anti-slug tape sold by garden centres has a sawtooth edge along one side, which is useful when fitting around the sides of a cavity. As others have said, use a blob of solder across each joint. 

Devil#20

Tape it is then. Thanks chaps. 

Fingers657

Paint is my preferred method tape is a pain to use and can cause problems with shorting .
I used the Crimson paint until it ran out and bought a big tin of Rustins shielding paint from Amazon.
https://amzn.eu/d/0U9jhvm

FelineGuitars

I have been using G Shield quite a lot since Rustins approached me to trial it and feed back.

I do have some of the nickel paint spare if someone wants it - you would need to collect as I don't want to ship it.

The copper foil is good but got tired of cutting my fingers on it

LessPaul

Copper tape for me - Yes  it’s a bit of a palaver’  but again it suits me  

SteveF

FelineGuitars said:

I have been using G Shield quite a lot since Rustins approached me to trial it and feed back.

I do have some of the nickel paint spare if someone wants it - you would need to collect as I don't want to ship it.

The copper foil is good but got tired of cutting my fingers on it

How are you finding the G Shield?

BillDL

My observations about Rustins G-Shield:
Shielding Paint - Making & Modding Discussions on theFretBoard

stickyfiddle

I quite enjoy applying the copper tape. Am I odd? 

*I mean I know I am, but am I extra odd? 

SteveF

BillDL said:

My observations about Rustins G-Shield:
Shielding Paint - Making & Modding Discussions on theFretBoard

Ah yes I had read that. I remembered someone had said they didn’t like shielding paint as it was messy and rubbed off but I couldn’t remember which brand it was. 

Bowks

FelineGuitars said:

I have been using G Shield quite a lot since Rustins approached me to trial it and feed back.

I do have some of the nickel paint spare if someone wants it - you would need to collect as I don't want to ship it.

The copper foil is good but got tired of cutting my fingers on it

@FelineGuitars ;Yes please! It is Rich, the chap with the orange Strandy