Removing finish from sides tools / tips

Skodadad

I'm removing the finish from another guitar that had serious cracks in the poly finish. I have taken all the poly off with a heat gun but as with the last guitar I did, the sides take an age hand sanding. Does anyone use tools for this? Any tips for speeding things up. I used a belt sander front and rear which took no time.

Adam_MD

Get a palm sander I bought a black and decker for around £20 and have easily stripped 2 guitar bodies with it now. Think it was called a black and decker mouse.

Edit - this one though you can find it under £20 if you look around. It also comes with an attachment which helps get into small nooks and crannies

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DECKER-KA161BC-Detail-Sander-Accessories/dp/B001G7PR3Q

Deadman

I strip them with a heat gun, just the same as the top and back. Hand rubbing takes minutes after that.

stimpsonslostson

Heat gun is the way to go to get the poly off- keep the gun moving and don't focus on one area for too long as you'll likely scorch the wood. 

After that you can sand it to get any residue off & get to the bare wood.

I use my dremmel for small areas like the cut away. 

There are a few examples in the Make and Mod section.

Here's a link to my own attempt:

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/34236/stimpsons-te52#latest

Skodadad

I have a little bosch detail sander but it won't get into the cutaways. For some reason the sanding sealer and stain on this body seems very deep. Even 80 grit takes a while to see bare wood.

octatonic

Heat gun for me.

Then some abrasive.

Sarge

As mentioned above, the B&D mouse is great, using the little nubby exyension on the front will get into those cutaways, or wrap sandpaper round some fat dowel/brushpole and follow the curve.

Always follow the grain when sanding, especially if you're going as low as 80 grit.

I use the heat gun method/smooth edge paint scraper now, keeping it a good distance from the finish, the idea is to warm the poly, not melt it, if its bubbling you're too close/not moving it around enough.
Carefully around the bindng though!

Sarge

Here's one I made earlier

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/44392/westbury-standard-gettin-nekkid/p1

Roland

For the inside curves I've used a bobbin sander attached to a drill. You can make your own bobbin from mdf circles on a long bolt, and attach sand paper with double sided tape. Instructions are on the net. If you've got a drill stand then you can use two hands to manouver the guitar. Otherwise clamp he guitar to the bench.

Skodadad

Just Google, am new to woodworking so don't know names but a bobbin sander looks perfect Cheers @roland