Removing Old Paint

[Matt Haugen]

I just received a parlor guitar that has been painted brown. There is a bit of the original finish showing and it seems to be very delicate. I am interested in removing the brown paint, but would like to try and not do too much (or any) damage to the original finish below. The binding on the guitar has long rotted away for the most part, so I am not concerned with saving what little is left. The guitar is an old Regal parlor, with quite a few top and back cracks, nothing valuable, but I sure would like to save the finish if possible. If you've got any experience with this, advice would be appreciated.

Thank you_

 

ps. I want to apologize to those of you who replied to my last discussion/question, for some reason all of the Frets responses were going directly to my spam folder and they had been getting deleted.....

[Chris Rochow]

Paint stripper might be risky. Perhaps you would have to wet sand GENTLY the brown paint off.... I'd start with 1200 -1500 grit, I use Murphy's oil soap in the water for added lubricant. You can afterwards spray a clear coat on, then wet sand, and buff.

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

I would try naphta : if naphta removes the brown paint, Th older varnish (if alcohol based) would be safe. Try somewhere not too visible.

[Matt Haugen]

Thanks for the tips. I will give em both a try.

[Frank Ford]

I think you'd be way ahead on this deal if  you are willing to forgo the idea of keeping that old finish.   With the crack repair and binding replacement needed, there will be no end of finish touchup - that is, if by chance, there's enough undamaged finish worth keeping.  Either way, it seems like a poor proposition.

[Matt Haugen]

Thanks Frank. I think I am going to give it a go just so that I can say I tried, but your point is well taken. Hope all is well.