groovadelic Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 Thought some people on this forum might have some interest in a little project I have going on. So my Hummingbird TV had about 5% of the "hand painted" bird/floral faded. So I decided to experiment with touching it up. My wife went out to Hobby Lobby and got me 2 Sharpie oil based paint pens (white and yellow). Here was the before - you can see part of the bird is faded, the flowers were almost completely gone, it was just enough to bother me. And here is after I touched it up a bit... the color is almost exact. You can make out where I blotted some paint down especially around the flowers. The important part is to get a nice flow into the grooves because I will be removing the excess on the surface of the guard. I let this set and dry a few hours then begin sanding it down with fine sandpaper (1000 to 2500) I picked up from Autozone. After that I will hand buff with some buffing compound. Final step is to actually fade the color a little with brown shoe polish to age it a bit to more of a cream white color. This will also blend the original and the new so it looks uniform. More to come... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovadelic Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share Posted November 7, 2013 Here it is sanded from 1500 to 2000 to 2500 first dry then wet. The color matches really close on those paint pens. I am pleasantly surprised. Buffed with polishing compound... Some spots look like they're faded, but there's actually no "grooves" there so the paint wouldn't hold. Otherwise, I'm pleased with the outcome. A bit of brown shoe polish to add a little patina to the white. It's subtle but I think it adds a lot of character to it. There it is... I hope someone finds this helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 I like it ! Thanks for detailing the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 After seeing the first picture I thought Uaaakk ! , , , and was about to recommend you some cotton-sticks and a sharp scraper. Second post made me forget. It looks splendid - have done a bit of that myself (you should see my butterfly). Is the shoe-polish warming up the titanium white and for how long was it on ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 You did a real nice job on that. Thanks for all the details. I'm all for keeping those fancy pick guards looking fancy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Nilppeznaf Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Good job groove..and good walk through Hogeye mentioned this is basicaly how they paint the guards at the factory... people wanting to keep the designs intact, this looks like the way to go. Will be interesting to see if the new paint last longer than the old... ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Thanks for the tip and great work. Might consider it as mine has deteriorated pretty much like yours, just in one area, that covers about 5% of the guard. However, I quite like the very light deterioration of the guard artwork, sort of gives it an even more 'true vintage' look, so Ill probably leave it unless it really starts to decline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Good job groove..and good walk through Hogeye mentioned this is basicaly how they paint the guards at the factory... people wanting to keep the designs intact, this looks like the way to go. Will be interesting to see if the new paint last longer than the old... ! Its gonna last longer than yours did that's for certain :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayban Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Nice job, looks like that takes a steady hand and some talent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovadelic Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share Posted November 7, 2013 Nice job, looks like that takes a steady hand and some talent. Or you can do what Gibson does and just liberally glob it on! I saw this recently and I guess this is what they mean by "hand painting". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Or you can do what Gibson does and just liberally glob it on! I saw this recently and I guess this is what they mean by "hand painting". I wondered about the huge price for a hummingbird pick guard . now I understand why they're so expensive . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 I wondered about the huge price for a hummingbird pick guard . now I understand why they're so expensive . Yep, there's 300 bucks of yer cash at work... LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sitedrifter Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Like another poster I thought, this looks terrible but then you sanded and buffed the guard and wow. great job!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 good job =) ... this should be a sticky thread for when someone's bird fades =) JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby b Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Nice job on the Hummingbird Pickguard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biklebowski Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 I'm looking to do exactly this, however, the pics in this post are no longer available. Any one have them saved who wants to share, please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovadelic Posted September 14, 2017 Author Share Posted September 14, 2017 I'm looking to do exactly this, however, the pics in this post are no longer available. Any one have them saved who wants to share, please? Rehosted the images. Looks like Photobucket is now charging to host pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlejohnny Posted September 14, 2017 Share Posted September 14, 2017 I did this exactly as described in the OP and it worked like a charm. Best thing: I'm totally cool now with the pickguard wearing off, since I know its such an easy fix I can do by myself. I got no before, just an in between and after picture: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 LJ, excellent job. Can I ask - did you get the same "oil-based Sharpies from Hobby Lobby" Groovedeli referred to ? If so, what colors ? My TV's p/g is worn in exactly the same place as yours and Gd's was. Same place I've even seen them worn when 'new but shopworn'. I wonder if the mold is not etching the lines deep enough there? Have a good weekend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlejohnny Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 LJ, excellent job. Can I ask - did you get the same "oil-based Sharpies from Hobby Lobby" Groovedeli referred to ? If so, what colors ? My TV's p/g is worn in exactly the same place as yours and Gd's was. Same place I've even seen them worn when 'new but shopworn'. I wonder if the mold is not etching the lines deep enough there? Have a good weekend! yes, I used the same pens, actually, getting those was the hardest part, cause they are not for sale here in germany. Got those on ebay from a seller in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Fine work, Mr Groove & Little Johnny- Suppose the light sanding can only be done a few times before the risk of removing the impressions in the original HB pickguard mold would not allow for the grooves to hold paint any longer (?) I see Johnny's been around the forum for a good while (and good of 'Groove to circle back after almost 3 yrs), maybe he might recall or . . . does anyone ever recall hearing anything about the original molds for the Hummingbird pickguards, pre-Bozeman? So these 'guards are molded/stamped for the artwork to be painted? A pic here of a pickguard bird on it's way to obscurity (macro lens, side lighting): If trying to attempt to restore a faded guard, to etch or engrave the guard to accept paint and look like the original would be a tricky task. Here, the human side of putting the finishing touches to a pickguard at Bozeman: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Nice job on the Hummingbird Pickguard. I see what you did there. Very creative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Little Johnny - thank you - who would have guessed "yellow" and "white" !? I was afraid there were 5 shades of each! Thnx. Now - 62burst raises a valid point - will even micro-sanding make the 'grooves' for the paint too shallow for the next time? I was thinking of doing this - primarily for when it's time to pass my TV on to one of my grandchildren, so it would look great. But now .... ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlejohnny Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Little Johnny - thank you - who would have guessed "yellow" and "white" !? I was afraid there were 5 shades of each! Thnx. Now - 62burst raises a valid point - will even micro-sanding make the 'grooves' for the paint too shallow for the next time? I was thinking of doing this - primarily for when it's time to pass my TV on to one of my grandchildren, so it would look great. But now .... ? I don't see a problem here, I sanded my pickguard three times in the process. Looked like new after polishing, Even if I do that kind of restoration once I year ( which I doubt I'll do) I think my pickguard and its grooves will outlast me. As stated in the earlier post, I was kind of relieved, that I could do this restoration over and over again, the thought one could sand of so much of the guard that the grooves disappear, never occurred to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Fine work, Mr Groove & Little Johnny- Suppose the light sanding can only be done a few times before the risk of removing the impressions in the original HB pickguard mold would not allow for the grooves to hold paint any longer (?) I see Johnny's been around the forum for a good while (and good of 'Groove to circle back after almost 3 yrs), maybe he might recall or . . . does anyone ever recall hearing anything about the original molds for the Hummingbird pickguards, pre-Bozeman? So these 'guards are molded/stamped for the artwork to be painted? A pic here of a pickguard bird on it's way to obscurity (macro lens, side lighting): If trying to attempt to restore a faded guard, to etch or engrave the guard to accept paint and look like the original would be a tricky task. Here, the human side of putting the finishing touches to a pickguard at Bozeman: its very difficult to replicate..... I have a SJ200 Hand carved pickguard from Ren back in the 1994 days.. Ren hand carved , John Walker coloured and intalled Multi colored dots.. it was a duplicate guard I ordered along with the Custom Shop 1938 Brazilian Sj200 which I had one made for back in the day.. Good job on the Bird touch ups.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.