Removing wood stain from guitar finish?

[Anthony_JB]

I have a guitar, whose model name shall remain nameless (and if you look at my display pic SHAME ON YOU), that I am currently sanding to refinish. The sanding is actually going quite well, the poly is off on the back, now I've got some stubborn cherry wood stain that won't come off unless I sand the bejesus out of it and it actually does come off, it just takes FOREVER.

 

I forgot a few things that would have made this easier, but I guess I know for next time. My hands are KILLING ME!

 

So, when I make a trip to my local hardware store, is there anything that will remove wood staining that I could buy at Lowe's or something?

 

(yes, scold me, call me an idiot, whatever. I stripped a good part of the neck and it looks beautiful, stripped a good part of the right bout on the back right down to the wood without sanding through)

 

NOTE: The poly is OFF! I'm not talking about the poly, I'm talking about the wood stain.

[brianh]

That's a tough one. Wood stain gets down into the grain and is difficult to get out. I expect the only real solution is more sanding, but you run the risk of sanding through to the nexy ply. Whatever you do, don't use paint stripper, it will completely ruin the wood on a thin ply guitar.

 

Do post some pics, this topic has been hotly debated in the past...

[smips65]

 

Quick question, what finish are you heading for in the future, if natural, you might be stuck sanding away, but if your going for another stain, then poly or nitro as a sealer, depends on if the old stain would show through the new stain...

[Anthony_JB]

I post some pictures later on tonight with my sister's camera. I want you guys to see the grain on this thing, it's awesome.

 

Oh and smips, I plan on doing a cherry burst like on the vintage ES330s.

 

Plan on staining with a heavy coat of amber, light sanding to accentuate the grain, and then a light coat of amber again. Seal with a clear coat or two. Spray a cherry coat using over spray to make that nice orange blend.

 

Harder than it sounds. WAY HARDER, I know. I am totally inexperienced when it comes to finishing guitars but I decided I had put my Casino on the backburner long enough and I've been doing a good job thus far.

 

I think Brian's right about the cherry staining though. I think I'm not cutting through it well enough because I'm using a 150 grit sandpaper.

 

Maybe if I drop it to a coarse 80 with a light tough just to break through the stain and then smooth it out with 100, 150, 200.

 

EDIT: HERE'S WHAT I'M PRAYING AND SPRAYING FOR!

[brianh]

Just keep in mind that the top ply is THIN. before you do anything more, read this thread from start to finish:

 

http://forums.epiphone.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=13749

[Anthony_JB]

Just keep in mind that the top ply is THIN. before you do anything more' date=' read this thread from start to finish:

 

http://forums.epiphone.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=13749[/quote']

 

Yup, I remember. That was my thread. I've been careful, but I haven't been too careful. What I mean is, that I've been relaxed and taking my time. The poly on the back is GONE. All that remains is the wood stain, I think I'm using to fine of a grit sandpaper.

 

I need to show you pictures, there's a chance that I can completely strip this thing with out consequence. I just gotta keep myself focused and relaxed.

 

I'll go buy some more sandpaper tomorrow see how that fairs.

[smips65]

 

This might sound stupid, but I'll throw it out there anyway, how about bleach, to "blond" out the stain, might not have to sand through the veneer.

[brianh]

I'm just looking at this and thinking 80 grit will cut right through it:

 

[Anthony_JB]

 

This might sound stupid' date=' but I'll throw it out there anyway, how about bleach, to "blond" out the stain, might not have to sand through the veneer.

 

 

[/quote']

 

I was reading up on that, but I'm not sure what the stain on my casino is made out of. It could have that "chemical stripper and polyurethane" effect where it doesn't budge.

[smips65]

 

Well reading up on the other post that Brian suggested, and others, I'll assume you have a junker to practice on, try it on that and see. A buck for a gallon of bleach, sanding thru the veneer is gonna cost a lot more.

[Anthony_JB]

hmmmm, no go.

 

Didn't work.

 

I'm just gonna have to sand, sand, sand away.

 

Last question, does anyone know how to remove the bridge studs?

[brianh]

hmmmm' date=' no go.

 

Didn't work.

 

I'm just gonna have to sand, sand, sand away.

 

Last question, does anyone know how to remove the bridge studs?[/quote']

Put the posts back in, and gently pry them out using the posts to grab. Use some cloth and a wood block on the guitar to avoid marring the surface. They are not glued so shoud come out without issue. Take your time, and if you encounter any resistance stop before you wreck the wood.

 

If the posts don't have a flange, use some bolts with the same thread type as the studs.

 

Go slow...

[tflanster]

I was reading up on that' date=' but I'm not sure what the stain on my casino is made out of. It could have that "chemical stripper and polyurethane" effect where it doesn't budge.[/quote']

 

Bleach won't work! If you're already down to the bare wood and there's still discoloration from the original stain, you're basically stuck. If you bleach the area it may or may not lighten the wood to match the rest of the top but more likely the rest of the area around the stain will become lighter still than the stain. Heck of it is that regardless of what you do, if you're doing a clear-coat finish, even if it's colored, that area will still show darker than the rest. Sanding the veneer will just ruin it.

 

I tell you this because I learned from hard experience that the way of stained wood is nearly impossible to manage. I was doing wood refinishing - furniture mostly, several years ago as a hobby. I used a lot of different type stains, from mix your own powder with alcohol (hugely invasive) to ready-mixed lacquer and spirits stains. Putting the stain on is fairly easy but stripping it, especially alcohol and lacquer stains is tough. If you have wood that's really hard, closed grain, it isn't so bad, but the open grain stuff on your guitar is just about impossible to clear up. So, if you don't want the dark area to become even darker with the final color, you're out of luck. The only way to hide it is to put a solid color on it. You'll hide the grain and hide the stained spot.

[Anthony_JB]

Isn't Maple a hardwood with a closed grain?

[peeper]

Holy shot don't get anywhere near that thing with 80 grit. I already think you are insane for trying this, but 80 grit will tear right through the top ply. And you can't really get that stain out, it has penetrated the top layer of the ply. Stop now while it sounds like you are ahead. If you go through the top layer the result will be much uglier than you can imagine.

[Anthony_JB]

Holy shot don't get anywhere near that thing with 80 grit. I already think you are insane for trying this' date=' but 80 grit will tear right through the top ply. And you can't really get that stain out, it has penetrated the top layer of the ply. Stop now while it sounds like you are ahead. If you go through the top layer the result will be much uglier than you can imagine.[/quote']

 

You're right. I'm just gonna take my time with it and go slow like I have been. I managed to get the whole right horn on the back side completely stripped down to the wood like that and I guess it's the only way right now.

 

Pictures to come later.

[tflanster]

Isn't Maple a hardwood with a closed grain?

 

It's "semi-hardwood" (there's a wood hardness scale lurking somewhere in my files but I can't find it), but that isn't the point. The guy's working on a very thin laminate, and that sucks up stain like a sponge.

[Anthony_JB]

 

 

So far so good. I made a lot of progress today and no sand through at all. I REALLY wanted to finish sanding the back today but I started at 1:45 and finished at 6:45 working with maybe two 5 minute breaks in between; I just got too tired. Luckily! My class at 8am got cancelled so I can work all morning and afternoon on it.

 

Yeah, it's A LOT of work but looking at the results. It's gonna be worth it.

 

The grain has this weird sort of pattern doesn't it? It's not pretty but it's not ugly..

 

I kinda like it. AND THE SMELL! OOOH the SMELL! Man, there's some good Maple on this Chinese Casino.

 

I'm gonna keep posting my progress every day or so. I'm excited.

[popgun68]

Hey guys, I know this is an old post but I wanted to see if anyone could give me some advice. I picked up a 87 Gibson Les Paul Custom but the bottom has some stain from the previous owners guitar stand. It seems the rug he used wasnt color guarded. Any Ideas how to get this out. I've already tried vinegar and Simple green. But no luck. THANKS IN ADVANCE.

[Lord Summerisle]

Hey guys, I know this is an old post but I wanted to see if anyone could give me some advice. I picked up a 87 Gibson Les Paul Custom but the bottom has some stain from the previous owners guitar stand. It seems the rug he used wasnt color guarded. Any Ideas how to get this out. I've already tried vinegar and Simple green. But no luck. THANKS IN ADVANCE.

 

This is very much a "proceed at your own risk" post along with, "it's not my fault if it all goes wrong."

 

If it were my guitar I'd try a little automotive rubbing compound:

 

 

Gently...and carefully...