Welcome to the "paint your own guitar" page. Here are a number of links to sites and pages which can help you decide which paint to use. If you want an oil finish, nitro finish or urethane here are a number of sites dedicated to the beginner thru professional refinisher. I have also linked to a few people who have purchased bodies from me and applied the finish themselves.

Tru-Oil

Definitely the cheapest at $6.00 a bottle, it has long been used by gunstock refinishers. I started using it 10 years ago. It really brings out the depth of wood more than standard finishes. And unlike most oil finishes it doesn't just soak into the wood but you can actually "build" material above the surface of the wood. If you build enough coats you can colorsand and polish it for a super professional looking finish. It's not indestructible but does the job. And you can easily retouch any scratches with it. Although not necessary, after it is cured you can apply a hard clear finish at a later date.

Info : http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/TruOil.htm

Customer: http://www.smokerstuff.com/Auctions//tele_mah/tele_mahogany.htm

Here's a neat trick. Apply Tru Oil with 220 grit sand paper on open-pore woods like mahogany. As you sand it makes a pulp that fills the pores and it will match the wood ! No need to buy grain filler. Also available at gun shops. The best deal going.

Reranch.

Here is a company that has everything for the first time painter as well as the pro. Custom factory colors in aerosol cans or in bulk. They even have a question and answer forum to ask others questions and show off your finished product.

Reranch: http://www.reranch.com/

Reranch Forum: http://reranch.august.net/phpBB-2.0.4/phpBB2/index.php

Customer: http://www.photofun.com/IM/Templates/index.cfm?Username=retrorod&SubSite=43850
More pics. http://www.photofun.com/IM/Templates/PhotoAlbum.cfm?Username=retrorod&RollID=106910

Stew mac

Stewart Macdonald guitar shop supply has all kinds of parts as well as refinishing products. They also sell a number of excellent videos for refinishing.

Videos: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Video,_software/Finishing,_repair/Spray_Finishing_Videos.html

Paint supplies: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies.html

Well this should enough info to get you started on your new project. For a while anyway.....

Have Fun,

Tony De Lacugo

...More Links:

Metalflake customers: http://www.tdlguitars.com/customers.html

Metalflake paint: http://www.tdlguitars.com/Paint_Prices.html

Home Page: http://www.tdlguitars.com/