• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

pickguard painting tips?

#23
JakeAndAirwaves said:
Alright! Didn't know if touching it would mess it up.
Click to expand...

Well, you don't want to get any finger oils on it, and you really don't want to be putting your bare hands in hot water. Heavy duty kitchen gloves - the ones that are lined - can be used to protect your skin from the heat and the dye if you want to use your hands. You can also fashion a bit of wire coat hanger or something similar into a long J-shape, and hook the pickguard through one of the pickup cutouts to move it around or take it out of the dye. When it's done, you can hang it with the wire until it cools.
 
#26
autodidact said:
I'm going to try and dye it tomorrow. Maybe if I mix black and purple it'll come out darker. :)
Click to expand...

The black was a very, very dark gray. I bet you wouldn't be able to tell the difference from 3 feet away, or under low light.

There is one upside to the dye process - if the color doesn't work out, you can still paint it black without having to strip anything. Good luck.


JakeAndAirwaves said:
If I use red dye, will it turn out pink? And do I need to put it in the oven or on top of the stove or something?
Click to expand...

:hmm:

I dyed a white pickguard red, and it turned out fine. YMMV.

As for the process, re-read the post below...

ghostdog93 said:
If it's a white pickguard, and you want something a little more permanent, you could dye it. RIT fabric dye (powder or liquid) works fine. I've seen it used on lacrosse heads and RC car parts, as well.

The biggest problem when doing this with a pickguard is trying to find a container large enough to hold it. A large disposable aluminum baking tray from the grocery store should be big enough. Clean the pickguard with soap and water, and wipe it down with rubbing alcohol. Boil some water, pour it in the tray, add the dye and stir. Wait a minute or two, then submerge the pickguard. The longer you leave it in, the darker the color.
Click to expand...

If you check out any of the available YouTube vids for using dye on RC parts, you will see that items are often left in the dye bath at a low boil for a few minutes. I do not recommend doing this with the pickguard, as too much heat could easily warp it. IME, you need the dye bath to be just below boiling to ensure that the pickguard remains as flat as possible.

Again, YMMV. If you've never done something like this before, be prepared to chalk up any potential mishap as a learning experience.
 
#27
i have done before on several basses, firstly clean the pg the best you can, use a wet and dry sandpaper! it does'nt seem to scuff up as mach but just enough for the paint to adhere. apply the first coat of paint, once dry hit it with the wet and dry. repeat this process as many times you feel necessary.... :)
 
#29
1.) Use #000 Steel wool and sand it smooth
2.) Clean surface well with alcohol or mineral spirits and let dry
3.) Apply Paint
4.) Use #0000 steel wool and lightly sand
5.) repeat 3 times
6.) lightly go over (hardly any pressure) with #0000 and then take some orange-glo and apply with a sponge, let it dry completely
7.) lightly buff with #0000
8.) Repeat 6-7 3-4 times
9.) You should have a glossy nice black pickguard.
 
#30
georgestrings said:
I wouldn't use anything near as course as 220 grit, as it will leave scratches that the paint won't hide...
Click to expand...
Yes, hugely too coarse.

Wash

#800 to break the glaze and between color coats...

Scrape the edge laminations after final coat (or not)

Wash

Clearcoat

#1000 wet

#2000 wet

#3000 wet (if you can find it)

Wash

Much buff-out with swirl remover

Wax

Install

Or get smart and find the pickguard you want on eBay or someplace. :hmm:
 
#31
Here is my pickguard that was painted with Krylon Fusion Hammered....

022a.jpg
 
#33
ghostdog93 said:
The black was a very, very dark gray. I bet you wouldn't be able to tell the difference from 3 feet away, or under low light.

There is one upside to the dye process - if the color doesn't work out, you can still paint it black without having to strip anything. Good luck.

:hmm:

I dyed a white pickguard red, and it turned out fine. YMMV.

As for the process, re-read the post below...

If you check out any of the available YouTube vids for using dye on RC parts, you will see that items are often left in the dye bath at a low boil for a few minutes. I do not recommend doing this with the pickguard, as too much heat could easily warp it. IME, you need the dye bath to be just below boiling to ensure that the pickguard remains as flat as possible.

Again, YMMV. If you've never done something like this before, be prepared to chalk up any potential mishap as a learning experience.
Click to expand...

Alright. I saw others using the oven. I kept going back to that, reading to see if I missed something. I'll do it tomorrow with red. There will be pics.
 
#34
Seconded on the RIT fabric dye method. I've done this to RC Car parts for years, and recently tinted some white pickguards and pickup covers to creme color by a short dunk in some yellow dye.

I use disposable aluminum "foil-ish" pan.

Just rapid-boil clean water in a kitchen pan, then pour it into the flat aluminum one with the dye in it, submerge the pickguard in it and let it stand til it cools down.

As mentioned, the dye "gets into" the plastic, you CAN'T scratch it off because it's not just on the surface.
 
#35
autodidact said:
Well...point of no return. The pickguard is out back in the soup. I know I know, pics will be coming soon.
Click to expand...

Sweet. Hope it turns out well.


JakeAndAirwaves said:
Alright. I saw others using the oven. I kept going back to that, reading to see if I missed something. I'll do it tomorrow with red. There will be pics.
Click to expand...

Good luck. Just clean the pickguard thoroughly, make the dye bath and let it soak.
 
#36
So...it did not turn out well.

My dumb*** put the water in the pan and it ended up warping the gaurd, resulting in 2 of the screw holes matching up. I did a little drill work and rigged it up so alls well. But just use caution!

I plan on just giving it a good rattle can job with this Krylon I've been hearing so much about. Good thing this is going to be my "bar/dive show bass"

still sounds good though :bassist:
 
#37
autodidact said:
So...it did not turn out well.

My dumb*** put the water in the pan and it ended up warping the gaurd, resulting in 2 of the screw holes matching up. I did a little drill work and rigged it up so alls well. But just use caution!

I plan on just giving it a good rattle can job with this Krylon I've been hearing so much about. Good thing this is going to be my "bar/dive show bass"

still sounds good though :bassist:
Click to expand...

Ouch. Bummer. I guess the water was too hot?

Sorry to hear about the warping, but...did the color come out ok?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back