Refinish Help - Tru Oil

[N4860]

Hey everyone, I have a jazz bass parts bass that I had put together a couple of years ago that I'd like to refinish and I have a couple of questions.

I had originally done a dark purple dye and then done a bunch of coats of tru oil to finish it. My first question is, what sort of prep should I do to get it ready for a new finish?

For the new colour, I have not yet decided but I'm thinking something with some sparkle to it, like either a metallic or metal flake finish. I'd like something that is easily applied like a spray can. Any tips or things I should think about when picking a metallic sort of spray? Looking to get something that is pretty accessible as well, maybe something sold in a local store like a Home Depot. Also looking for some suggestions for a type of finish to add for protection.

Thanks!

 

[JimmyM]

1. Strip the old finish using paint remover, a brush, and paint scraper. Clean off with lots of lacquer thinner and 0000 steel wool, then sand it with 220 and/or 320. It's a messy job and it can burn you to get paint remover on your skin, so use rubber gloves and eye protection.

2. Not as knowledgeable about that, sorry. But pop i"metal flake spray paint" into Google and you'll get some hits. And whatever you clearcoat it with depends on your tastes and how toxic you want the application to be, with water based finishes being the least toxic and nitro being the most.

 

[MPU]

Tru oil finish is so thin that there's no need for stripper. Just sand it with 180 followed with 240 or scrape before sanding.

 

[reverendrally]

Tru oil finish is so thin that there's no need for stripper. Just sand it with 180 followed with 240 or scrape before sanding.

This. I've put wipe-on poly over the top of a tru-oiled bass with great results. Just make sure you get any wax/sweat off the surface before adding new paint/primer.

 

[JimmyM]

Tru oil finish is so thin that there's no need for stripper. Just sand it with 180 followed with 240 or scrape before sanding.

Dang, wish I'd have known that for when my P bass body fell on the garage floor as I was coating it last year!

 

[Matt Liebenau]

As @reverendrally said, I’ve sprayed Varathane Ultimate over TruOil with no issues. It’s probably at least worth a test.

If you’re using spray cans for your finish check out the rattle can refinish club in the basses forum. Those guys do some great stuff with spray cans.
Rattle Can Refinish Club

 

[Arie X]

tru-oil sanded back makes a decent sealer and primer coat for what ever you put on top of it. i like a base coat with a little bit of tooth so i would sand to P220/320 or CAMI 240.

 

[N4860]

Thank you so much everyone for the replies so far. Definitely glad that I had just used tru-oil previously as it sounds like that will make my project much easier in terms of prep.

I've been looking through the rattle can refinish club thread and there's some great stuff in there and lots of inspiration.

 

[JParsons]

Check out this vid for an easy to follow method! It also uses spray cans which are pretty easy to come by

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

I’ve done metal flake from a rattle can. It comes out really nice. But you have to decide on a solid color base coat. For example, you can spray red metal flake over a solid yellow base, or green over a black base. But, it is the base coat that fills in the gaps around the metal flake. Clear coat is another story. It takes many coats of clear before the metal flakes are covered in clear. It’s important to allow sufficient drying of each coat. Then sand and polish the final clear.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

Here’s what a difference base coats make when spraying metal flake or pearl.