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peterd79

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I'm going to start off with this project was something that I've been contemplating doing for quite some time. My journey with EBMM has been a lot of fun... almost 16 years now I've been playing musician guitars. Recently with the addition of a little one my GAS has not settled; and fortunately, there's a company called Sterling by MusicMan that has fed my fret lusting...

Recently, I purchased a Sterling AX30D and at the same time got a lusting once again for a Dargie Delight 1... so looking at what I could sell I came up with nothing I wouldn't regret letting go.
And then I had a brilliant idea to refinish one of my Sterlings... the sacrificial lamb for this project was my LK100D... in Luke Blue... Love that guitar... but why not give it up for a makeover...

So low and behold I prepped and finished this one all by myself and it turned out great. Is it identical to the Dargie color... probably not but pretty close to cure my desires....
Code:
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  data-link="https://photos.app.goo.gl/zQVD5anEfjmqFW4f7"
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GWDavis28

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Jun 23, 2003
Messages
12,470
Location
Mass
Peter, I saw this on FailBook, yesterday, I take it the green is pretty close to Dargie green? On the LIII, that color looks outstanding!!!!

2vyxbfMQWfPwDqGxs1KLKvx9ERu0KUAlRnkg-w33IND6JctFod2IqBARqqvMrynwIvlP70_6eUwgsQb9a_UNnHWDhp0Cfy-UV37AyPj3QYdMZrZtg3ympwjdp-o063EDeysAtRYS=w656-h874-no


Glenn |B)
 

nervous

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Nov 9, 2014
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Central NY
Can you say what brand and specific color that is? Looks like a very nice job. Details on your equipment and process? I have an older Axis project that most likely get a repaint, or sparkle treatment but this color races to a high spot on my short list...
 

peterd79

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NOR*CAL
Can you say what brand and specific color that is? Looks like a very nice job. Details on your equipment and process? I have an older Axis project that most likely get a repaint, or sparkle treatment but this color races to a high spot on my short list...

So I started looking and stumbled upon a color called Lime Ice by Testors (yes the model company) the downside is it only comes in 3oz cans so I cleaned out Hobby Lobby. (Took 4 cans)

Since it’s laquer the first thing I did was took down some of the original clear. Just wanted to get enough removed to give a good surface to stick to. And I wanted to use the Luke Blue as it’s “primer” coat. I did. Test with white primer and it came out too bright. The grey really helped keep it the Dargie Range.
Once I was done sanding I used a tack cloth to wipe it down to get any debris off.
Then I said a quick prayer and off I went.
I was doing very light coats - this lacquer dries in 20 minutes so every 30 minutes I was giving a light coat.
After the first can (3 coats) I let it set and did some light wet sanding with 2500 then I proceeded with another three coats... wet sand at 3000 and then 3 final coats.

Because this is a all in one color I didn’t have to use any clear coat. Although I am considering it once it warms up a bit.
After it had set for a day I used some rubbing compound and then buffed it to a good shine.
The. I used guitar nomad wax and polish and she’s set.

The only thing I regret is not taking more progress photos.
 

nervous

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Nov 9, 2014
Messages
230
Location
Central NY
So I started looking and stumbled upon a color called Lime Ice by Testors (yes the model company) the downside is it only comes in 3oz cans so I cleaned out Hobby Lobby. (Took 4 cans)

Since it’s laquer the first thing I did was took down some of the original clear. Just wanted to get enough removed to give a good surface to stick to. And I wanted to use the Luke Blue as it’s “primer” coat. I did. Test with white primer and it came out too bright. The grey really helped keep it the Dargie Range.
Once I was done sanding I used a tack cloth to wipe it down to get any debris off.
Then I said a quick prayer and off I went.
I was doing very light coats - this lacquer dries in 20 minutes so every 30 minutes I was giving a light coat.
After the first can (3 coats) I let it set and did some light wet sanding with 2500 then I proceeded with another three coats... wet sand at 3000 and then 3 final coats.

Because this is a all in one color I didn’t have to use any clear coat. Although I am considering it once it warms up a bit.
After it had set for a day I used some rubbing compound and then buffed it to a good shine.
The. I used guitar nomad wax and polish and she’s set.

The only thing I regret is not taking more progress photos.

Well, that's a 'rattle-can' route I hadn't expected. Very interesting option. As we eventually warm here in the Northeast this could be a great garage project. Seems pretty low risk all in all. Thank you.
 

peterd79

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Well, that's a 'rattle-can' route I hadn't expected. Very interesting option. As we eventually warm here in the Northeast this could be a great garage project. Seems pretty low risk all in all. Thank you.

Ive done a few guitar re-ranch jobs.
The key is to warm up the can first with a bucket of warm water. That helps the flow come out evenly
 

Razzle

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Jan 18, 2012
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Alabama
That Luke looks great in Dargie.

I'm with ya, can't get a ball in the color you want, paint it yourself!!!
 

peterd79

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That Luke looks great in Dargie.

I'm with ya, can't get a ball in the color you want, paint it yourself!!!

yeah... even though it's a sterling i was a bit nervous. If it were a strat or a tele... no big deal bodies are a dime a dozen to come by. But i'm really pleased with the way it came out... considering doing a few more... not in the Dargie...
 

spychocyco

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Feb 16, 2008
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800
Nice work. That's awesome for a rattle-can job. I would have guessed it was done with pro equipment.

I won't be sharing any photos of the last guitar that I painted with rattle cans. :D
 

PeteDuBaldo

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Jul 16, 2004
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Central Connecticut (Manchester) USA
Great job! You are much more patient than I am, whenever I rattle-can stuff I can't bring myself to spray multiple thin coats over hours/days so it usually winds up with a few runs. That right there is precisely why I don't do finish work aside from buffing!
 

peterd79

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Thanks guys!
I’m really stoked over this one. I too am usually the guy to empty a can in one pass. But I hard to remind my self to go slow and the color would come. And it turned out great! Very pleased
 

nervous

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Central NY
Thanks guys!
I’m really stoked over this one. I too am usually the guy to empty a can in one pass. But I hard to remind my self to go slow and the color would come. And it turned out great! Very pleased

So just how light are light coats? A quick overall mist, dry and repeat? Or to a full coverage wet look? The latter gets you closer to trouble obviously and a finer line to walk. Curious what your gauge of 'enough' was.
 

peterd79

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So just how light are light coats? A quick overall mist, dry and repeat? Or to a full coverage wet look? The latter gets you closer to trouble obviously and a finer line to walk. Curious what your gauge of 'enough' was.

it was all by gut... as in I should probably call it good...
my focus was to get good even coverage and just take my time... with this particular color its hard to tell because there's a silver undertone that had me thinking I was seeing bits of the Luke blue even towards the end... so just knowing myself I stopped and just let it dry so I could really take a good look at the project over all...
 

nervous

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Central NY
I stumbled on a similar green today on a Jeep Wrangler in my neighborhood that is also of interest to me and being an automotive color could have promise. Very Dargie-esque, and lovely in the sun. I believe its called Rescue Green or Rescue green metallic, PJR is the code. Have to dig a bit more.

Mopar Touch Up Spray Paint 5 oz Can | Quadratec
 
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peterd79

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2005
Messages
2,878
Location
NOR*CAL
I stumbled on a similar green today on a Jeep Wrangler in my neighborhood that is also of interest to me and being an automotive color could have promise. Very Dargie-esque, and lovely in the sun. I believe its called Rescue Green or Rescue green metallic, PJR is the code. Have to dig a bit more.

Mopar Touch Up Spray Paint 5 oz Can | Quadratec

I'm digging that color... I'm really digging the lime ice... just love the unique ness to it... it's not quite Dargie but close enough to be unique in its own right...
 
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