which material to paint pickguard?

[Musicfreak1988]

So I was thinking of painting my PG. I'd like a handprint on it. But I don't know which ink / paint I should use. I don't want my hand (or somebody else's) to be messed up, nor to be black for a month. The handprint on the PG has to be indelible, though. Has anyone experience or advice to give...? Thanks.

 

[bassmonkeee]

So I was thinking of painting my PG. I'd like a handprint on it. But I don't know which ink / paint I should use. I don't want my hand (or somebody else's) to be messed up, nor to be black for a month. The handprint on the PG has to be indelible, though. Has anyone experience or advice to give...? Thanks.

I have no suggestions. But, good luck!

I'm just horribly upset that Jack's not here for this thread.

 

[hankSRay]

well do u want the hand to look like a solid image or kinda like a fingerpainting? for the solid image just trace your hand on the pg in pencil. make sure ur happy with it then using a sharpe marker (id use black if its a white pg or those new silver ones if its anything else) trace the handprint. once thats done its time to tape up the entire pg with masking tape or painters tape. use 2 layers of tape or as many as u can so u can still see the outline of the hand u drew with the sharpie through the tape. then use a razor blade and carefully cut out the handprint, dont go too deep or ull slice up the pg (which is y u do more than one layer of tape, adds some protection) anyways once thats all done lightly sand the handprint area, just scuff it up so the paint will stick, after that spray the pg with whatever color u like. let it dry real good and then take the tape off, u can then either outline the handprint with a thin brush and some acrylic paint (like when u build a model car or sumthin) then just get a can of krylon clear coat. do as many coats as u want and let it dry, and ur done.

now if u want to do the fingerpainting look, id just get some acrylic paint of the color u want, paint your hand (or whoevers hand) lightly (if u use too much ull get globs and those could chip off easily, ruining the darn thing) and then press it down on the pg. some turpentine will take the paint off ur hand and then all u have to do is clear coat it, and u should be alright.

 

[oddjob]

now if u want to do the fingerpainting look, id just get some acrylic paint of the color u want, paint your hand (or whoevers hand) lightly (if u use too much ull get globs and those could chip off easily, ruining the darn thing) and then press it down on the pg. some turpentine will take the paint off ur hand and then all u have to do is clear coat it, and u should be alright.

Don't use acrylic paints... aside from being a teacher I have worked at Sherwin Williams for over 15 years. Use an oil based product (you'll have to use a solvent to clean your hands though). The acrylic will not last as long and when it comes up it will come up in sheets. If the oil starts to come up it will only be in small chips. Whatever you decide to use make sure you rough up the surface of the pg (where you plan on painting), this will give the paint a much better chance of adhearing. Good luck.

 

[Fuzzy Dustmite]

If you're painting a clear pickguard, maybe paint the underside, then it will protected, because it will be "under" the pickguard once you put it back on. Just remember to do the handprint in reverse of how you want it to appear.

 

[hankSRay]

I think acrylics would work fine, u use them for plastic models and stuff so why not a plastic pg? besides once u clear coat over it a few times its not gonna peel. if u dont put clear coat over it then yeah i can see it coming up

 

[Musicfreak1988]

It's a white PG. I think I'm going to do this with poster paint, but I'll sure clear coat it. Thanks for the advice! Sam. When I have some time left, I might post some pics of the result.

 

[TheAntMan]

I'm no rocket scientist, but, couldn't you just put on a latex glove (surgical type) and then put your hand print on the PG? This way your hand would not be stained.

You can buy these at your local pharmacy or even grocery store (cleaning supplies). Good luck.

 

[Musicfreak1988]

That's a possibility, but then you don't see the rings of the fingertops and the hand lines and all that other stuff. A friend of mine now has my PG and she'll try to do the trick with some kind of latex paint.

 

[goldilox]

What paint to use

I just painted my pickguard with water based latex enamel paint, 5 coats, then lacquared it 5 coats. it's great.

 

[bovinehost]

Could you show us the results?

I'd love to see how it came out.

 

[jubjub721]

if you use acrilic paints you would first have to prime it. acrilycs are based on a plastic and will not stick to other plastics. most of the models painted with acrylics are primed first. oil paints would work, but you would ahve to wait forever for it t dry

 

[midopa]

You could put pictures under a clear pickguard and avoid the hassle of painting one. Bovinehost did it and turned his StingRay into a LobsterRay. In fact, that's what I'm thinking about doing for my Bongo!

 

[BehringerBlues]

i need help too!

I was planning on painting my pickguard with the mirage brand of paint sold at wal-mart. it is a phosphorescent color-changing paint (much like the mystik auto paint). i also planned on drawing and painting the atlanta falcons logo on the center of the PG.

the thing is, i have NO experience in customizing guitars. could any of you give me a set of basic instructions or guidelines to follow? such as sanding, the different coats, and any other instruction that i need to be aware of. the guitar i'm customizing is the one in my profile pic.

any help would be appreciated!