The Guitar Refinishing and Restoration Forum

Joeglow · Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:46 am Post subject: Relic Q & A Moved here.

The first few questions are posted here but we should start to keep it on this thread so it will stay at the top. I dragged what I could here but this is the original thread http://reranch.com/reranch/viewtopic.php?t=9070

These are from cbaker:

Q: Can I relic my MIM/MIA/CIJ/MIK Strat/Tele/etc

A: NO. Only a guitar that is finished with lacquer can be correctly reliced. All Fender guitars that you would even consider relicing are too new to be finished with lacquer. Even if they are finished with lacquer, there is a thick layer of poly underneath (52 RI). You can take a belt sander to a poly finished guitar and it will end up looking like a guitar somebody took a belt sander to, not a vintage guitar...

Q: Can I lightly relic my tele hardware so that it looks kind of like brushed aluminium by using muriac (or whatever its called) acid? I wan't a kind of dulled metal look but I don't want the stuff to start getting all rusty on me. Is this do-able, if so what kind of technique should I use?
thanks

A: I have heard you can use muriac acid, but I have used something from Radio Shack called echant solution. It works well on nickel and screws. You need to be careful not to over do it using this solution because it will take the finish completely off. Dip whatever you want to age into it for about 10 - 15 secs and then rinse immediately with water. On chromed stuff, I have lightly scuffed and soaked in a seasalt water solution. Please, if anyone else has any input on this please speak up. Muriac acid might be your best bet, but I have never used it.

Joeglow · Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:50 am Post subject:

Norman · Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 434 Location: The Netherlands

Got a question:

For aging the fretboard how do you make some spots look like all finish is worn of by the strings and what positions would be more played/worn off??

Norman
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Jerry68 · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 1838 Location: Detroit

KivaKid · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 87 Location: Aurora, CO

KivaKid's Relic Tip #1

"How to make a white plastic pickguard green/mint"

DISCLAIMER: Please use extreme caution while using the oven, especially for non-food purposes! Keep a current, charged fire extinguisher close at hand! Guitar ReRanch nor I are responsible if anything goes wrong....fire, property damage or otherwise!

Preheat oven to 200F. Fill a pan (sheet pan or deeper that the pickguard will fit into flat) with enough hot water to submerge the pickguard. Add a decent splash of RIT Kelly Green liquid fabric dye, 1/2 ounce or so. Place pickguard body side down in the pan of water so it is submerged. Place in oven and check periodically by taking out the pickguard and running it under water and washing with a washcloth. You can use soap if needed. You can vary the color a bit by adding RIT yellow liquid, and/or dry RIT brown. If color doesn't take, you may need to scuff the pickguard a bit with steel wool.
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Joeglow · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:56 am Post subject:

Yeah, I'd like to keep the banter off of this thread and keep it a Q&A about relicing. So if there are tips about relicing that are going to shared place them here. I won't lock the thread because then you can't add questions or get answers but I will edit this thread of off topic material, I hope no one really minds. Thanks to those of you that are adding helpful tips, tricks and ideas about relicing.

supersam · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 559 Location: Lansing, MI

I've read things about using some sort of rubbing compound for necks that gives it a smooth well played feel. I'm guessing it's like sanding but less harsh. What do you think?

halfmassive99 · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 123 Location: chicago

Jerry68 · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 1838 Location: Detroit

vegasrock · Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 4224 Location: Seattle, WA

Anybody got any advice on getting an accurate neck color and feel?
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-Rob

KivaKid · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 87 Location: Aurora, CO

Neck feel is a subjective thing, like size. Different people's playing and chemistry age necks differently as well. But for that overall smooth satin feel, just use some steel wool or wet sanding paper, I'm sure others will comment, too. I used my old '71 P-Bass as an example when I relic'd my Strat. I got very close to the look and feel by rubbing in a mixture of cigar ash and water (not much water). Most of the time, worn maple wood on Fender necks gets a greyish color to it. And no, so far it hasn't worn off during playing. Probably have to have the wood fairly bare to take the ash mixture. I have a pic if needed.
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rjhalsey · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 10933 Location: Central Ohio

nimhb · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Posts: 5529 Location: WV at last!

I copied and pasted this in from another thread.

To age my pickguards I used minwax golden oak stain and dirt.

I only put the min wax on in select places, like around the knobs, screw holes, and areas your hands would touch a lot like around the switch and upper left corner of the guard. I also rub dirt into these areas. Once the min wax dries a little I dab off and rub in. Just kind of gives a dirty, grimy look.

Here's a green guard I did with the golden oak stain and dirt.

rjhalsey · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 10933 Location: Central Ohio

Look here: http://www.graphitestore.com/items_list.asp/action/prod/prd_id/34/cat_id/28
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KivaKid · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 87 Location: Aurora, CO

Here's the neck I relic'd...

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