Paint Question (But Not Exactly Model Related)

Just thought I would give that update I promised. As I mentioned in my original post, the guitar is an older one, meaning it has some blemishes. Some dings, and on the back some rub marks from buttons or belt buckles and the like.

When I looked at how I wanted to go about hitting it with the clear, I decided I wanted to leave the "history" there as much as possible, and just add to it a little. Instead of doing a full masking job, I just sprayed a patch where the signature is, covering it completely. The gloss of the Future is greater than the original gloss, and surprisingly, it made the signature really stand out!. No running, no smearing, it looks good. On the downside, some of the marks and dings are around the area where it was signed, and I managed to get a bit of dust in the clear (It wouldn't fit in my booth, naturally). However, as far as I am concerned, I consider it a success.

If I can track down a working camera, other than the poor one on my old dumb phone, I will try to upload a pic or two.

I would strongly recommend you take your guitar to a guitar shop and ask them.  They probably see guitars all the time with signatures on them and they'd be best to recommend a solution.  I really wouldn't recommend spraying lacquers, floor polish, etc on a guitar without knowing for sure how it'll react.  A guitar's finish is much different then a model.  (or it may be different, I don't know)

Get same sharpie, test sign on the back where it won't be seen, use your prefered lacquer on the back.

Make sure it doesn't react to the sharpie before doing the front sig.

Future is an acrylic coating, not a wax.   

CAUTION WILL ROBINSON!

Sharpie ink is weird, and runs at the slightest sign of rain. 

You can try a test, but I will bet you that the best option here is to leave it be as is.

Just a note of caution...Sharpie brand markers can bleed, sometimes very badly depending on the solvent used in the finish applied. An independant test of finish would be required to set my mind at ease before comitting to the final. BTW, Future is a "wax", not a finish coat as in poly or other oil based coatings, or a lacquer product.

I don't mean to put too fine a point on this, but I have refinshed guitars and don't want to see you disappointed with your signature instrument.

Mike

stikpusher

Future is made for floors and all the use they get. But then again, you coat your floor with the stuff every so often to maintain the shine. Us modelers just happen to use the stuff and its' not so exposed to contact in our case. 

How about some sort of furniture clear coat varnish? That would likely be more robust.

 

I was hoping to use a spray or my airbrush, to lessen the risk of smearing the signature. I would have to do some experimenting to use clear varnish or polyurethane through my airbrush, I would think. I've not heard of it being done, although I am sure it has been.

I will give the Future a try, I hadn't thought about the fact that it is used for floors. It should work fine, I would think.

Thanks for the input!

Future is made for floors and all the use they get. But then again, you coat your floor with the stuff every so often to maintain the shine. Us modelers just happen to use the stuff and its' not so exposed to contact in our case. 

How about some sort of furniture clear coat varnish? That would likely be more robust.

stikpusher

Future airbrushes easily as is. No thinning or additions needed. Otherwise use your favorite preferred clear coat. Just check to see that whatever you do use will not attack the base layer as some lacquers may do.

With a guitar, it isn't easy to find an inconspicuous spot, so it might be smarter to just avoid the lacquer altogether. Once it dries, will the Future be durable? It would pretty much just rub against my clothing and the like.

Future airbrushes easily as is. No thinning or additions needed. Otherwise use your favorite preferred clear coat. Just check to see that whatever you do use will not attack the base layer as some lacquers may do.