Painting Guitar Pedals

[Shep]

Here's another idea I have for a mod for the Cry Baby!

I got it in the post the other day (for a bargain £30 may I add) and it sounds miles better than the Bad Horsie already, I'm busy waiting for the Fasel inductor in the post however, but I thought of perhaps painting it a blingin' colour to pass the time.

The current colour is just the stock black colour. It's very boring to look at and I think giving it a lick of paint would give it some character. My question is, how would you go about painting a Crybaby?
Can I just dive right in and start spray painting it? Or do I have to strip the paint etc. ?

I'm looking to hear from anyone with any knowledge on these things, the last thing I want to do is go and ruin something lol!

Thanks,
Shep.

[Lyle]

I'll swirl it....:grin:

[zombo]

Ok first of all we have to establish what sort paint it is on the surface?
Secondly if the paint is not flaking then why strip it it will act as a good base for your next coat.
I would say it is probably powder coated and quite rough I think they are done in a structure like paint if I remember rightly!

Items you will need for doing a cost effective job!!

Masking tape
Rubber block for rubbing down
P180 wet or dry paper
P800 wet or dry paper (one sheet)
One tin of primer aerosol
One tin of required colured paint

So you will be best to strip it all down taking off what you can.
I would suggest using the P180 lubricating it with water and a rubbing down block if you do it by hand you will cause grooves in the paint from your fingers and this will show up when you paint it! Of course you will have to rub the corners by hand but try to do as much as you can with the block.
After you have done this and removed the structure then dry it off and mask of the rubber pedal bit and anything you don't want to paint. Shake the primer can up really well and before you apply your primer make sure you have made the surface in this case thee pedal housing free of any dirt dust etc; You can do this by using compressed air and a tacky cloth or a cotton cloth thouroughly, this is most important when appying any paint!!! Apply around 3 coats and don't drown the paint on as you will have some nice runs to sand out!
After it is completly dry use the P800 paper just to rub down lightly the surface. Shake the finishing can well and apply your top coat about 3 times and there you have it!

[Six]

It would help to know what type of paint is already on it, but you'll have no way of knowing that. I'd take a gamble and use an acrylic auto-paint... the worse case scenario is that is reacts badly to the existing paint and you then have to strip anyway.
Lighty scuff it first with a scotchbrite pad then spray a primer coat or two, when dry spray three or four colour coats. Allow 20 minutes or so flash-off time between coats.
If using a metallic you'll need to clear coat it too.

If you mess it up... don't blame me...LOL

EDIT

Zombo beat me to answering and his advice is far more reliable than mine :-)

[zombo]

It would help to know what type of paint is already on it, but you'll have no way of knowing that. I'd take a gamble and use an acrylic auto-paint... the worse case scenario is that is reacts badly to the existing paint and you then have to strip anyway.
Lighty scuff it first with a scotchbrite pad then spray a primer coat or two, when dry spray three or four colour coats. Allow 20 minutes or so flash-off time between coats.
If using a metallic you'll need to clear coat it too.

If you mess it up... don't blame me...LOL

EDIT

Zombo beat me to answering and his advice is far more reliable than mine :-)

You did well Phil not much I can say to that with the metallic yes you need a clear coat!

[Guitarpima]

I'd just send it to my friend back in Ohio. He owns a body shop and he could paint it up real nice with a clear coat on top and make have a nice gloss like new cars have.

[ZappaFan]

Hammerite :-)

[Shep]

Wow, 5 replies within an hour, thanks a lot for the advice guys, all I need to think of now is a cool colour!

[Stew]

Pink :smile:

[ZappaFan]

You'll notice that Stew and myself arent exactly experts in this area :-)

[Stew]

You'll notice that Stew and myself arent exactly experts in this area :-)
Indeed Zap I am keeping schtoom on question on paint as have no idea but I do have opinion on colour so stating it.....only thing is I type a red herring to through him of the scent of the best colour to do it :eye:

[zombo]

I'd just send it to my friend back in Ohio. He owns a body shop and he could paint it up real nice with a clear coat on top and make have a nice gloss like new cars have.

Hey that's what I do for a living Rob!!!!!!!!!!!!