Handpainting

[EPiK URR]

I am thinking about refinishing a guitar by hand. I'm thinking I'll sand the body down, spraypaint a base color, and then handpaint a custom graphic onto it. Afterwards, I may laquer it with automobile gloss, so the paint won't come off unless you key the damn thing.
I may be doing something totally wrong, so if you have a better, more cost efficient method, enlighten me.:rockya

[kiteman]

That sounds good, I think you need to match your paint.

[6stringdrug]

I have refinished a few guitars now, just did my first sunburst. First I stained the wood, then made a pattern of the axe, deducted 1", poked some toothpicks through the pattern to hold it off the body about 1/2 " and sprayed it black with plain old spraypaint to get the fade into the stain. Finished it all off with a clear satin poly and IMHO, think it looks great! The outer coat is crucial to protect the paint and the wood, and good clearcoat should do the trick.

[gordy_sg_no1]

depends what you are going for and how confident you are in your art skills. i have free handed a couple and realy liked them. and there was a freehanded sg back in the 60s i think that was freehanded which ill link. the only advice i can realy give as finish is so personal is make sure you clear coat it well and give it plenty of curing time.
oh heres a link to that pic http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.edroman.com/guitars/gibson/images/sg67.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.edroman.com/guitars/gibson/gibson%2520guitar%2520models/clapton_fool_guitar.html&usg=__gk3CgcBVG4988xflaXcOnpFj_EY=&h=402&w=358&sz=39&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=QIHMibZv4h7ZeM:&tbnh=158&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsg%2Bfool%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN %26biw%3D1003%26bih%3D567%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=765&vpy=206&dur=3250&hovh=238&hovw=212&tx=139&ty=154&ei=q2uuTOORNNC6jAfMgoRP&oei=ZWuuTNylF8HpOdborckF&esq=4&page=1&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0