Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am stripping an amp down to the bare wood next week for a refinishing project. It is an Epihonie Galaxie 25, a small combo amp. Never done this before. I have found some info on the net about removing tolex and breaking down glue before sanding, etc.

Does anyone have any advice on the best tools to use or tips on how to get 'er done?

Thanks,
Russ

Use a heat gun to soften the tolex as you pull it that way it won't pull any chunks of wood with it. Depending on the type of glue used: it's usually contact cement which can be broken down with paint thinner or lacquer thinner. There are so new high tech glue removers on the market nowdays, check with Lowes or Home Depot.

I agree about the heat gun. If the surface of the wood with the glue remaining on it is smooth enough, you can refresh the contact cement and glue new Tolex right on.

By refresh I mean to spray a thin coat of contact cement from a spray gun onto the existing glue on the wood, then another thin coat onto the Tolex. Let it dry to the touch. Then orient the Tolex and apply, rolling it out with a printer's brayer; I use a rubber one about 5 or 6 inches wide.

Heavy coats of contact cement are verboten--the solvent will soften the vinyl and cause the Tolex to pucker and bubble.

If you simply must strip all the glue off, go ahead...Stripping old glue from the cabinet is a bear; a heat gun works well here and so do chemical strippers. After removing the glue a good scrubdown with steel wool and denatured alcohol and at least an overnight dry will leave things nice and clean for sanding with #100 paper.

Don't use any water-based products to strip or clean bare wood.

Hi Paul and Dale,
Actually I will be stripping it down in order to have it painted. I am having an artist do this amp and a Gretsch Double Anniversary with a Betty Page motif for me.
Any specific chemical stripping agent that you fellas recommend...and what kind of cloth to remove the glue with?

Russ

No cloth...it will have to be scraped with a 1" putty knife, then washed down and sanded as I mentioned.

Have your artist or someone familiar with primers, spray a couple of coats of polyester primer onto it, sanding between coats. This will give a good, smooth ground onto which the graphics can be painted, whether by brush, airbrush, spray gun, or any combination. Also works regardless of what type of paint your artist decides to use, whether acrylic or enamel or lacquer or...?

Thanks Paul. I will follow the instructions and post here when I am done.
Also, I have an urgent problem that I just posted regarding a vintage 4080 Double neck. I don't know what your experience is with them but my mind has gone into vapor lock over it. I just posted it here a few monents ago.
Russ
P.S Also sent you an e-mail a couple of days ago that I would love to hear back from you on. Sorry if I am monopolizing you for a moment or two here!!