Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
If you're new to guitar finishing, you've come to the right place. This is StewMac's step-by-step guitar finishing course. In this 3-part series we show you exactly what you need to do to get a professional-quality guitar finish at home using aerosol lacquers. **The results are pretty amazing**
This series has been months in the making and covers it all:
- How to finish a guitar body
- How to finish a guitar neck
- How to repaint a guitar / refinish a guitar
All using nitro aerosol finishes.
It's perfect for anyone - no experience necessary! You really CAN get a pro-quality result (even on your first try) if you follow these steps.
EPISODE 1 covers: prep sanding, pore filling and sealer coats.
(If you missed it, you can watch it here: youtu.be/ntsiNsaaNHM)
In EPISODE 2 we're covering spraying color coats and clear coats.
00:00 Intro
01:18 Choosing Your Color
02:52 Masking the Headstock
03:50 Tips for Spraying Lacquer
05:27 Spraying Color Coats
07:41 Discuss Common Finishing Problems
10:38 Removing Tape and Inspecting the Neck
12:33 Apply the Headstock Decal
17:48 How Clear Coats Work
21:46 Spraying Clear Coats 1-9
25:05 First Wet / Level Sanding
39:48 Fixing Sanding Through the Color Coat
42:17 Demoing a Drop Fill
46:18 Spraying Clear Coats 10-12
46:56 Second Wet / Level Sand
49:45 Final Clear Coats 13-14
50:37 Discuss Cure Time
We'd like to give a huge shoutout to Chris and Matt @Driftwood Guitars (youtube.com/channel/UCxCp0SN53j6SIx9z8uWbg-w) for helping us with this series. Thanks so much guys, it was a blast shooting this series with you!
** ITEMS IN THIS VIDEO INCLUDE: **
ColorTone Aerosol Guitar Lacquer
stewmac.com/item/5886
ColorTone Clear Gloss Lacquer
stewmac.com/item/3881
Wilkinson Guitar Kit
stewmac.com/item/6282
Sanding Block for Self-Adhesive Sandpaper
stewmac.com/item/3699
Micro-mesh Foam Sanding Block
stewmac.com/item/3701
3M Stikit Gold Abrasives Roll
stewmac.com/item/5768
Respirator Mask
stewmac.com/item/5879
OptiVISOR
stewmac.com/item/1685
Naphtha
stewmac.com/item/0766
Blue Painter's Tape
stewmac.com/item/2332
Mixing Cups, Set of 10
stewmac.com/item/4199
Guitar Finishing Step-by-Step Book
stewmac.com/item/5095
Aerosol Spray Nozzles
stewmac.com/item/5058
Drop-fill Toothpicks
stewmac.com/item/3108
Micro Finishing Papers
stewmac.com/item/5977
- - - - - - - - - - - -
StewMac has everything you need to repair, build or maintain your guitars.
Everything we sell is backed by our Lifetime Promise, and we offer fast worldwide shipping.
Shop StewMac: stewmac.com
Instagram: @StewMac_Guitar
Facebook: facebook.com/StewMac
If you're new to guitar finishing, you've come to the right place. This is StewMac's step-by-step guitar finishing course. In this 3-part series we show you exactly what you need to do to get a professional-quality guitar finish at home using aerosol lacquers. **The results are pretty amazing**
This series has been months in the making and covers it all:
- How to finish a guitar body
- How to finish a guitar neck
- How to repaint a guitar / refinish a guitar
All using nitro aerosol finishes.
It's perfect for anyone - no experience necessary! You really CAN get a pro-quality result (even on your first try) if you follow these steps.
EPISODE 1 covers: prep sanding, pore filling and sealer coats.
(If you missed it, you can watch it here: youtu.be/ntsiNsaaNHM)
In EPISODE 2 we're covering spraying color coats and clear coats.
00:00 Intro
01:18 Choosing Your Color
02:52 Masking the Headstock
03:50 Tips for Spraying Lacquer
05:27 Spraying Color Coats
07:41 Discuss Common Finishing Problems
10:38 Removing Tape and Inspecting the Neck
12:33 Apply the Headstock Decal
17:48 How Clear Coats Work
21:46 Spraying Clear Coats 1-9
25:05 First Wet / Level Sanding
39:48 Fixing Sanding Through the Color Coat
42:17 Demoing a Drop Fill
46:18 Spraying Clear Coats 10-12
46:56 Second Wet / Level Sand
49:45 Final Clear Coats 13-14
50:37 Discuss Cure Time
We'd like to give a huge shoutout to Chris and Matt @Driftwood Guitars (youtube.com/channel/UCxCp0SN53j6SIx9z8uWbg-w) for helping us with this series. Thanks so much guys, it was a blast shooting this series with you!
** ITEMS IN THIS VIDEO INCLUDE: **
ColorTone Aerosol Guitar Lacquer
stewmac.com/item/5886
ColorTone Clear Gloss Lacquer
stewmac.com/item/3881
Wilkinson Guitar Kit
stewmac.com/item/6282
Sanding Block for Self-Adhesive Sandpaper
stewmac.com/item/3699
Micro-mesh Foam Sanding Block
stewmac.com/item/3701
3M Stikit Gold Abrasives Roll
stewmac.com/item/5768
Respirator Mask
stewmac.com/item/5879
OptiVISOR
stewmac.com/item/1685
Naphtha
stewmac.com/item/0766
Blue Painter's Tape
stewmac.com/item/2332
Mixing Cups, Set of 10
stewmac.com/item/4199
Guitar Finishing Step-by-Step Book
stewmac.com/item/5095
Aerosol Spray Nozzles
stewmac.com/item/5058
Drop-fill Toothpicks
stewmac.com/item/3108
Micro Finishing Papers
stewmac.com/item/5977
- - - - - - - - - - - -
StewMac has everything you need to repair, build or maintain your guitars.
Everything we sell is backed by our Lifetime Promise, and we offer fast worldwide shipping.
Shop StewMac: stewmac.com
Instagram: @StewMac_Guitar
Facebook: facebook.com/StewMac
