Removing storebought bridge finish

[peter havriluk]

I had need (as in how could I lose something that big?) for a bridge for my current project, so I chased one down as quickly as I could and in three days it's in my hands. No way of knowing when I ordered it that it would arrive with a finish of some kind. Never saw a varnished/lacquered bridge. My temptation is to blocksand off the finish using 220 grit more or less and continue sanding with stepped grits (320, 400, 600, 800). Should I anticipate going with grit finer than 800 on a rosewood bridge?

Thanks very much.

[ken cierp]

Use a chemical paint stripper -- such as "Stripease" then use steel wool and acetone to clean off the residue. Make sure the glue surface is "sanded" to a clean prestine surface. Check to make sure the sadddle slot is not tilted toward the nut side -- many of the imports are made that way. Not a bad idea but it can/does screw up saddle take off locations (intonation) if you are not familiar with the process.

[peter havriluk]

Hadn't considered starting with paint stripper. Thanks.

[TonyinNYC]

I was super excited to get a hold of some paint strippers until I googled them and discovered that a "paint stripper" is a chemical compound and not, in fact, what I originally thought.

[Tim Benware]

I was super excited to get a hold of some paint strippers until I googled them and discovered that a "paint stripper" is a chemical compound and not, in fact, what I originally thought.

So, you must have been really disappointed to find out that what you thought was "StripTease" was actually "Stripease."

[TonyinNYC]

I was super excited to get a hold of some paint strippers until I googled them and discovered that a "paint stripper" is a chemical compound and not, in fact, what I originally thought.

So, you must have been really disappointed to find out that what you thought was "StripTease" was actually "Stripease."

The hits just keep on coming, eh? You couldn't let me go on thinking the wrong thing, could you? Damn you Tim!!