Steampunk Guitar

by w.bartlett

12K13413

Intro: Steampunk Guitar

Bought a beat up California guitar for $25 and walla steam punk project.
Sanded all the chrome to expose the copper layer, then painted some copper pcs, as well as added a few extras from my goody box.
Cut the base in a few spots to add some pipes and give it a better steam look, Enjoy.

13 Comments

w.bartlett 8 years ago

I can't remember but I probably didn't. Prob look cooler if it tarnished a bit and was polished lol

MichaelB526 8 years ago

Hey, Can you please tell me what method you used to sand the chrome down to copper? Also, is it possible to sand through the copper layer. I'm wanting to do this to my guitar...

w.bartlett 8 years ago

Hi thanks for the question. If I remember it was like a 400 grit wet sand paper. If you want to go beyond the copper and it's probably a thin layer try 320 grit. Have a great week, hope it turns out awesome for you. Cheers!

MichaelB526 8 years ago

Nah, I love the copper look, so I'd like to keep it. Mine is apparently plated in Nickel. 200 grit was even taking me FOREVER so I switched to a dremel tool with a 150 grit wheel on it. That did it. Is nickel usually harder, or might my plating just be thicker? It is a $400 guitar vs the $20 job in your pics. Any advice?

w.bartlett 8 years ago

The firemen might leave a lot of groves. Just good ole hand sanding should do it start with the coarse and then go over it with the finer grit to remove the heavy scratches.

w.bartlett 8 years ago

Dremel. Stupid spell check lol

MichaelB526 8 years ago

Hello again, quick question, did you put any kind of lacquer on the hardware that you sanded to keep the copper from oxidation?

MichaelB526 8 years ago

Yea, it did, lol. Had to take some copper off to smooth it, but I've only done the trem bar so far. I'm okay with it looking more "weathered" anyway. THANKS!

ben_c_g 9 years ago

Amazing thanks man

mdlmusic 11 years ago

Looks cool, but that refrigerator handle will make it tough to play.

w.bartlett 11 years ago

Hello thanks for the reply. Ya needs strings only had three when I picked it up, the jack socket is just covered by the copper pipe, had an old adapter that went from the mini to the large guitar one so i just stuck it into the pipe and it plugs in the jack socket, And yes the end of 308 cartridges in the neck hope it sounds good but will have to wait until my rocks tar kid shows up and plays it, Lol

MikB 11 years ago

Looks great, but how does it sound? Aaah. No strings! No jack socket!

What are the fret-dots, press studs, or the blunt end of a bullet/cartridge? :)