Refinish a Guitar Body: Sanding for Stain & Clear (120–400 Grit, No Burn-Through)

Guitars amplify every sanding mistake—swirls telegraph through stain, and rounded edges ruin crisp binding lines. This guide gives you a safe, repeatable sanding workflow for solid bodies and veneer-topped electrics so your stain pops and your clear lays glassy.

Before You Start

• Remove all hardware, mask cavities, and support the body on padded risers so edges aren’t bearing weight.
• Work under a bright raking light—pencil squiggles make a perfect guide coat to show when you’ve hit the whole surface.
• For figured veneer (flame/quilt), stay gentle: aggressive cuts can sand through fast at edges and the forearm contour.

Grit Progression (Dry, then Optional Wet)

• 120–150 grit — strip old finish or level factory orange peel on raw bodies. Keep the pad flat and avoid edges.
• 180 grit — main leveling pass that removes 120/150 scratches and flattens low waves.
• 220 grit — refine for even stain uptake; stop here for darker color on open-grain woods.
• 320–400 grit — optional pre-sealer pass or between-coat de-nib on sanding sealer/clear.

Step-by-Step

1. Block the flats. On the front/back, use a soft interface pad with long, overlapping strokes. Keep the sander perfectly flat to avoid dish-outs.
2. Mind the edges. Hand-sand perimeters and horns with a small block; hit edges last using fresh paper and feather-light pressure.
3. Raise the grain (optional). After 180–220, mist with water, let dry, then scuff with the same grit to knock down raised fibers—this helps stain feel silky.
4. Seal smart. Apply sanding sealer or thinned clear. After cure, de-nib with 320–400 using just a few passes; you’re removing dust nibs, not the film.
5. Inspect under light. If any coarse lines remain, drop back one grit on that spot only, then re-refine.

Pro Tips

• Always change stroke direction at each grit (e.g., lengthwise then diagonal) so leftover scratches are obvious.
• Support tremolo recesses and belly cuts with a curved foam pad to keep the surface even.
• Vacuum often; dust loads paper and polishes scratches instead of cutting them.

What to Buy (embedded picks)

For the main scuff-sand that flattens waves without chewing edges, a balanced 180-grit sheet works well—try Grit 180 — 25 Pack. To refine for even stain absorption, step to Grit 220 — 10 Pack. Keep Grit 320 — 50 Pack on hand for quick de-nibbing between sealer or clear coats.

Watch & Learn

Result: Flat surfaces, crisp edges, vivid stain, and a clear coat that levels fast with minimal sanding between coats.

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