[sallyjr]

I want to paint some designed on either the pick guard or the body of my fender strat. What type of paint should I use and should I do anything to prep the surface?

[dcunning30]

Assuming you don't have a compressor and spray guns, you could go to an automotive store and get some good quality paint in a spraycan. If all you're going to do is to paint a design, and not paint the whole guitar, I suppose you could remove all the hardware, mask and paint. Once you've done that, you'll need to clearcoat the guitar with nitrocellulose. I don't know how that will react with the plastic of the pickguard, you might test it on the back of the pickguard first. But anyway, you might want to add multiple coats of clear to seal in your artwork and bring out a shine. You can "flash" the clear: wait about 15 minutes between coats. Make sure your workspace is free of dust and has low humidity. And take your time and put on light coats. You don't want the paint to build up and run. Once you've added your layers of clear allow at least 5 days to dry. Lightly wet sand your work with 600 or 800 grit sandpaper to bring out the shine. My advice is to add at least 4 coats of clear so when you wet sand, you'll probably go through a coat of clear, but you definately don't want to reach your art.

[martinedwards]

Originally Posted by dcunning30

I don't know how that will react with the plastic of the pickguard,

Once it's dry, it won't react with anything.

This is perty much how I did the dollar bills on one of my strats (see below.....)
the other is brush painted with hammerite outdoor metal paint like you put on gates & railings!!

[Rocket]

don't forget the respirator, goggles, vinyl gloves and all the other safty precautions - garage door open etc.....