Changing the formica on your steel

Jerry Recktenwald · Post by **Jerry Recktenwald** » 24 Jun 2017 4:50 am

I have a GFI SM 10 let's just say it's not sharp looking like other steels.My'n is the red SM 10 . I saw a Justice steel that someone on the forum just got and WOW ! It was blue diamond and white pearl. super sharp looking. [ to me] where do those who redo the sides and top of your steels? Where do you buy your materials ? Formica drum wrap mica .
Where can you buy just pieces not full sheet's. I'd like to do mine in the Justice steel's. No offence intended to GFI owners of the people that make them. You shoulden't have to spend a armand a leg to redo the out side of your steel. Jerry R

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 24 Jun 2017 6:46 am

Consider having it "wrapped". I've seen some great looking steels that have been "wrapped". Any color and/or design is available with a wrap.

Larry Ravlin · Post by **Larry Ravlin** » 24 Jun 2017 7:33 am

IMHO I do not believe you can formica it, the thickness of the Formica is going to interfere with the re-install of the end plates plus you need to disassemble the whole thing and sand it down etc. If that Justice has Maple sides it might be stained that color and finished.

Fred Justice · Post by **Fred Justice** » 24 Jun 2017 11:00 am

Larry, ALL Justice guitars have maple sides, maple tops, maple bumpers, maple tail lights and so on.

ALL hard rock maple, every Justice guitar ever built.

How ever, NO ONE can stain a Diamond Pearl finish on any surface period. Some things just can't be done.

Larry Ravlin · Post by **Larry Ravlin** » 24 Jun 2017 12:38 pm

Pearl No, Blue yes

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 24 Jun 2017 1:05 pm

Hi Jerry,
If you've never done work with laminating, better not to start on your steel.
Also if you've never taken a steel apart and put it back together you should not start with such a tricky job.

If you do have experience in those, google drum wrap for spectacular designs to laminate... Hundreds of wild designs available.

If you have no experience then consider selling your GFI and ordering one of Fred's great "Justice" guitars.
Good luck.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Jun 2017 6:14 am

I put different formica on an Excel pedal steel, however, an Excel is constructed differently than other pedal steels so it was a fairly easy project.
I changed it from black to white.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 25 Jun 2017 6:32 am

I've seen some wraps and they looked great. And you might not have to disassemble the guitar.

memphislim · Post by **memphislim** » 25 Jun 2017 10:13 am

Erv, can you please expand on your conversion and why it was easier than other guitars?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 26 Jun 2017 8:02 am

The reason the conversion on an Excel is so easy is the way the guitar is constructed. For example, the front panel is held in place by channels built into the aluminum strips on the top and bottom. If you take the end plate off, the formica and underlying thin plywood sheet just slides in, the same with the back side. The top formica needs to be fastened down but the middle part that is the raise between the necks is the aluminum piece that extends from the bottom of the guitar and contributes to strength and limits cabinet drop, so no need to formica it.
The Excel looked like this when I bought it:

It now looks like this:

memphislim · Post by **memphislim** » 26 Jun 2017 8:10 am

Thanks for the clarification Erv. So the top needs to be glued down, is that correct?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 26 Jun 2017 8:42 am

Yes, as I recall.

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 26 Jun 2017 8:57 am

I used red and silver sparkle wrap. It was relatively easy to do. This one was a ghastly black when I got it! Because I used two pieces, one red and one silver on the top deck I did not have to remove the changer.

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 26 Jun 2017 1:38 pm

This is another carter that was brown ... looked like my kitchen cabinets. I removed the old mica and put on green twill carbon fiber. Viva la diffÃ©rence!

Chris Sattler · Post by **Chris Sattler** » 26 Jun 2017 4:47 pm

What about a Zum? Does the whole guitar have to be dismantled?

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Changing the formica on your steel

Changing the formica on your steel

Tricky work