Thread: Cheap respray for electric guitar

First off, let me say that this is an awesome forum. Whenever I've considered building a guitar or modifying, I always end up back here. It's very helpful, especially for us Aussies. I can usually find an answer to my questions with the search, but this time I'm having trouble. There's plenty on respraying, but I'm still having trouble. Maybe I'm slow or maybe I'm not searching for the right things, but I'm a complete beginner when it comes to respraying guitars. Never done it before and don't plan on doing it ever again. So I figured I'd register and create a new thread to see if you guys can help me out here.

I've got an old strat copy. It's an old Chinese-built Craftsman guitar. If it weren't my very first electric guitar I'd just sell it for scrap wood or something, because that's the only other use it has. However, it has a certain sentimental value and I can't bring myself to let it go. So I'm turning it into something much more respectable. Besides, it actually plays pretty well for what it is.

The only thing I'm having trouble with is understanding how to respray the thing. Most of the information I've found is geared towards spray guns or the like, and i just can't afford that. I want to do this as cheaply as possible. I realize cheap won't yield amazing results, but that's ok by me.

I'm looking for a flat black or purple finish, as in the attached pictures.

The stripping of the existing paintwork I can do fine, but the respray confuses me. I came across a thread on another forum in which the members were talking about a particular brand of spray paint (Krylon Rust Tough) maybe doing the job. Does anybody know if I can get this stuff in Melbourne? I'm having trouble finding it online and can't go out to any stores this week.

Do you have any other recommendations? I know some of you will be thinking I'm dreaming - wanting to respray using aerosols only, but this isn't exactly a PRS or an Ibanez Prestige here. A professional approach would cost more than the guitar is worth. The pickups I'm putting in already breach that mark. So I want something really cheap and as basic as possible.

Any help is much appreciate. Thanks