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Post by nicholas on Jul 3, 2013 16:40:40 GMT -7
What I'm using is this: Stew-mac ebony grain filler. 2 coats sanding with 400 grit in between and after. TransTint Bright red dye stained twice with brush 25%stain 75% water, lightly sand down with 600. Restrain 2 coats with rag same mix but with denatured alcohol instead of water. Behlen nitrocellulose sanding sealer. Still working out the coats but looks like 3 mist coats and light sand 2000 grit. Then as many more coats as needed to level out any slightly low spots or a few open pores. Guitar ReRanch Nitrocellulose Clear Coat. Still working that out also but it looks like 2 light coats and sand flat with 2000 then 3 wet coats sanding between each. I'll probably double the coats on the guitar to be safe. Final sanding I block sanded using 2500 dry then wet wet, 3000 wet , 4000 wet ,6000 cloth wet. Cotton polish wheel on my cordless drill with 3m machine polish, then a foam pad on drill with the same polish. I'm pretty sure I'll stick to this exact formula. I did intentionally sand a depression in my board. Then filled it with sanding sealer. I was wondering if it would look cloudy if filling a low spot. It looked fine, and I know my guitar is flat so I should be okay if I do have a few slightly low spots.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Jul 4, 2013 0:53:11 GMT -7
That is exactly the colour/transparency I would love on my next LP Special
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Post by nicholas on Jul 5, 2013 13:53:00 GMT -7
The staining step is finished. As I mentioned I stained it twice with a brush then sanded it back a bit. I forgot to snap a pic of the sanded back step. Basically I just sanded it back enough to level the grain as the water based stain raised it slightly. This leaves a dark red color deep in the wood and opens the top up to accept more stain. In my practice this gave me deeper looking almost 3d look. Then I used the same mixture but alcohol instead of water because it doesn't raise the grain. I also used a rag this time for more control. I cut a piece from an old T-shirt then folded up a piece of paper towel into a square an put in in the rag. It worked good as the towel holds some stain like a reserve. The alcohol stain sets on top more because the alcohol evaporates quickly. This give it a dark red color deep in the wood with bright red setting more on top. That's what seems to give it a deep look. I went with 3 costs this way. I sanded it back lightly between with 1500 grit just a few passes the wiped down with a cheesecloth. Here she be: Although it looks dull now, once I seal it the finish will really take off. I found out the frog tape doesn't hold back stain. I ended up with some on my fretboard edges an a little on the headstock veneer. I was able to sand it off without drama. But now am using pinstriping tape for the fretboard edges and painters tape with duct tape on top of it on the veneer. I also cut up some foam earplugs and pushed them into the tuner holes so no stain could drip through.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Jul 5, 2013 15:26:44 GMT -7
^^^ Beautiful already! LOVE the grain popping like that
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Post by Jefferson on Jul 5, 2013 16:01:09 GMT -7
Really nice work and documentation! Very helpful as I contemplate a similar project.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 5, 2013 16:22:00 GMT -7
Thanks Pete! I'm finally seeing the end in sight. As soon as the weather gets better I'll proceed with the sealer. I really need less humid weather. Don't want to seal the kit after it's been soaking in all this humidity.
So in the mean time I can play around with pick guard shapes and pre wire up the controls. I'm actually surprised how well this is going.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 6, 2013 16:04:31 GMT -7
Today was a beautiful day. About 80 and not humid. I hit the body with the first 2 coats of sealer. The neck will follow as I had a few stain touch ups on that today. The guitar is hanging and its hard to get a good shot. But I thought I would share my "progress" board. This isn't a test square. This board was sanded just like the guitar. Every step I perform on the kit I do on the progress board first. Should I muff something up, I can then simulate it on my board and find a fix. It will also let me know how thick I'm spraying the sealer, and the nitro when that day comes. Look how the clear sealer pops the finish: After the first two coats of sealer I can't see any build up. So tomorrow I'll very lightly sand the board just to knock down the peaks with 1000 grit. If that goes well I'll follow suit on the guitar body.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 6, 2013 16:15:42 GMT -7
I also made a pick guard today. I made a template and cut it out from a blank sheet of single ply pick guard material. I used a jig saw and then touched it up with a file and followed with sandpaper of various grits. This one is close to what I want but just a practice one. It came out good enough that I know I'll be able to do a real nice one.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 7, 2013 12:45:00 GMT -7
I sanded back the first two light coats of sealer. Picture taken after first pass with 1000 grit on large block. Picture taken at most offensive angle: The spots the paper touched look white. The low spots look dark. I'll just keep hitting with a coat of sealer and sand until the low spots are even with the high spots. After two more coats sanding in between now with 1500 and a fresh coat I'll sand tomorrow: I really think I could totally level it at this point. But better safe than sorry and have a sand through. The sealer is very thin. On my progress board it is thinner than the painters tape. I only had two cans and used half of one on my experiments. Ill need more and the wood store is out. So in goes an order for more. One more can should do it. Edit- After each coat and sanding I blew off with compressed air and wiped down with a tack cloth. Then wiped down with Naphtha. It's important to get all the sealer sanding dust (which looks white) out of the nooks and crannies.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 7, 2013 14:05:55 GMT -7
To give an example of how thin the sealer is.... I laid a piece of typing paper on the sealer edge on my progress board. It has had the same coats of sealer and has been sanded back about the same. I'm leaving this a little rougher than the guitar to see how much I can get away with on the nitro step. The sealer is about half as thick as a piece of typing paper.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Jul 7, 2013 14:57:41 GMT -7
I'll say it again...... that is a thing of beauty!
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Post by nicholas on Jul 7, 2013 16:30:27 GMT -7
So what should we call this color? Black Cherry? Cranberry? Madness berry? We need a name
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Jul 7, 2013 16:50:32 GMT -7
Black Cherry!!
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Post by Jacques Belanger on Jul 8, 2013 7:10:44 GMT -7
I sanded back the first two light coats of sealer. Picture taken after first pass with 1000 grit on large block. Picture taken at most offensive angle: The spots the paper touched look white. The low spots look dark. I'll just keep hitting with a coat of sealer and sand until the low spots are even with the high spots. After two more coats sanding in between now with 1500 and a fresh coat I'll sand tomorrow: I really think I could totally level it at this point. But better safe than sorry and have a sand through. The sealer is very thin. On my progress board it is thinner than the painters tape. I only had two cans and used half of one on my experiments. Ill need more and the wood store is out. So in goes an order for more. One more can should do it. Edit- After each coat and sanding I blew off with compressed air and wiped down with a tack cloth. Then wiped down with Naphtha. It's important to get all the sealer sanding dust (which looks white) out of the nooks and crannies. Man, I've gotta say, If I did this...I would be really proud of what I did. And I do stuff like this for a living!! I KNOW how hard this stuff is. The pictures never really show the amount of work/time that gets put into it. You are doing an AMAZING job. Keep it up! Your attention to the "small" details is the one thing that is going to make it look great. Too many people rush through. and then try to fix it later... and it looks like crap. Your patience is paying off... I can't wait to see the finished guitar. Very cool! Jacques
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Post by BritInvasion on Jul 8, 2013 7:23:15 GMT -7
^^ I agree with Jacques!!
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Post by nicholas on Jul 8, 2013 18:23:00 GMT -7
Thanks so much Jacques. It really means a lot coming from a pro like yourself. I thought you would be chuckling watching me reason my way though this lol. I've learned alot so far. I've learned there are no "small" steps . Every step is the most important one. Although I'm a newbie at this, I work a skilled trade. In that I've learned that doing it right the first time is way faster than rushing and trying to fix it later. Plan the work and work the plan. I've messed up a few times. But on practice pieces. Then I figured out a way to avoid the error. Like I tell all the young kids at work.... "If you know how to work yourself out of a bind... you will never be in one". Thanks for the kind words.
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Post by Jacques Belanger on Jul 8, 2013 19:15:21 GMT -7
Thanks so much Jacques. It really means a lot coming from a pro like yourself. I thought you would be chuckling watching me reason my way though this lol. I've learned alot so far. I've learned there are no "small" steps . Every step is the most important one. Although I'm a newbie at this, I work a skilled trade. In that I've learned that doing it right the first time is way faster than rushing and trying to fix it later. Plan the work and work the plan. I've messed up a few times. But on practice pieces. Then I figured out a way to avoid the error. Like I tell all the young kids at work.... "If you know how to work yourself out of a bind... you will never be in one". Thanks for the kind words. No way would I ever chuckle!! Or should anybody who has "earned" their title. The people who might "chuckle" are usually the ones who have a really bad memory of just how many times they messed stuff up as THEY were learning. Anyone who says that what you're doing is easy is a Lying sack of monkey crap! Experience can't be taught, only "experienced". I can tell you (and everyone on here) that I WISH that I was this thorough when I was learning how to do it....there would have been a LOT less messed up guitars in my wake. LOL And besides...you're putting it ALL out here for us to see.....more balls than me brother! Now honestly, I've repaired/restored over 11,000 instruments....so by now I've got a pretty good handle on things. But my first attempt at doing what you're doing...CERTAINLY didn't go as well as yours... LOL If there's anything I can do for you just ask, but you seem to be doing fine all on your own! Cheers Jacques
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Post by nicholas on Jul 10, 2013 15:24:21 GMT -7
The yin and yang together at last. I set the neck today. Before I glued it in I re did my string neck alignment as mentioned earlier. It was just like the first time. A frogs hair of movement, pulling left as far as possible is perfect. I have the sanding sealer all scuffed down flat to 2000 grit. Next step is lacquer. I've been getting some milky color in my practice from the humidity. It's called "blush". Although they make a treatment for it called blush ereaser.... think I'll just wait for better weather. I've read the best time to spray lacquer is when the dew point is 20 degrees lower than ambient temp. So waiting on the weather now.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 10, 2013 16:40:00 GMT -7
Now I know I shouldn't be playing around like this. But sometimes a guy just has too. At this point I need to treat the project no different than I would bringing my R9 into the garage and plopping it onto the workbench. But I set some of the hardware on top just to catch a glimpse of what I will be rocking out on next. Ain't to shabby and not even laquered yet. (Looks like this up close..... ) I do need to make my pick guard extend up the neck tenon a bit to cover up the neck joint more. I think my body edges are rounded over a little more than a factory one. Which makes me drop the pickguard down a bit, revealing about a 3/8" of the joint. Usually, at least from looking at pictures the pickguard sets right up againt the fret board. If I do that the guard will hang over the rounded part of the body edges. No biggie. So far so good!
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Post by nicholas on Jul 10, 2013 17:23:57 GMT -7
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Post by nicholas on Jul 10, 2013 17:48:11 GMT -7
I'm going to call this color "Black Fire"
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Post by Jefferson on Jul 11, 2013 12:48:17 GMT -7
Whatever you call it, it looks amazing! I dont think i have the patience to try and attempt a project like this. Well done!
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Post by nicholas on Jul 12, 2013 9:43:30 GMT -7
Whatever you call it, it looks amazing! I dont think i have the patience to try and attempt a project like this. Well done! Thanks man! If you are unsure, I would suggest picking up some practice wood and finishing supplies. Practice for a while. Then decide if you want to try a kit. Worst case your out a few bucks for the supplies. Not the price of a kit and supplies.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 12, 2013 9:55:13 GMT -7
I'm not sure how I got this lucky but today is 68 and dry. So I thought it might be a while before I get another day like this. I drilled a hole in the butt of the guitar for my strap button. Then screwed in an eyelet. I also screwed an eyelet into the rafter. Then ran some steel cable between with a carabinier on each end. I hung the guitar so the butt end is about head level. Giving the guitar a good once over checking for any issues, then I retaped the fretboard. To find the centerline for the strap button I ran a piece of masking tape down the neck aligning with the center of the fret dots and down the body. Then measured the thickness of the body and split it in half. *edit I blew it off with compressed air, wiped down with a tack cloth, and then naphtha. Then blasted it again with compressed air. I covered the floor with a fabric tarp, wheeled out the motorcycles and bicycles..... then hit it with two light coats of Guitar ReRanch nitro and let dry an hour, then one wet coat. I'll let it sit for a few hours. Then if dry enough I'll hit it quick with a few passes of 2000 grit. Just to nip off any peaks. Then more coats.
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Post by BritInvasion on Jul 12, 2013 12:12:19 GMT -7
Man this is coming along great! Good for you getting a nice day to spray , it's been a sauna here for weeks.
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Post by nmz on Jul 12, 2013 12:28:37 GMT -7
That guitar is going to be so cool.
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Post by nicholas on Jul 12, 2013 13:08:29 GMT -7
Man this is coming along great! Good for you getting a nice day to spray , it's been a sauna here for weeks. Same here. Crazy humid for the last 3-4 weeks. I had off today and went out about 8 am to cut the grass. I was stunned, thought about getting a sweatshirt. Then my brain took over. The grass never got cut..... the nitro got sprayed
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Post by nicholas on Jul 12, 2013 14:25:02 GMT -7
Took about 4 hours for the nitro to dry enough to sand. A few passes with 2000 grit and two more coats. That will be it for today. Tomorrow I'll sand it again. Then wait for another nice day to spray. So far I went through 2 cans. One more should do it.
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Post by Jefferson on Jul 12, 2013 22:52:43 GMT -7
Thing of beauty! Maybe the best garage build in the history of guitar making. Super impressive. If you ever need to look for a job, you should use this thread as your resume. A man who can combine the patience, attention to detail and craftsmanship that this requires is a man that I would want to hire for any reason!
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Post by nicholas on Jul 13, 2013 10:35:00 GMT -7
Thing of beauty! Maybe the best garage build in the history of guitar making. Super impressive. If you ever need to look for a job, you should use this thread as your resume. A man who can combine the patience, attention to detail and craftsmanship that this requires is a man that I would want to hire for any reason! Well, I don't know about all that but thanks so much! There was a guy named Paul Smith that built some "pretty" good guitars in his garage a while back . The next act of patience will be letting it hang for 30 days before final polishing. That's gonna be tough! Still have the nut to cut as well. But I'm pretty darn happy with myself so far. This has really been a lot of fun. The day I bring it in the house and fire it up for the first time is gonna be sweet.
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