bob123 Posted November 13, 2012 Report Share Posted November 13, 2012 When you do the pup rings, cut the middle out before you cut the outside Easier, safer, and will yield better results Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted November 13, 2012 Report Share Posted November 13, 2012 funny I was just trying to figure out what to use to make cavity covers.. so you're saying the stuff they sell as "heastock veneer" is good for this? gotta check prices... I have some thin 0,6mm veneer and I was thinking of gluing together several sheets or just laminating one to a piece of thin hdf, but this looks like another good option. for pickup rings you need to stack two anyway, right? The ring should be 5-6mm high IIRC. nice job with these, can't wait to see the rings done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted November 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 A little bit more on No 1. Got some veneers glued on to the headstock. Actually went better than expected (they'll probably fall off after I've got some finish on... Plugged the bridge holes as I'd gone and used a 10mm bit and the bridge posts dropped in too easily, will get hold of a 9.5mm bit for this. And had another go at the pickup rings. Laminating two pieces together with the grain going in opposite directions has made all the difference here. Only roughed out so far... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 More slow progress... Had a bit of time finally, so got a few minor jobs done. Redrilled the bridge post holes Deepened the tremolo rout, and cavity to accommodate the 4mm thick covers. Just the switch cover left to go, then it's on to finish sanding. Did a bit more shaping of the neck, then made a start on the headstock shape. I'm pleased with how this turned out, especially as it arose from a mistake. Still a bit of tidying up to do, but happy with where this is going. Might even make this a signature thing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Our Souls inc. Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 I like the pinstripe on the headstock. Happy accidents, according to the late Bob Roth. What's the "x" mark on the HS for? do you still need to cut the truss nut access? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted January 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 I like the pinstripe on the headstock. Happy accidents, according to the late Bob Roth. What's the "x" mark on the HS for? do you still need to cut the truss nut access? Yes, the access is there, just covered by the veneers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 I like the pinstripe on the headstock. Happy accidents, according to the late Bob Roth. I thought you drew the outline with a pencil for some reason stupid me. Nice! How are the pickup rings coming along? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted April 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2013 After another long break the weather finally perks up enough for me to get back to work on this one, nearly three years in the making!! Finally got a cover made for the bodged switch channel... Still need to drill for the screws. Routed the body for the switch. Had to do this freehand so it was a bit scary... Tidied up... It's not quite perfect, there was a slight overcut on one of the corners. I'll probably fill this with wenge dust when I glue the switch cover in... It's currently slightly proud of the front ofd the guitar. I haven't decided yet whether I'll leave it like that or sand it flush to the top... Quick mock-up. The pickup rings still need lots of work and are way to big at the moment... Not really liking the bridge anymore, too big. May change it, but as this is only supposed to be a practice build (albeit a very long one ) I may not bother... Finish sanded the neck and got to work with the tru-oil. 1st coat... It's had five coats now, which should be enough, lightly rubbed down with 0000 wire wool between coats... It looks great. Will leave it for a couple of weeks to cure then will make a start with the nitro and waterslide decal for the headstock face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted April 9, 2013 Report Share Posted April 9, 2013 As I first saw the switch plate I wondered about cutting it diagonal to the grain. Then I saw that it was done to match the grain direction of the body. Nice touch, that. I think I would leave it slightly proud of the body. It will play nicely off the pickup rings that way and may help hide any imperfections in the fit. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted April 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2013 Yeah, the grain on the switch cover matching the body is just luck. I angled it that way to match with the grain of the pickup rings and fretboard, although the fretboard is quartersawn so looks a bit different anyway. The cavity covers will also have the same grain orientation. Once I get the pickup rings sorted it should look good (*crosses fingers and prays*) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted April 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2013 Some more progress Neck after 5 coats of tru-oil. It's been curing for a week but I'll leave it for another week as it still smells of the oil... Did a final sanding of the body (sorry, no pics) and started on the Z-Poxy grain fill... Really glad I didn't stain this now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted April 15, 2013 Report Share Posted April 15, 2013 Really glad I didn't stain this now... Yeah, that's sweet. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauliemc Posted April 15, 2013 Report Share Posted April 15, 2013 that is just dirty. you jammy git. its not often you find a piece with grain like that. definitly keep this one. screw clients, thats a keeper if I ever saw one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted April 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Yeah, I was really disappointed with the body blank when I got it (see first post), but I guess it turned out alright in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted April 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 Sanded back the first coat of epoxy and did a second. This has worked really well so don't think I'll do any more coats. This has now been sanded back again and I've applied the first coat of tru-oil. Forgot to take pics, will take some later. It's not as shiny now as it was with the z-poxy on it, but hopefully the tru-oil will build nicely and I'll get a good shine out of it in the end. The satin sheen it has now is also pretty nice... Am I right in thinking it will need about 15-20 thin coats if I'm going for a gloss finish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 Thats coming out great! Im glad you redid the threaded neck inserts. Im a huge fan of those myself, as long as they are done right Since you zpoxied the body, I cant see tru oil taking 20 coats to get a gloss finish. Probably closer to 10 if that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted May 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 Right, here we are at 5 coats of tru-oil... Looking good It's had another 2 coats since this picture and I don't think it will need much more. i may even stop here and start polishing... Made a start on nitroing the headstock. Did 2 very light coats followed by one wet coat. Had a panic moment when doing the wet coat that I'd put too much on, but it leveled out ok. Never used nitro before (or any finish for that matter) but it seems to be quite forgiving for an amateur like myself. Will leave this for a while (probably won't get back to this until the weekend) then flatten and apply my decal before the rest of the nitro goes on. Yes, the nitro has revealed a nice big scratch across the headstock which I couldn't see before . It can only be seen from a certain angle so I'm going to leave it, as the veneer is so thin I don't want to sand it any more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 Nitro is funny like that. When it shrinks it reveals all kinds of stuff you thought was gone. Looks good so I wouldn't sweat the scratch too much on the headstock. Build up some finish and sand it flat a few times and you will be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted May 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 Got my shine on going through the grits with my micromesh sheets... ...and logo now attached Did get some sand through around the tuner holes and the bottom edge, went ahead and did the decal anyway. Next time I'll do more than one wet coat before the decal ... The end is nigh (finally)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted May 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 Almost forgot, body after 7 coats of Tru-Oil... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted May 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 Here's the headstock so far. It's had 4 or 5 wet coats since the decal went on (the decal edges actually disappeared after about 2 wet coats). It's starting to build nicely. Will probably do 2 more then call it a day. Then I'll have a few weeks to finish the covers and switch while I wait for it to cure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
govtmule Posted May 10, 2013 Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 Looks good ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted May 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 7 coats on... ...and it would have to be the final coat that gets some dust in it I'm hoping that it will sand out when I flatten the nitro... , if not I'll have to shoot some more. Still have quite a bit left... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fool Guy Posted May 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 Problems... I know nitro cracks as it ages... but after a week? I haven't even flatted it yet! Anyone know why this might be? I'm guessing it has to do with the thickness of coats or drying time between coats? This is my first time finishing so I haven't really got a clue what I'm doing... If I spray more nitro will it melt the finish enough the cover the cracks? I'm not going to rip it all off and start again, so if it can't be fixed so be it... ... I'll just say it's vintage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightninMike Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 If it is a true nitrocellulose, it will melt into the prior coats.... Somehow, you had a big temperature shock to that neck.... that is one of the ways to induce "Aging" double check your surroundings that nothing possibly contaminated the area and checmically introduced the cracking at this point, you have to put your CSI hat on and get to uncovering the mystery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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