t1r12003 Posted July 20, 2014 Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 Started a new project. Scored an amazing laced redwood veneer. Never used black walnut as a body wood, so I'm going with that. Also, found a walnut neck to pair up with the body, as I've not attempted making my own necks yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 Taping up the veneer to glue to the body blank. Also using a spare piece for the headstock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 I soaked the headstock veneer in water overnight, then taped it to a rubber drum from my spindle sander to create the curve. Worked perfectly. Then I used the drum to clamp the curved veneer to the headstock along with some flat wood scraps. Clamped up the headstock and body and glued them up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 Cut the body out on the band saw, then sanded the edges fairly smooth. Still need to clean up a couple spots and then work on the neck pocket, but it's looking good. I didn't cut the headstock veneer perfectly, so I'll need to clean up the edge close to the nut and create a nice straight line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted July 21, 2014 Report Share Posted July 21, 2014 Nice work! I really dig what you're doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted July 21, 2014 Report Share Posted July 21, 2014 Looks good so far. Just a tip for veneer, you dont need anywhere near that amount of tape. I only use like 5 small pieces run vertically along the join. Also, looks like they werent quite flat or square to each other. Next time clamp them together between 2 pieces of wood and use a long sanding block to get them flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2014 Took a scrap piece and tested some stain. One layer of red, sanded back, then layer of yellow, sanded back, then a second layer of yellow. Glossed it up with some cheap poly spray to get an idea and took a few pics from different angles and degrees of light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 21, 2014 Report Share Posted July 21, 2014 This has the potential to be a stunner. I'm looking forward to seeing how it ends up. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2014 Drilled out the tuner holes. I backed the veneer headstock with a thin piece of poplar on top of a 2x6, then clamped it down to minimize tear out. I got a little bit on a couple holes, but once the tuner and washers are put on, it covers that up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Just a heads up, unless you really seal the crap out of that redwood, it will sink into it forever. It is like a sponge. Even after epoxy and 2k clear, it still sunk into the shape of the grain on my last guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Just a heads up, unless you really seal the crap out of that redwood, it will sink into it forever. It is like a sponge. Even after epoxy and 2k clear, it still sunk into the shape of the grain on my last guitar. Thanks, I'll keep that in mind and spend plenty of time sealing it. I just finished a buckeye burl top project and it was the same way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Another test piece. Started with black, sanded back, then yellow. Got some better light for this pic. Not a dramatic difference in the other test piece, but since redwood has natural red and brown, it makes up for not using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 When done right, it looks amazing. Check out what i did with my last guitar and redwood burl that looks similar. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdshirtman Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 That's an incredible piece of timber there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Killemall8, that's beautiful. What was your staining and finishing process? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Last bit of work this morning before heading off on a 3 day work trip. Routed the neck pocket and rounded the back edges. Looks dull with no naptha... Nice and snug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 There wasnt any stain added to that. I sealed it with epoxy then sanded it flat. Sprayed a few coats of 2k clear, waited for it to dry, then leveled it. Then i hit it with the black burst then clear coated again. Even through a coat of epoxy and a sealer coat of 2k, it still sunk in and the grain shows through the clear now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Looks great dispite the sinking finish. I'm still debating on stain or natural. The yellow adds some nice tones. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 I have these two humbuckers that don't match that I'd like to use. Dimarzio zebra PAF Pro and a Carvin PAF type pickup. What to do....... OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH.....Solid chrome covers....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 Your test on the scrap is reassuring. The first thing I thought when I noted the amount of glue used for the veneer was the amount of glue that might seep through any cracks, voids or eyes preventing stain from taking to the veneer. Been there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted July 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 Your test on the scrap is reassuring. The first thing I thought when I noted the amount of glue used for the veneer was the amount of glue that might seep through any cracks, voids or eyes preventing stain from taking to the veneer. Been there. Yeah, there was seepage in the center line, but not too much. I just haven't taken the time to sand the glue spots out yet, but when wet you don't see them. The top looks so good natural wiped with Naptha, I'm still not certain I'm doing a stain at all. The test pieces I used with red, brown and yellow and the black and yellow piece are subtle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted August 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 No real progress. Had to buy a new random orbital palm sander as my old one died. Got a Tusq nut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu. Posted August 1, 2014 Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 That walnut neck is lovely! What a find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted August 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2014 I was pretty happy. I'd been searching for one for a while. This is my first walnut build, so I wanted neck and body woods to be the same. I've heard all different reviews of what walnut will sound like. I'll be interested to hear how this one sounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t1r12003 Posted August 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Spent a few hours sanding the sides. Man, this walnut is hard. Even with my new palm sander and 60, 120, 220 grit papers, I was still noticing scratches. I spent more time with a sanding block really working those spots. Some nice grain patterns popping out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.