Prostheta Posted July 17, 2018 Report Share Posted July 17, 2018 Hey Drak. What's hanging (literally)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2018 16 hours ago, Drak said: I've never liked it when I've seen people do irregulated (my word) rear covers, just my personal opinion. I always looked at it as cheating or taking the easy way out. Basically lameness charading as coolness. But it always looks cheesy and fake and trying too hard to be cool to me. I always cut the piece (rear cover) out first, save it, shape it, and then bring it back in at the end. I always liked that look and forethought. But you sir, have taken rear covers to HIGH ART status. The back of that guitar says a million times more about your artistic abilities than the front. And the front is kickin' it. But the back is MONSTER. Layers upon layers of talent, forethought, planning, and multidimensional talent in that back. Wow...just wow. Oh, PS, hello. Cheers Drak! Good to hear from you again. I appreciate the kind words, they mean a lot. I've always been inspired by your work. Thanks for dropping in and come on back when you can stay for awhile. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
komodo Posted July 18, 2018 Report Share Posted July 18, 2018 Wow! Drak is Back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 This weekend was dedicated to cleaning up the clear coat and tint at the neck join and knocking the surface of the lacquer back by starting leveling process. The neck join was cut back by wiping with a rag with lacquer thinner on it and then sanded back with the coarsest micromesh - 1500. The whole body has been sanded with 1500 micromesh I believe this helps the out-gassing of the solvents still with in the lacquer film. I'l come back and soften this up with an airbrush and some dye. I have often worried about sanding away the clear and removing some of the tint....but it was soo much work just to reach teh dye level in the neck join, that I can relax my fears of that problem considerably. I have a rag that has been used to rub polishing compound on previous builds that I use to wipe off sanding dust. It does a fair job of keeping swirl marks knocked back too. That makes the finish look further along than just 1500. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Natural Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 you are a brave man. I am not sure what the humidity level is in Houston, but I cannot even think of shooting lacquer until at least mid-late Sept here in GA. Swamp level moisture in the air till then. Looking good Scotty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 The humidity has been at least 90% in the mornings but more like 60%-65% in the afternoons when I shot this. Same amount of moisture in the air, but as it gets hot it can hold more so the percentage is reflected as a lower number. I just add more reducer when it is this humid. That slows the drying time down a bit and gives the moisture time to escape before being trapped. It worked like a champ. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Natural Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 I tried the retarder trick- but my problem is clean environment- ie- my garage is my shop.. Two bay doors- and son comes in and out of one, wife in the other- telling wife alone not to use garage is like asking for trouble- so- constant opening of the door- ie- air flow-ie dust- ie- last guitar I did in summer was white and I swore never again having to get crap out of the finish cause it was open so long in drying. my ghetto plastic sheets walled "spray booth" was not cutting it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 3 hours ago, ScottR said: This weekend was dedicated to cleaning up the clear coat and tint at the neck join and knocking the surface of the lacquer back by starting leveling process. The neck join was cut back by wiping with a rag with lacquer thinner on it and then sanded back with the coarsest micromesh - 1500. The whole body has been sanded with 1500 micromesh I believe this helps the out-gassing of the solvents still with in the lacquer film. I'l come back and soften this up with an airbrush and some dye. I have often worried about sanding away the clear and removing some of the tint....but it was soo much work just to reach teh dye level in the neck join, that I can relax my fears of that problem considerably. I have a rag that has been used to rub polishing compound on previous builds that I use to wipe off sanding dust. It does a fair job of keeping swirl marks knocked back too. That makes the finish look further along than just 1500. SR (that's what sitting in stunned silence sounds like ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 4 minutes ago, Andyjr1515 said: (that's what sitting in stunned silence sounds like ) It took me a minute....but I finally got there. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattharris75 Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 Man Scott, I love it. Looking at the latest photos of the body, it looks like it could be the big brother to the little guitar I built for my girls. IPA burst and all! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 I always loved that little guitar! You did a brilliant job on it and I agree, they do look like brothers. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splintazert Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 (edited) Very nice Scott, it seems that each of your updates takes things up a level. @mattharris75 That's a beautiful starter guitar too, your girls are very lucky! Edited July 23, 2018 by Splintazert 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 You're not wrong! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 32 minutes ago, Splintazert said: Very nice Scott, it seems that each of your updates takes things up a level. @mattharris75 That's a beautiful starter guitar too, your girls are very lucky! Thank you kind sir. The finish line is just around the bend. @mattharris75's girls are lucky. Their daddy worked on that for a long time. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woden Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 Wow, Scott, had missed this thread until now. Very refined. Love them curves and the stunning maple top. Ash back looks so similar to one I started a couple of years ago I still haven't finished due to messing up the headstock! One of the things I never liked about the Les style was the lack of back contours but you have done a lovely job. You can just tell it would feel amazing to pick up and play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 Thank you sir, that was very kind of you to say. I think every guitar should have a contoured (carved) back, and should be very comfortable to play. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 This weekend I leveled some more, going through micro mesh grits 1800 and 2400. I'm still using fine pumice as a wipe down between grits and have added rotten stone as well. That is doing a fine job of polishing and showing where sanding scratches from the previous grit need some more work. S SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 I'm having trouble not posting pics of the top. I thought I was done and went in the house. When I came back out the sun had changed its angle a bit and was doing this. I had to take some more shots. I hope this happens again when I'm done polishing. SR 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 I'd say that you've got the patience of a saint, however on reflection that seems a little bit silly to say....why would saints have patience, other than maybe waiting until some superfluous unproveable "miracle" is ascribed to them post mortem? Still, you've got the patience of say....a Guinness drinker? A guitar-builder/tree-grower? Can't wait to see the results of your polishing labour. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistermikev Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 is it me or does that finish just keep getting better! pics really show how it changes depending on the light. what a nice job. your elbow must be titanium! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 Thanks guys. I have plenty of time to be patient. The lacquer is still curing....shrinking....hardening, however you want to call it. I'm just gently removing layers of orange peel and sanding scratches that were never going to be part of the finished product anyway. I've still got 6 more grits of micromesh and then some buffing compound to go. This weekend I will call the finish cured enough to finish. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted August 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2018 The polishing is done. So here are some shots from the garage. And from the working chair/guitar stand drug out into the side yard and shot in varying degrees of sunlight, clouds and shade. SR 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted August 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2018 Next week we start strapping on the hardware. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted August 6, 2018 Report Share Posted August 6, 2018 Well, that's ridiculous. Quite ridiculous. Ridiculous. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted August 6, 2018 Report Share Posted August 6, 2018 That's a finish you could swim in! Cracking work! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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