Help For Finishing A Solid Color, Links?

[hendrix2430]

Hi, the title says it all!

I'm in the process of starting a telecaster from Scratch using a 1 piece alder body and a 2 piece Flame maple neck.

I really don't know much about building at all, but decided to go for it and try. I will be sawing the body with a jig saw, then sanding the edges by hand.

Once I route the guitar body (front rout) and thoroughly sand it, could someone please tell me how they would go about paiting a solid color on it, and what type of paint I should use. I live in France, so brands that you are familiar with may very well not be available over here.

Here's what I was planning on doing. Go easy on me if I didn't get this right at all!

1- Sand body.

2- Apply grain filler by hand, multiple coats. How many? How long in between?

3- Once dry, sand the body lightly once again.

4- Apply solid color 1st Coat on entire body. Let dry for how long?

Same thing for 2 coats. Is this enough for a solid color, say Candy Apple?

5- Once dry, sand the body lightly again.

6 Spray some lacquer, 1st Coat on entire body. Let dry. Do a second and third coat. Enough coats? How long for the lacquer to dry?

That's what I could think of...

Is there something I could use besides spraying lacquer to add that shiny look to a body?

Also, I'm a little worried about starting because I know I'll make mistakes. But I HOPE to make a decent guitar in the end.

Do you guys think it's possible to make a professional looking guitar, even with no prior "building from scratch" experience, if built with a lot of attention?

Thanks again for everything, I appreciate your help greatly!

[Doc]

There are a multitude of threads that will get you through this process. Read the tutorial on Re-ranch. Now.

Remember that there are so many variables tht there is no hard and fast rule as to how many coats of anything to use.

I would not recommend real candyapple metalflake as a starter project. It is the least forgiving of all finishing systems. It still trips me up occasionally and I've been doing this stuff for almost 40 years. See the Re-ranch, use the Re-ranch for a first timer.

Every professional started somewhere. Most of this is not rocket science. Most of it is just paying attention to detail, not cutting corners and being patient.

[hendrix2430]

There are a multitude of threads that will get you through this process. Read the tutorial on Re-ranch. Now.

Remember that there are so many variables tht there is no hard and fast rule as to how many coats of anything to use.

I would not recommend real candyapple metalflake as a starter project. It is the least forgiving of all finishing systems. It still trips me up occasionally and I've been doing this stuff for almost 40 years. See the Re-ranch, use the Re-ranch for a first timer.

Every professional started somewhere. Most of this is not rocket science. Most of it is just paying attention to detail, not cutting corners and being patient.

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doc, thanks fore the help. I realize that many newbies come around the forum asking for the same questions over and over again. It can be enervating i'm sure. Thanks for the reply and i'll go check it out.

PS: Do read my thread about alder finish, to see if I'm thinking right...