Finishing Basics Please

[stenns]

So I am makin a trip into town to pick up a set of spokeshaves to carve the top of my les paul, and I figured I would pick up some finishing supplies. The problem is, I dont know anything about finishing. I was planning on a tabbaco sunburst with a transpartent colour on the back. Here's what I thought I was going to do...buy some nitrocellulouse lacquer (here: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=...at=1,190,42942) or polyeurothane (here: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=...at=1,190,42942) and some pigments (here: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=...42996&ap=1). Add the pigments to the lacquer/polyeurothane, and apply using spray gun the colour, then continue to apply clear coats. BUt after reading some tutorials I realized that some people were applying dyes alone to colour the guitar, and then lacquer.

Could I buy analine watersoluble dyes (here: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=...42996&ap=1) add them to alcohol/water, apply them using a brush/gun, then apply lacquer or poly, or use my original plan?

Thankyou

Edited October 29, 2006 by stenns

[Boston_rocker51]

So I am makin a trip into town to pick up a set of spokeshaves to carve the top of my les paul, and I figured I would pick up some finishing supplies. The problem is, I dont know anything about finishing. I was planning on a tabbaco sunburst with a transpartent colour on the back. Here's what I thought I was going to do...buy some nitrocellulouse lacquer (here: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=...at=1,190,42942) or polyeurothane (here: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=...at=1,190,42942) and some pigments (here: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=...42996&ap=1). Add the pigments to the lacquer/polyeurothane, and apply using spray gun the colour, then continue to apply clear coats. BUt after reading some tutorials I realized that some people were applying dyes alone to colour the guitar, and then lacquer.

Could I buy analine watersoluble dyes (here: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=...42996&ap=1) add them to alcohol/water, apply them using a brush/gun, then apply lacquer or poly, or use my original plan?

Thankyou

nice links - thanks for posting them - do you ahve any pics of the job you can post? very interested in what you may have done....