killemall8 Posted June 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 Thank you sir Rad. One of my favorite traits of this guitar is the neck joint and its contrast. It always blows my mind how crisp i can get that joint. I just sprayed the first few coats of clear today. Looks like this will actually work! Finally able to get a correct finish on redwood burl. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted June 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 I think i FINALLY figured out the best method of grainfilling for what i do. I applied a thick layer of finish epoxy, let it soak in, then scraped off the excess. this time it actually stayed in all of the voids and soaked in nicely. This is the best feeling ever to have only done one application of clear on top of that, and it is completely flat and ready for final coats. I think i will do this for all finishes from now on. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted June 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 Sprayed the final clear coats about an hour ago. I also added a black burst. THIS is how i invisioned this guitar and other guitars with this veneer to come out. Auto clear is so much better for this because it is crystal clear. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted June 17, 2014 Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 Sweet. It's great you found a process that works the way you want it to. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted June 17, 2014 Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 wow, looking great with the burst! I like the volute too, goes well with the angular headstock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted June 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 Thanks guys! For once, am happy with the way the finish is coming out. Here are some pics of it outside. I will wait a few days and then wetsand and buff. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted June 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 So, as usual, problems. I intentionally sprayed the outside of the burst with 2 extra coats of clear, to prevent sanding through to the black. What happens? I sand for about 3 swipes with 800,and i am through the clear AND the burst in 3 places. Lovely. Now even if i re spray those areas it will never match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted June 20, 2014 Report Share Posted June 20, 2014 Finishing is a matter which always throws up obstacles. One guitar you think you have it worked out, then next guitar it'll backfire on you and it's back to step one again. As far as spraying more because of the burst, the more you spray, the more peel you get, the more you have to sand it back increasing the odds of a thru. So I guess by trying to prevent this, you may have made it worse? Try touching up the black with an airbrush, you'd be surprised what can be fixed with an airbrush and a bit of blending Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted June 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2014 I dont think that was the case in this situation. I Literally barley sanded a couple swipes and sanded through. I think my spraygun was spraying differently than what i wanted to. I dont actually have an air brush. I think i will just re burst the outside again and hope the black doenst look different in certain parts. I have re done bursts where the exact same black looks different for some reason. This will be an awesome guitar if i get teh finish correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted June 20, 2014 Report Share Posted June 20, 2014 It will be worth it. That burst brings out the dark lines in your rosewood nicely. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted June 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Well, here is the repaired product. Again, i have absolutely zero belief that it will stay this gloss and level, because it never does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 some day when I grow up I will make mirrors like that too... great! I have my swirled headless already a few weeks after brushing nitro on, so much that I hope no amount of levelling with burn through. then again for some reason all my nitro finish attempts end up cracked. dunno why. maybe too much heat when buffing... glad that you managed to repair the burst. looks flawless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted June 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Thanks man. Your stuff looks amazing for how little resources and tools you have. Its already shrinking back. The centerline of the book match is already showing throw, less than a day later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 You grain filled and sealed this with epoxy yeah? When you sanded back the epoxy, did you make sure there was an entire film of it over the guitar still, or did you sand it back flush as if it was only grain filler? If you left a film of the epoxy it shouldn't sink back, unless it wasn't left long enough to cure before sanding? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted June 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Yup, left a slight film. I let it dry for about 24 hours. It is 100% impossible for it not to shrink back with this weather. AT least that is what i think the problem is. Every finish, every dry time, everything. it all leads to the same result on every wood i use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu. Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 For all of your comments about things not going smoothly, I still think this guy stands out from the rest of your guitars. The burst and binding kill the workhorse aesthetic and make it look classy as hell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 What he said. I love seeing a high gloss finish on one of your guitars. Despite whatever shrink back occurs.....and it happens on mine too--everyone else that looks at this will still only see molten glass. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted June 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Thanks guys. Scott, i wish i could say that when they shrink, it is only noticeable to me. But is definitely pretty obvious. Here are some assembled pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted July 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 The more i look at this guitar and play it, the less impressed with it I am. All the flaws start to stand out more and more. Here are a couple bodies i put together this week. I am trying to sell them just as blanks to make up for a ton of the material costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 It certainly looks like your most impressive guitar to date from the photos. About selling things to recoup money, you may have better luck selling the raw timber as opposed to bodies, for example, if I was cashed up and the price was right I'd probably have snapped up both those tops and I'm sure I'd have to fend off half the forum regulars to get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 Very cooly figured veneers there, what are they? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted July 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 It certainly looks like your most impressive guitar to date from the photos. About selling things to recoup money, you may have better luck selling the raw timber as opposed to bodies, for example, if I was cashed up and the price was right I'd probably have snapped up both those tops and I'm sure I'd have to fend off half the forum regulars to get them. Thanks. The recent one came out nice, but it could still be better. Maybe if they were full thickness tops. But just being veneer, i am sure most people wouldnt be nearly as interested in buying veneer. Scott, the super strat is bubinga and the V is spalted leopardwood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted July 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 So i wasnt happy with the shrink back the original quilted sapele had, so i blocked it back and shot some kandy color on it. Looks like water from the right angle. In the shade you can hardly see the figure. And here are some pics of the KV body in the light. Let me know if you are interested in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 Maybe if they were full thickness tops. But just being veneer, i am sure most people wouldnt be nearly as interested in buying veneer. My bad, I wasn't looking that close Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted July 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 No problem. that is what i figured. Punny! Starting to get better at gloss finishes. I also forgot how dang nice the back and neck were of this guitar. This is some of the best looking mahogany i have ever used. And a perspective shot. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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