denny

Absolutely Shocked. RIP Dimebag.

I read (i think) in one of mr erlewine's books, about him using some coloured, transparent water based gel paint on one guitar, just wiping the colour on. Great idea, i thought, but, i did several searches but couldn't turn up any of this stuff in the uk (and barely any in the states). However, Being dragged round a hobby shop last night by the missus, on the glass painting isle, a found a shedload of this thixatropic gel stuff, for glass/wood/etc, for £2 a-tube, and 30% off that price. I bought 5, enough for sunburst type colours and a couple of carrieburst-esque colours. So three-ish questions : 1) Anyone used them before? and do you have any tips? 2) Do you think a wipe on sunburst is feasible? 3) Has anyone coloured walnut before? because i'm thinking of ditching the block colour I was going to do in favour of this...! Cheers Denny

In the UK : Pincotts Are the Uk arm of allparts. Looking in the catalogue at my desk here at work (Obviously, guitar part catalogs are essential reading in an IT Department), Prices start at about 25 quid. Just make sure you put the size on the order form just to make sure you get what you want. Denny

Cheers Guys, I'll check-out tints-all, thanks for that. It's much appreciated. ...and yes, i'm sure there will be enough scrap from the neck blank to test both coloured and clear filler - because looking last night, it doesn't look like there is much to fill... Thanks for the sanity check... Denny

Myka, That helps more than you probably realise! seriously, thank you! I can afford to treat myself to that one too, but maybe I'll wait till AFTER payday just so the girlfriend doesn't execute me where i stand. Expect a question about setting it up perfectly in a month or so! Cheers! Denny

Ello, I'm sure i read somewhere about mixing artists oils with finishes to create shaders/ colours, but does it work with grain filler? I'm thinking in advance about finishing the wenge neck to be and filling the dark-chocolate black grain lines for an even clear finish to go on top of it. The Grain filler i know about either comes in natural, mahogony and teak versions, none of which, i think, will be dark enough to fill the lines and look good. I was thinking of getting some black or brown artist oils (the ones i saw today were using linseed oil as a base) and mixing it with the grain filler until it looks right. Has anyone tried this, or has anyone a better idea? Cheers for any help Denny

Hey Myka, I'm beginning to agree with you, i bought i tatty old stanley plane from a 2nd hand store, and got my £5 worth. ie, it was worth a fiver, no more! All i want is a plane to square of the sides of a body blank in preparation for glueing together, but i'm ready to accept it maybe investment time! Especially as i don't currently have the expertise to renovate the shed of a plane, i see the charm of a plane working straight out of the box. So, Could you have a look at this : Lie Nielson Planes At Axminster.co.uk and make a reccommendation or two please? If possible your thoughts on a "cost is no problem plane" and an under £160ish plane (despite the fact that seems a heluva lot of money) Cheers Denny

Craft-supplies.co.uk have some georgous lumps of wenge, i'd never seen it before but was so taken by it i got some on the spot. The fact it looked like a giant bar of chocolate had absolutley nothing to do with it! Scott is right about it differing by each piece, make sure you at least ask for the striaghtest grain they have from whoever you buy it from.

I'm more than open to the fact i may have not done this in the best way, but.... On the only total refinish i've done (ok, doing - i've got the buffing out left to do!) i stripped the incredibly bad paint job that was on a start (i think it was household emulsion) with paint stripper and very course wire wool... which took about 4 hours one afternoon. It didn't seem like a huge effort and i was left with bare wood to start afresh with. I do have some pics if you want a nosey. Denny

I'm really glad this post came up as i'm in this kinda stage myself, i've just finished the planning of Guitar1, I cut out the body and neck last night ..... on paper! Hopefully the templates will be done soon and i can do a trail run on some scrap timber that i've glued together before i wreck the walnut body blank and wenge neck and fingerboard I've gotta say though i have no fear about screwing up, which is very odd for me, then again i have no stupid deadline to work to (no deadline at all), which is even more unusual! I've been reading up and planning since december and am planning to buy a neck if it fouls up anyway, so theres nothing to lose except a few quid/bucks!...is there??!? Currently, this is the most theraputic thing I've ever done, every little stage has me grinning like a kiddy, i'm praying it doesn't lose it's magic!

What Mike said! I've written on top of acrillic paint with one of the silver felt tip pens, and acrillic laquered over the top of that and it seems ok.

Both of dans books are worth getting, The "how to make your guitar play great one" is a set-up book (basically two or three chapters of the repair guide) but done in more detail, no assumed knowledge and a more easy read and simple style ....oh and with lots more pictures! I would recommend reading that one first, it makes the other books a much more easy read. It was that book that got me doing setups for people and into building the guitar i am doin now. Hiscock's book is my favourite and i'm reading Koch's book at the minute, but that one is a bit "all over the place".

Hey alex, For the spray cans, the 300ml cans are on 3 for 2 at halfords so you may get a better deal there. i guess it's a case of how much you need!!?! for a neck, i guess a couple of cans will be oceans?!? I tried the cans for a mettalic respray for a body and they seem fine. I'm gonna dye and rustins the neck to see what happens, mainly because thats what melvin hiscock did in his book and it seems faily easy. But, paul has a good point, maybe it's worth trying au-natural (the neck -not you)... Let us know whatever you try, i'm keen to know how the cans work on the neck for my "proper guitar from scratch project" which'll have a wenge neck. Denny

A couple or three options for : 1) Acrylic laquer in a can from halfords, not sure how it'll like the oil but you can check that. I've gotta wait another week to buff it out of my guitar but it looks ok at the minute. 1a) there is a plasti-cote spray in homebase/b&q which may work too!?!? 2) Rustin's Plastic Coating is brushable and available from Craft Supplies or Axminster power tools and if it's good enough for bryan mays red special, it's probably good enough for ours! 3) get some spray equipment and buy nitro laquer and thinner from craft supplies. You may need craft supplies guitar wood and stuff catalog as it's much better than the website, call them, they're also better on the phone than on email! Good luck Denny

I bought the shellac one, no problems with it. Final priming total : front (no grain filler) - 12 or maybe 14 coats - I've begun to lose count : back (with grain filler) - 4 coats. And the back looks better! - metallic british racing green starts tonight - if it doesn't rain! for your next blank, give craft supplies a call (it's more efficient than email with them) and get their sound wood catalog, my 1 piece african walnut was less than 30 quid. denny