jlarremore

I'm still waiting to hear from Saga on what the stuff is. Another forum seems to think it's an Epoxy. Tru Oil ... hmmm ... and yes it comes pre-sealed. And from my last build I remember it was a nightmare to try to get off.

I'd like to try the Tru Oil just to see.

Because it came that way.

Interesting. It does help. It tells me I need to use an alcohol based dye or stain to finish it and then clear coat it.

Wow ... not one reply. Everyone must have swine flu.

This is my second Saga build. The first time I sawed 1/4" off the face of the guitar and attached my own wood.

This time I want to finish it more naturally. More like a Springtsteen Tele. What got me last time was the thick sanding sealer on the body.

What finishes ( stains, lacquers , etc. ) work on that .... stuff? I'm not even sure it's sealer.

I've read a little about antiquing wax working.

Anyone?

Ok, try this picture.

I'm looking for someone in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to finish my guitar. I'm not too proud to admit that I'm not good enough to finish it myself. Although I could, I don't want to screw it up.

I'm looking to this type of finish. This is almost EXACTLY the guitar and finish I'm looking for. Except I don't want the band.

So ... any suggestions?

Wow, good suggestions. I didn't like asking because it sounded like I was asking how to polish the horns. Double entendre deluxe. And I did get the "cracks and power tools" joke.

I liked the idea of a paint roller. That has some possibilities if married to a drill at low speed. Almost like cotton buffing on baseball bats. ( Ever seen that? Pretty cool. ) I'm wondering if the nap of the brush could actually work as a "grit" so to speak. Interesting experiment though.

I was also thinking of some kind of cloth method maybe sewing the sandpaper to the cloth. I also like the eraser. Maybe a soft chalk board eraser would work well too?

Thanks for the help.

I'm looking for advice on sanding and polishing around the horns of a guitar. Especially on a strat. It's really difficult to get into those tight curves to sand and polish.

Is there a tool or DIY tool you guys use? I was thinking of wrapping a drill or cylinder in a soft cloth and polishing that way.

Any ideas?

( all the while Jef is giggling about "polishing the horns" )

The paint is a rattle can enamel over an existing poly finish.

Can I re-spray with poly and start over?

I'm using 3M rubbing compound and Turtle Wax polish. Neither my preference. I can't find the 3M finesse it. And I am using a buffing wheel and some of the papers by hand. Time between thin coats is not more than 2 hours.

I just went through re-finishing a guitar with flames. Coats of color and probably 20 coats of poly. Sanded from 320, 400. 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, rubbing compound and polish. Still no mirror finish.

What did I do wrong?

I don't get it. If I finish a guitar without paint it works out great. MIRROR finish.

Jef

Yes, JC that appears to be a better idea.

I found some cool valve stems caps, like this, except mine were $5!

They would make cool vol/tone knobs and a 3 way high hat switch. Any ideas of how to convert the screw on stem cover to a knob? Maybe this needs to be in electronics? Wasn't sure if this was finishing or electronics.

I live in the Dallas/Ft Worth area - more FTW than Dal - and I was wondering if anyone knew of where to find 1/4 or 1/8 inch fine line tape for making flames? Scotch or 3M?

I've checked Autozone and O'Reilly's auto parts ... no luck. I've got a call into an auto paint supply store, it's just inconvenient to get to.

Thanks wood.

I have a guitar finished in poly I want to put a new design on. I'm going to scuff the existing finish and then spray with poly when I'm done.

1. What rattle cans of paint will work with poly?

2. When I clear coat with poly, do I still need to polish and buff?

3. How do I polish and buff poly?

Jef

I'm wondering if it's easier to just by a $180 Saga 4 string solid body kit and then customize that to an 8 string? Then I can make the body shape I want and I'll have the dimensions and the neck already. It's just a few parts upgrades.

Why are mandolins so dang expensive?

I've been going over the logistics of converting a kid's electric guitar into a mandolin. I need some extra brains to help me think this through.

This is basically what I would start with -> Kids Electric Guitar

On my list I know I at least have to do the following. What else can you think of or is there something else I'm missing?

1. Add 2 more tuning keys.

2. Switch pickup to bass pickup ... a small one.

3. change bridge to accept 8 strings

4. Find an 8 slot nut.

Anyone ever done this or have some advice. I think I might could do it, but I'm looking for pitfalls and things I didn't see or expect. Maybe the frets aren't close enough. Am I crazy ... maybe you shouldn't answer that last one.

I have a guitar that the tension on the trem pulls the bridge up so that it does not sit flat against the body. How do I tighten the tremolo springs? Do I add more springs, get tighter springs ( if so how do I gauge the tension ), or what do I do to tighten the existing springs?

Any wisdom to share on this?

Jef

And the answer is ....

I tested a few different methods using Water based poly, "normal" poly and shellac. All of them made the sharpie run. However, like you guys said a dust coat would probably work best and looks like the water based poly was the best bet for a Sharpie.

I was getting frustrated so I ended up going a different direction and decided to test out a paint pen. That was the magic combination.

I sprayed a paint stick from HD with a similar white paint. Then, I marked on the whole stick when dry with the paint pen. Then I sprayed the three sections with the three finishes listed above. All worked fine, however, the best was the water based. The Shellac and the "normal" poly gave a slight off-white tint to the white paint. The water poly didn't.

I'll probably let the kids sign it in a couple of weeks then dust coat once with the water poly. Wait and then Poly again to get a quick shine.

Any objections?

Yes, I believe it's an extra hot out. Any ideas where to connect it?

Ya ... that doesn't make me feel better Southpa ...

Well through some research ... it's an Ibanez 1550 Proline 1985. Ibanez diagrams go back to 1994 and I can't find a similar guitar post 1994. Anyone in the world care to lend a hand or specifically a wiring diagram?

2 singles, 1 hum, 2 volume, 3 toggles.

Anyone, anyone, something D O O economics?

Thanks Crash.

Is the rattle can clear gloss acrylic lacquer different than the two I've got pictured. I have limited access to finished. If I go to Home Depot, what do I get?

Jef