guitarnut

' Thanks MrV! Peace, Mark

I got started on buffing this morning. I started with 1000 grit, then 2000 grit wet sanding. Then buffed with fine ColorTone compound. I switched from my small buffer to a foam pad. It worked beautifully. It took only seconds before I had a smooth mirror shine...something the small buffer took much longer to accomplish. I was sanding/buffing 4 guitars this morning, so this is only to fine compound. I need to make a pass with swirl remover and then hand polish. I hope to finish this one and dress it out this weekend. Peace, Mark

I got started on buffing this morning. I started with 1000 grit, then 2000 grit wet sanding. Then buffed with fine ColorTone compound. I switched from my small buffer to a foam pad. It worked beautifully. It took only seconds before I had a smooth mirror shine...something the small buffer took much longer to accomplish. I was sanding/buffing 4 guitars this morning, so this is only to fine compound. I need to make a pass with swirl remover and then hand polish. Peace, Mark

I got started on buffing this morning. I started with 1000 grit, then 2000 grit wet sanding. Then buffed with fine ColorTone compound. I switched from my small buffer to a foam pad. It worked beautifully. It took only seconds before I had a smooth mirror shine...something the small buffer took much longer to accomplish. I was sanding/buffing 4 guitars this morning, so this is only to fine compound. I need to make a pass with swirl remover and then hand polish. Peace, Mark

I got started on buffing this morning. I started with 1000 grit, then 2000 grit wet sanding. Then buffed with fine ColorTone compound. I switched from my small buffer to a foam pad. It worked beautifully. It took only seconds before I had a smooth mirror shine...something the small buffer took much longer to accomplish. I was sanding/buffing 4 guitars this morning, so this is only to fine compound. I need to make a pass with swirl remover and then hand polish. Peace, Mark

always...the air does get a little thick while spraying. Mark.

Thanks! It's a water based acrylic lacquer...absolutely no odor. When you're close to an open can, it's no more than smelling latex wall paint but after it's sprayed, zero odor. I love this stuff! EM6000 Production Lacquer Peace, Mark

Thanks Steve! I haven't sold anything yet. I took this photo a few weeks back for a friend of mine. Wish I had swept the floor first. 11 of the 17 are my builds. Some off-the-rack pieces in there too. 2 Washburn acoustics, Taylor 514 acoustic, Fender Lead II, BC Rich bass, and Epi LP. I'm starting to see my wife's point. Peace, Mark

Thanks Steve! Peace, Mark

Hi Paul. Thanks! I just spray out in the garage. I've been using a spray gun for many years, so I have a little practice in on getting things to lay down the way I want them to. It sort of runs in the family. My older brother is an airbrush artist. He does race cars and helmets down in Alabama. Patience is the best tool you can have when it comes to finishing. Spraying is just like anything else; practice, practice, practice...there's likely gonna be some stripping, sanding and cursing in the middle of it all though. Peace, Mark

Just a quick update. I have all the clear coats sprayed. I've been very happy with the way the EmTech water based lavquer lays down...just beautifil. It sprays like nitro, flows out smoothly, and cures very quickly. Of course, I've added a bit of help in the curing dept. I hang the guitars in my studio closet and I've placed a small space heater ( no extention cords involved...keeping it safe) in there with them...it keeps the room at about 100 degrees F. That coupled with the dry air indoors from the A/C really help the spraying schedule. I spray 2 double coats, place them in the hot room for an hour, spray 2 more and so on. It's been great. And when they come out of the room for another few coats, they're quite warm and the coats flash very quickly...allowing the double coat process to go very quick without fear of sags or runs. This will also allow me to speed up the cure time...normally fully cured in 100 hours. I used this hot room on my $210 Challenge entry and buffed it out the next day...only 20 hours after the final coats were sprayed. Now I just need to wait a few days for "baking" and they will all be ready for buffing.

Just a quick update. I have all the clear coats sprayed. I've been very happy with the way the EmTech water based lavquer lays down...just beautifil. It sprays like nitro, flows out smoothly, and cures very quickly. Of course, I've added a bit of help in the curing dept. I hang the guitars in my studio closet and I've placed a small space heater ( no extention cords involved...keeping it safe) in there with them...it keeps the room at about 100 degrees F. That coupled with the dry air indoors from the A/C really help the spraying schedule. I spray 2 double coats, place them in the hot room for an hour, spray 2 more and so on. It's been great. And when they come out of the room for another few coats, they're quite warm and the coats flash very quickly...allowing the double coat process to go very quick without fear of sags or runs. This will also allow me to speed up the cure time...normally fully cured in 100 hours. I used this hot room on my $210 Challenge entry and buffed it out the next day...only 20 hours after the final coats were sprayed. Now I just need to wait a few days for "baking" and they will all be ready for buffing.

Just a quick update. I have all the clear coats sprayed. I've been very happy with the way the EmTech water based lavquer lays down...just beautifil. It sprays like nitro, flows out smoothly, and cures very quickly. Of course, I've added a bit of help in the curing dept. I hang the guitars in my studio closet and I've placed a small space heater ( no extention cords involved...keeping it safe) in there with them...it keeps the room at about 100 degrees F. That coupled with the dry air indoors from the A/C really help the spraying schedule. I spray 2 double coats, place them in the hot room for an hour, spray 2 more and so on. It's been great. And when they come out of the room for another few coats, they're quite warm and the coats flash very quickly...allowing the double coat process to go very quick without fear of sags or runs. This will also allow me to speed up the cure time...normally fully cured in 100 hours. I used this hot room on my $210 Challenge entry and buffed it out the next day...only 20 hours after the final coats were sprayed. Now I just need to wait a few days for "baking" and they will all be ready for buffing.

Just a quick update. I have all the clear coats sprayed. I've been very happy with the way the EmTech water based lavquer lays down...just beautifil. It sprays like nitro, flows out smoothly, and cures very quickly. Of course, I've added a bit of help in the curing dept. I hang the guitars in my studio closet and I've placed a small space heater ( no extention cords involved...keeping it safe) in there with them...it keeps the room at about 100 degrees F. That coupled with the dry air indoors from the A/C really help the spraying schedule. I spray 2 double coats, place them in the hot room for an hour, spray 2 more and so on. It's been great. And when they come out of the room for another few coats, they're quite warm and the coats flash very quickly...allowing the double coat process to go very quick without fear of sags or runs. This will also allow me to speed up the cure time...normally fully cured in 100 hours. I used this hot room on my $210 Challenge entry and buffed it out the next day...only 20 hours after the final coats were sprayed. Now I just need to wait a few days for "baking" and they will all be ready for buffing.

I finished spraying the color coats last night. It's a bit darker brown than I wanted but it works nicely with the burst. The pigments darken a bit when they dry...sort of like painting a wall and the color on the wall doesn't look like the paint sample until it dries. This one's ready for clear coats. Peace, Mark

The bottom of the control cavity is angled to match the top. And the pot stems are more perpendicular to the top than the back. I believe Les Pauls are done this way. My Epi is anyway. Peace, Mark

They're standard on most PRS carved guitars. The "dish" accomplishes three things. It thins out the top, as you pointed out. Also, since the bit is perpendicular to the back of the guitar when the dishes and mounting holes are cut, it allows the controls to be installed in that line so they sit flat on the bottom of the rear control cavity. And the obvious, it provides a countersink for the knobs. If the knobs were just set on the end of a protruding pot, the edge of the knob near the strings would be much closer to the top when viewed from the side. The edge by the bindings would have a large gap under it. Peace, Mark EDIT: A very crude illustration.

Not sure I follow what you mean...the dye was left in the figure on purpose before restaining. An age old, tried and true method. Peace, Mark

The neck for this one came out pretty nice. This is natural...only clear applied. I wish I had done more with the heel on this one, though with that figure, I doubt anyone would notice. Peace, Mark

I sprayed some tinted sealer on the back and sides ti give myself a leveling stage before color. All snaded back and level. I sanded thru in a few spots but I'm not concerened...the color will be sprayed in the same sealer. Since I'll be spraying a dark brown, I masked off all the openings in the front to keep over-spray off the top.

Final clear coats on...I love how smoothly this water based lacquer lays down... Peace, Mark

I switched the camera out of preset and did some manual adjustments to the flash and iris. These look more like the real deal.

After applying the green dye again...I sprayed it this time since I had already done the back and sides. Plus, it's easier to control bleed going under the tape and onto the bindings. It wasn't quite doing it for me...too bright. So I added 5 drops of blue to the dye I had left in the cup. Subtle difference in the photos but huge in person. I think the extra dying and sanding actually helped this one. The figure is much more defined now. I scraped the binding and cleaned up the top edges. I think it's going to be a beauty!

I'm not one to show off my mistakes but I have to come clean on this one. I tried to go dark green and do a burst and it came out horrible! I have to get some better lighting in the shop. There's something interesting about the color combo but the uneven burst has to go... ...So, break out the elbow grease. On the bright side, I found a couple of spots that could have been blocked out a touch better, so now is my chance. Back to square one... it's a good feeling at this point.

Thanks!