Build Thread #1 (sometimes you just need to jump)

[SnowManSnow]

Originally Posted by kwakatak

...yet so many people with satin finish guitars choose to void their warranties and polish their satin guitars.

Odd that nobody really pushed the OP to do a French polish. All this talk of spraying and buffing seems so "against the grain" of building a guitar by hand.</tongue in cheek>

I did consider it Still kinda up in the air as to the process of the finish. I have a little time to think as I do a few more things. In time all shall become clear

[Neil K Walk]

I'm curious to see how you fare with whatever you decide. I did FP on my first because I didn't want to invest in spraying and didn't trust brush on finishes because I really dislike sanding. For me FP was pretty foolproof because it was sort of an extension on sealing the wood with a spit coat of a lighter cut of shellac and an extension of pore filling with pumice. This next time I'm considering on using something else since even ultra blond shellac has a tint and I want the natural color of the Carpathian spruce to come through; my first was cedar and it darkened noticeably. It's otherwise held up great and if I made a mistake in application I could repair it easily with the next coat. It requires patience though.

[SnowManSnow]

Here's a really tough MOP script S for the headstock. I THINK I can clean it up w some files, which I don't have here.
Now.... Getting that inlay shadow ON the headstock? Guess I'll need to think about that.



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[SnowManSnow]

Here's the idea



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[Truckjohn]

I personally like brushed oil varnish finishes. They are a whole lot more friendly than lacquer.. A lot more durable than French polish.

Thanks

[SnowManSnow]

Originally Posted by Truckjohn

I personally like brushed oil varnish finishes. They are a whole lot more friendly than lacquer.. A lot more durable than French polish.



Thanks

I like the process, but I'd like a gloss finish if possible. I suppose it could be done w gloss too though... Right?


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[emmsone]

Originally Posted by SnowManSnow

Here's a really tough MOP script S for the headstock. I THINK I can clean it up w some files, which I don't have here.
Now.... Getting that inlay shadow ON the headstock? Guess I'll need to think about that.



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Heres how I did mine. masking tape the bottom half in place and use a metal scribe to trace the top half, then before you untape the bottom half tape the top half and trace the bottom half. This should give you a pretty accurate tracing but obviously beware of it moving.
From here use a very sharp razor blade or a sturdy xacto knife type device and deepen that tracing line. Then with a chisel (you'll need something thats really narrow, as narrow as you can get, I used 4mm and that was definitely too wide to make it easy i'm definitely getting myself a 2mm one for the future) chisel up to that vertical cut line, the cut line helps stop the chisel. Watch the depth and go slow. I found the outer lines were much easier to fit that the inside lines and the inside lines needed more careful attention and fitting.

To clean the inside of the shape if a file is too big to get in there, you could cut a super thin strip of sandpaper and floss it

Hope that helps
Dave

[SnowManSnow]

I'm going to cut this again with a more "bold font" look... This time I'll ca the paper to the blank. Last time was pretty much free hand. That's why my lines didn't match up I guess


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[CoolerKing]

Just catching this thread now and reading from start to finish. Great job!

[SnowManSnow]

Originally Posted by matthewpartrick

Just catching this thread now and reading from start to finish. Great job!

I appreciate the encouragement


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[SnowManSnow]

Ok! Here it is w the inlay scribed on the headstock w chalk rubbed in the line! Look it tho ks it's a guitar!



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[SnowManSnow]

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[Halcyon/Tinker]

You've made great speed!

[SnowManSnow]

And the channel routed... And glued in!!
It isn't perfect, but a lot of the imperfections on the sides are covered.
I did 2 of these and took away these things.
1- don't cut too much (seems obvious but...) you can wrap sand paper around a bit to clean out rough cuts.
2- forget about tapered edges for now. I either need finer carving knifes for clean out or a smaller downcut spiral bit.
3- superglue take FAST to the headstock (I had a mishap haha)
4- move the blank I the V ... Don't try rotating the blade so much.



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[SnowManSnow]

Originally Posted by Halcyon/Tinker

You've made great speed!

Ed, I've very much enjoyed this!
I still need to finish, but the parts are pretty much done


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