Am I the only one?

[Cannibalchris]

Am I the only one that has been trying to finish their guitar for the past 4 months? I can be abit of a perfectionist but I just can't seem to get a good final coat down that I'm happy with. Iv tried everything, spray varnish, using a spray gun and I'm finally on to wipe on cause it doesn't matter how much I clean, blow down the area I always get spots of fluff or dust and lumpy bits in it. It's starting to drive me crazy now 😡

[wazkelly]

Hi there.

Presume your name might be Chris? Check out Frankenwashie as he has some builds that have been going on for way longer than yours.

With the weather we have had on the east coast since before xmas that may have added some degree of difficulty in achieving a perfect finish Most builds seem to take between 4 - 6 months from the time the box arrives to playable finished item, sometimes longer as each build is another lesson in life as not everything goes to plan.

With the spots of fluff we have all been there at some stage and share your frustration. Just takes a bit more delicate wet sanding to remove and then add another coat where at some stage it becomes good enough to do the final polishing.

I just wet sanded my latest right up to 12,000 micro mesh and whilst wet it felt like glass and really smooth yet next day once fully dry it showed up slightly lower parts where the sanding hadn't touched which leaves me in the dilemma of either adding a bit more finish or go again through all the grit levels involved in the wet sanding process which is probably what I will end up doing. Was really looking forward to the final polish as hoping to finish it off this week but will need to be more patient. And yes, I too am a perfectionist but there comes a time where we may need to accept a level that is pretty damn good and move on otherwise these things feel cursed and will haunt you for ages.

Cheers, Waz

[Cannibalchris]

Yeah it's chris, cannibalchris is just a stupid nickname form high school cause I love death metal that's just stuck with me haha

I'm in Adelaide and the weather has definitely made it more difficult, I think this week is gonna be the first full week under 30.

Yeah I need to take more time sanding, I may be a perfectionist but I'm also a very impatient person as well so it's a horrible mix. Being a cabinet maker and doing abit of work with solid timber and sanding 40+ hours a week at work doesn't really help with my patience with sanding either. I know it has to be done though, so I'll just keep learning from my mistakes and fighting on to get this explore finished

[wazkelly]

Hi Chris, have you started a build diary yet as I couldn't find one?

Know what you mean about sanding and if that is what you do all day for a living it would be the last thing you want to get stuck into again as you walk in the door when you get home.

Wipe on finishes seem to be more forgiving but can sometimes take a bit longer. maybe thin it down a little bit so that it doesn't go on too thick and gooey as that will help with curing time and also seems to spread easier.

[Cannibalchris]

No I didn't start one, I didn't know where to start and I'm have a very very basic knowledge of guitar. I couldn't even play a chord when I first started building my first one.

It's definitely easier at work, all I have to do is rough sand it and pass it on to the polish shop to finish it all off.

Okay thanks for that, I'll give it a go. Any suggestions are appreciated at the moment!

[Andy40]

No Chris, you are not the only one. I am mid way sanding back my last kit as I was not happy with the finish

Its good to see that you care about the finish that much. Its going to last a long time on the guitar....take your time!!!!

[FrankenWashie]

If it's any consolation Chris, I am on the third finish attempt on my EXA-1. Thankfully this time is only the front face of it, but the first attempt required sanding the entire body and neck back to bare wood after the finish coat.

[wazkelly]

Yep, after another wet sanding session earlier tonight looks like I will need to apply a few more coats of TO to help event things out and also cover some parts that went back to bare timber. All part of the game.

[wazkelly]

Hey Frankie, have you been sniffin some fumes as it looks like you double posted 2hrs 21mins apart???

Cheers, Waz

Edit: Ooops, it now looks like you must have deleted said post?

[FrankenWashie]

Hey Frankie, have you been sniffin some fumes as it looks like you double posted 2hrs 21mins apart???

Cheers, Waz

Edit: Ooops, it now looks like you must have deleted said post?

Yeah, don't know what happened there, but I is fixed it. Possibly hit back on Ithingy and it reposted it. Dunno.