The Boy from Balcatta. G'day Cobblers

Hi All,

I have to admit I'm late to post on here, got my guitar early Feb and still working on it.

I'm extremely time poor, have limited access to a desktop computer (except at work) and ran into some issues initially registering for this forum so it fell by the wayside while I started work.

I'm making the Tele Ash Kit with Maple Neck.

I'm not really that afraid of making mistakes and ballzing things up, although at the same time I want this kit to come out as best as it can. For me it's partly about the experience and the fun of the build (eg. having a project to enjoy and work on) and it's teaching me patience, of which I normally have little.

I've been documenting the build on instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQrrjLoF...ken-by=gibevan

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQu9qR8l...ken-by=gibevan

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQu-F3rl...ken-by=gibevan

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ5ZrTJl...ken-by=gibevan

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ5aDCgl...ken-by=gibevan

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRBVrV9F...ken-by=gibevan

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRN7ZINF...ken-by=gibevan

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRa0z9LF...ken-by=gibevan

Using the Dingotone Coolangatta Gold for the Body, and the neck is the Acacia Finish.

I've used two Stain coats on the body, to get it as dark as I wanted. I've done two intensifying coats. The last one I overdid, so it's taking forever to dry and looks "gluggy" close up (although the colour is brilliant and looks great from a distance).

I shall be asking questions/help/advice

Cheers all!

Here are my idiot questions, having never done this before and having little understanding of how wood works:

1) If you stain Maple, does it take ages to dry (it seems to, in comparison to other woods)

2) How many stain, intensifying and finishing coats are "normal" in preparing a raw wood guitar body?

3) If I'm putting stain on the neck, what do I do with the neck on the fretboard? Stain/finish in between the frets? Put it all on everything and scrape the finish off the frets themselves?

4) Hypothetically speaking (on a friend's behalf... well, he's more of an acquaintance) if I put a second coat of intensifying coat on my telecaster body using dingotone and I went mental on it because I ... I mean he or she ... was drunk, and really caked it on, would steel wool or fine sand be best at bringing that back into line?

5) Is Santa real?


Thanks guys and gals in advance for your help and sage advice

Welcome Gareth

Hi Gareth,

Welcome to the forum.

Very very cool build man, done one myself and love it too.

1) Personally I haven't found that maple takes longer to dry in comparison to other woods

2) I go for 4 stain, and 4 intensifying and 3 to 4 finishing coats of Dingotone

3) In regards to the neck, I tape off the fretboard and Dingotone or Tru oil the back of the neck and headstock. In relation to the fretboard, I don't stain my fretboard, I use Dingotone Wax to seal and condition it.

4) I do not use steel wool on Dingotone. The fibres get stuck too easily and you need to remove with a magnet. I use either, 600, 1200 or 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper and sand off gently and with the grain so you dont take off too much stain. It will tkae some off and you will need to spot stain that again and re-intensify waiting for it to cure again.

....never Dingotone drunk again......



5) Still wondering that myself actually....

Good luck and keep having fun my friend.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andy40

Hi Gareth,



Very very cool build man, done one myself and love it too.

1) Personally I haven't found that maple takes longer to dry in comparison to other woods

2) I go for 4 stain, and 4 intensifying and 3 to 4 finishing coats of Dingotone

3) In regards to the neck, I tape off the fretboard and Dingotone or Tru oil the back of the neck and headstock. In relation to the fretboard, I don't stain my fretboard, I use Dingotone Wax to seal and condition it.

4) I do not use steel wool on Dingotone. The fibres get stuck too easily and you need to remove with a magnet. I use either, 600, 1200 or 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper and sand off gently and with the grain so you dont take off too much stain. It will tkae some off and you will need to spot stain that again and re-intensify waiting for it to cure again.

....never Dingotone drunk again......



5) Still wondering that myself actually....

Good luck and keep having fun my friend.

---

Thanks Andy. I did give it a light rub with Steel Wool at one point, and exactly what you described happened. Managed to remove all the pieces.

Also thanks for the fretboard advice, that's very helpful

I'll keep at it

Cheers!

Gareth

If you get stuck in future ref build give me a shout Gorath. I visit my wife's family at times and will drop in give helping hand.
Best wishes
Kimball

Thanks Kimball, much appreciated.

Pleasure Gorath.