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Hi Andy, a couple of questions for you about spraying clear coats if you don't mind.
Is it poly you are shooting for the clear coats?
Which brand do you use? Behlen?
What proportion of solvent do you mix with the poly so it flows through the gun and lays down so nice?
Thanks,
Gav.
@ Gav: I use acrylic auto clear for my clear coating, obtained from a local auto paint supplier.
Don't remember the brand off hand, will check in the morning for you.
I find acrylic really easy to work with, its very clear(no yellowing), dries quickly and gives a hard durable finish. The idea is not to put on too many coats...too thick can lead to cracking as the finish ages. I would think about 6 coats, 8 at the most would do. Put on say 3 good coats one day, allowing it to tack off between coats, leave next day or 2 to dry, wet sand and then shoot your next 3 coats. You could go another couple coats if it seems too thin. Acrylic can take a lot of thinning. I'm guessing roughly 40:60 paint to thinner, maybe even as high as 30:70. The more thinner, the better the flow, the glossier the finish and no "orange peeling". Then leave it a week to cure before cutting and polishing.
Hope this helps.
Thanks Andy, that's exactly what I wanted to know. I may well give it a try this time around. Just got given a brand new spray gun. I do need to set up a little spray booth however and that's gonna take time.
cheers,
Gavin.
With the silly season well upon us, I have had little spare time to devote to the Junior.
Yesterday I completed the headstock, well almost, just letting it cure before a quick cut and polish.
The same basic design as I have used on my other builds.
Next step will be to bolt on the neck. It'll be the first bolt on I will have done...
...and I am little nervous about it.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...tock-Decal.jpg
headstock looks excellent Andy, is that a black veneer or solid black paint ?
Bolt on necks are much less stressfull than a glue in, at least a bolt on you can remove the neck to make tweaks, once a neck is glued its fairly permanent !
@ Wokka:
It's actually a decal that I have made, applied to the prepared headstock, trimmed to shape, and then sprayed clear lacquer over.
Andy, thats a cool idea, sounds like you have the decals worked out and the ones you sent for Gav's DC Jnr looks great !
Andy, another amazing headstock!
Your decal approach really looks awesome. I would give it a try if I could imagine a way to accurately cut it to size. Any pointers?
cheers,
Gav.
@ Gav:
I just oversize the decal, then after applying, using a scalpel with a very sharp new blade, run it around the edge of the headstock. Sounds easy but it can be a challenge...30 odd years of wielding a scalpel certainly helps. Otherwise you may accidentally reshape that beautifully crafted headstock.
What a truly elegant guitar.
The sunburst is probably the best I ever seen from a home builder and I like your decalling method too.
Darren did ask before about your 'bursting technique?
Eagerly awaiting enlightenement on that one . . .
30 years of wielding a scalpel, eh Andy? May I ask where?Quote:
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from Andyport on December 2, 2013, 19:25
@ Gav:
I just oversize the decal, then after applying, using a scalpel with a very sharp new blade, run it around the edge of the headstock. Sounds easy but it can be a challenge...30 odd years of wielding a scalpel certainly helps. Otherwise you may accidentally reshape that beautifully crafted headstock.
A scalpel is a very common tool in the sign industry Lawry. Perfect for weeding vinyl, but useful for many other day to day activities. I also use syringes to apply glue/solvent. I get some funny looks when people see a desk covered in scalpels and used syringes.
Yeah that's right Lawry, I'm not an ex surgeon or a mass murderer! :D :D :D
Since the advent of vinyl lettering and digital printing, signwriters use a scalpel far more than they do a brush. Always think with our steady hands we would probably make good surgeons though...
....any takers!! ;)
@ Maxaxe and Darren:
Sorry I hadn't written up the 'bursting technique' used on this build yet.
Thanks for your nice comments...more than happy to help.
I just rag rubbed this burst on using "Feast Watson Prooftint" dye based stains.
Before you begin, disposable gloves are a must!
Firstly, using one rag, I rubbed on a generous coat of the middle lighter colour all over the body face, coming to within approx 20-30mm from the edge. Then with another clean rag, quickly rubbed on the outer darker colour while the inner colour was still wet, overlapping the darker colour onto the lighter. Try applying a section of the darker colour at a time, I found that way it was easier to keep a wet edge going. Then using another clean dry rag rubbed to blend the two colours together, following the edge contour. If a line does begin to appear, just add more of each colour, especially the lighter colour, with their own rags and continue blending with the blending rag. To get the darker colour a consistent width from the edge, I just held the balled up rag between my thumb and index finger, and extended my other fingers down and ran them along the edge using it as a guide.
This is a fairly basic instruction...any further questions please ask.
Hope it helps.
Cheers
Andy
sounds like a good technique and advice there Andy, makes sense to me, might try this technique next burst I tackle.
Good advice to work on a small amount of the edge at a time so both dark and light colours remain wet and blend easier. I think ultimately it all comes down to practice. Might practice on the next clock I build as it isn't so important the blend is smooth.
Thanks for sharing that with the forum Andy. Really Andy from wudtone UK should have made a more detailed video of bursting techniques.
Thanks Andy
The info on your bursting technique is greatly appreciated. I've had a rough go at it with some leftover wudtone, which was okay, but not great. I think I do need to practice on some scrap wood a bit to try and get the process right.
Thanks again,. your advice will be invaluable.
Cheers
Darren
The info on your bursting technique is greatly appreciated. I've had a rough go at it with some leftover wudtone, which was okay, but not great. I think I do need to practice on some scrap wood a bit to try and get the process right.
Thanks again,. your advice will be invaluable.
Cheers
Darren[/quote]
Same goes for me - Thanks to your treatise I feel much more confident with the idea tackling a particular project waiting in the wings.
BTW: I did manual drafting in a previous life and second only to a tech pen, the scalpel was king. The handle was good for slotted head screws too . . .
Pretty much completed...now just to string her, do the setup and inntonation.
Took a quick photo with my tablet, so its a bit crappy.
Will get some proper photos and post them in the next couple of days.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...208_113624.jpg
Looks pretty damn good for a crappy photo. Can't wait to see the good ones!
Here's one more pic...still not great , but it gives you an idea of how she looks.
The body colour in the first pic looks washed out.
In the first photo you can just see the real colour in the top L/H corner of the body.
Have now strung it and done the setup...really happy with it.
I reckon once she settles in she'll be a beauty.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...208_120540.jpg
Another amazing job Andy. She looks fantastic!
cheers,
Gav.
Wow Andy, that is stunning. Love the burst, love the finish, just love it.
rob
Expect the LPAS (Les Paul Acquisition Squad) to arrive at your door later today Andy, no amount of any security will stop me!
Looks like I will have to get the PESTICIDE out!!
We also have a Rottweiler at home, Pest...so good luck...lol
Knowing that Wudtone is not on your list Andy, you can train the Rotty to tear limb from limb at the smell of Wudtone...That should keep you safe from Pest(y) intruders...I hear from a reliable source (DB) that the young man goes through Wudtone so far, DB is convinced he's drinking it! :PQuote:
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from Andyport on December 9, 2013, 09:34
Looks like I will have to get the PESTICIDE out!!
We also have a Rottweiler at home, Pest...so good luck...lol
Haha, yup, train it like the dogs at the airport but instead of illicit materials, Wudtone!
Wait, that still wont stop me haha!!!
There great axes aint they. Superb!!
Finally got around to taking the finished photos.
Really happy with how she turned out...plays beautifully too.
Especially if someone with talent was playing it. :)
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...-Body-Full.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...Body-Close.jpg
The back and Headstock shots.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...-Headstock.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...-Back-Full.jpg
Really nice Andy , the sun burse is beautiful
Love that burst, looks fantastic. Great job Andy.
Beautiful guitar (as usual) Andy. Beautiful burst and beautiful finish.
rob
Stunning Andy. Great work again mate...
Very pretty.
Another amazing job Andy. This one is superb - the burst is awesome, the headstock is perfect and this baby looks ready to rock hard! Well done.
cheers,
Gav.
That's rich! Well done on the head stalk too.
Andy as my next project will be a Jr can I ask did you do anything to the P90 dogears to conform with the shape of the arch top? Or is there enough give in the plastic to just screw it down tight?
Thanks mate.
rob
@ Rob:
Hi Rob...I did have issues getting the P90 dogears to conform to the body.
There is definitely not enough give in the plastic as there needs to be.
My first effort to screw it down popped the cover off the pickup, and once that had happened, each attempt after had the same outcome. So I went online looking for a solution. Fixed the problem by cutting a small wooden block to use as a spacer to fit hard up under the pickup in the cavity rout. Then slowly screwed the P90 down, alternating a few turns on each screw until tight. Still don't know if this is the proper solution to the problem, but it did work for me. They do need really need to address the problem. The plastic is way to rigid with very little give.
Maybe someone else has another solution that I could also try.
Cheers
Andy
Thanks for that Andy. I had tried "google is your friend" but hadn't come up with your solution. I will give it a try when I get to that stage of the build.
Gotta love these Forums.
Thanks again mate
rob
another great effort, nice work