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Final gloss coat (of 10) went on yesterday. I think I did a much better job this time around in keeping the coats light but even, and using the "double header" technique more effectively. I also paid particular attention to spraying the edges of the body. First time around I realised I sprayed directly on the body, and directly on the sides, but left the edges potentially a little light on. This time I did a pass at 45 degrees to the body, directly targeting the edge all the way around every second coat.
With some nice weather in Sydney I managed to find a good undercover but outside spot hanging off the brake lever of one of the bikes! Already a pretty decent shine on it before any cutting back and polishing.
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Last time I waited just 10 days before starting on the finishing, which I know as way less than many recommend. My key criteria was when the body stopped smelling of paint! I may have got a little lucky. I'll assess things the weekend after next ...
... in the meantime, I ordered my next kit!! I think it may be the only way I can deal with the curing process!! I've got an ST-1M on the way along with neck and bridge Entwistle pickups. I've also got a Freeway Ultra 6-way toggle switch on the way, and I have some subtle but hopefully interesting body re-shaping ideas in the works. New build thread hopefully not too far away...
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looking nice and shiny Chuck. First I've ever heard of a guitar hung from a bike brake lever !
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dedman
yup, you're hooked.
Hooked? Oh no, I could stop anytime I want, really I could...
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Nice work Chuck. And yes your in - hook, line & sinker!
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Definitely hooked. When you start ordering the next kit before you've finished the last . Nice work
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Looks great and yes, GAS is contagious.
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Got the logo on last night... In case you're interested all the numbers on the patent pending stuff include my birthday, postcode, date of build etc etc - effectively an elaborate serial number!
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And so the next stage begins... It's been 10 days of gloss coat curing, which I know a lot of folks would say isn't quite enough. However that's what it took on my first build, and the weather has actually been much more conducive to curing this time around. One thing I think helps in the process is that when I put the gloss on I do it in pretty thin double-header layers - one in the morning before work, one in the evening when I get home. It's almost more of a heavy mist than a "wet" coat. It's a technique my dad told me about that he has used in boat restoration (which he does for a museum down in Tassie now he's retired). After 10-12 coats it has built up nicely. My feeling is that with each application getting about 12 hours to dry before the next I avoid some problems. Anyway, not sure if that's technically correct but it's worked for me so far!
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Today marks 10-11 days since the last gloss coat so I did a quick test wet sand/polish (light rub with 1200, then with 2000, then a bit of Meguiers) - but only on the patch that will eventually get covered by the neck plate (just in case it's not as ready as I'd hoped!). I've just done that and it looks good (pic doesn't capture it that well). So now for some serious wet-sanding! The other interesting job I'll start on is a new pickguard. On the last one I just had to reshape a bit of the existing one, this time around it's a whole new one.
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As long as you can't smell the solvent any more (any your nose is pretty sensitive at this), you should be OK on the clear coat hardness. The Stewmac finishing book says 1 week minimum, preferably 2-3 weeks, but also gives the smell test as a good indication of when it's ready.
