Quote Originally Posted by UpperCaseH View Post
Looks like it's my day to ask a million questions!

This is the second final coat after a week and a bit of curing time. I don't even know what the marks are. They're more present around the edges, not so much towards the center of the guitar, and none on the back and sides, they're confined to the quilted maple top.

Did I put the final coats on too thin? Or did I not prep well enough? Either way, is there something I can do about these marks? I guess a grain fill at the start would have taken care of them?

Also, should I give it a light steel wool between final coats? I didn't between 1 and 2 and the marks became obvious on the second coat.

Hi H,

Over all it looks like you've done a bang up job with the finals in this shot. The small bumps are rather normal in DT intensifier coats and final coats and just need to be smoothed out before each subsequent coat. (I don't use steel wool just in case it hasn't fully cured - otherwise the fibres can get stuck) I lightly wet sand in the direction of the grain with either 1200 grit or 2000 grit just enough to smooth the bumps out (if this is not done the bumps will just be added to with the next final coat and become a bigger problem later).

Streaking is either caused by too much DT final coat (in which case it needs to be sanded out) or too little - which can just be added to with subsequent coats.

I see you've now done the final-final coat. I'm sure you'll make that decision once you see how it dries. Then you can again smooth out any bumps and wait the 21 days for it to fully cure before polishing.