Christodav's TL-1AR first build

[wazkelly]

Looking good buddy and the neck stain colour will blend in perfectly. Don't be influenced by your family as whilst it isn't what you initially planned the look will grow on them over time. Not many stains come out exactly how you think they will and that is what makes these truly unique instruments.

[Andy40]

Nowhere near as good as Andy's burst, but I'm not upset with the progress I guess?

Chris

Looking good...how many stain coats is that? I think i put at least 3-4 stain coats and 3-4 intensifier coats to achieve my burst.

[christodav]

Looking good...how many stain coats is that? I think i put at least 3-4 stain coats and 3-4 intensifier coats to achieve my burst.

So that pic was taken when it was still quite wet. That is it's 2nd coat of stain for the gold and the first one for the red/sunset. The black still has it's first coat on.
After the 1st coat, I sanded pretty hard as I was really not happy with the way it failed to blend between the colours on the back. I have gaps where the stain seems to have shrunk into the timber, so once it had dried, I sanded it right back with 320grit to kinda start again. The stain is all still there but faded back. This one on the front came out much better.
I think that on the 3rd coat on the front. I am going to apply all 3 colours in the one application to get a better blend and mix. I am going to follow your lead Andy and do a 600grit wet sand between coats.
The ebony Timbermate is really showing through which I do like.
The plan is to bring the black in further, keep the red about where it is now and make a nice fade between the red and yellow.

I also applied the black way too thick on the sides, so that will get a fair sanding back and re-application.

Andy, did you dampen your cotton material or do anything special when feathering the colours?

I also managed to apply the first final coat on the neck. It wasn't a hot day today so, I'll wait a few days to apply a second coat. I put the Pitbull sticker on too early and it basically fell off last night. LOL

Chris

[Andy40]

Andy, did you dampen your cotton material or do anything special when feathering the colours?

nothing but DT colours. from memory I had three pots with the colours and five bits of cotton each time i applied it. I applied each "band of colour" separately to the body then used spare two bits of cotton with the and dipped it in the lighter colour to blend each band, then touched up with the used darker colour rag with the blend. the blending gets better each coat.

You'll find that the colours blend better each coat you do and the colours will also darken up quite a bit with the intensifier coat.

I didn't sand between coats for the stains only the intensifier coats. even tough you put it on thin, it will still be a bit bumpy on the blend lines. these need to be smoothed out once cured and before the next intensifier coat otherwise the bumps will get bigger each time and cause havoc with a smooth finish.

[christodav]

Cool Andy thanks.

[christodav]

Here's a mock build. I couldn't help myself.



I got some weirdarse glue issues going on around near the jack input and on the back in the belly cut that follow around to the front. I also have the glue lines appearing just like another guitar I saw on here the other day. I don't know what to do really? I am hoping that the at least the clear will go over the top in the end even if they still show.
I think I am going to cut my loses and very light sand out the lumps in the black and start the intensifying coats on the front once it has dried. I also have to finish the stain on the back. I am hoping to get it done in one more session, but It may take 2 more before the intensifying.
Seeing that this is my first build, I am not going for perfection, but a decent looking first electric for my daughter that plays well and sounds good.
Fingers crossed.

Chris

[wazkelly]

Hi Chris, looks like an Alder body and on the PBG store site for this kit it appears that a few planks of timber get glued together, which seems about the same on each of my 4 kits, and yes there will be glue lines where they joined the planks.

The stuff happening near jack input might be over polishing of the timber that can easily occur through sanding things too smooth where the end result looks like you are trying to put stain down on top of glue as it won't sink in or colour up. Same thing might be happening where you have added the Strat profiling.

What to do???

You could maybe spot sand with a coarser grit paper near the jack input as that is going to be black and shouldn't be too hard to blend it back in. In other areas where the 'glue line' problem occurs through the transition of your burst colour scheme it might see you sand off more than you would like if seeking to reduce or eliminate such and then refinishing the burst all over that section. Very tricky and only you can figure out if that needs to be done.

[christodav]

That makes sense. Thanks for the tips mate.

[christodav]

Neck has been finished using DT Mission Beach and 2.5 coats of DT clear and the Grover tuners installed. Now the wait for it to cure to polish it up. It has a few small bumps here and there, but nothing a cut and polish can't fix. I haven't done another 0000 steel wool yet and that might even be enough and just DT wax over the top?
I could have done a better job with the stain, but I have learnt for next time. The gloss gives it some great grain colour changes and depth. The initial drying time was impressive taking advantage of these 30deg Melbourne days this week and me getting used to the thin coat method. Yesterday a friends kid came over to play with my kids and put her paws all over the neck when I had it hanging outside under the decking. WTF!?! I rubbed it back with the steel wool and brought it back to life with a final coat (One more than expected.) I have got over it now.
It does have a nice gloss though and I am pretty happy with the result overall.









Now to get this guitar body back on track.

Chris

[wazkelly]

Nice colour on that neck Chris. DT Wax on the fret board plus a logo and that part of the build should be just about all done.