Kick's first build LP-1MQ Red Widow

[Simon Barden]

They normally come as either 42mm or 43mm wide. I always go for the larger size as you can simply sand it down to fit. You often get a range of heights as well. Depends on what tools you have but again, I normally go for the taller size and file/sand it down to size after I've cut the nut slots.

[Andy40]

Looking great Kick. the burst looks great

[Drummerdude]

Looking good Kick glad to see some new pics. If it were me I would keep wet sanding and applying until it looks like waz's swampcaster.. maybe take 20 more coats. The color and finish of that guitar crys for a wet glass like finish.. just my opinion.. looks great either way...

[darryl.bellotti]

Try wet sanding between coats before adding more TO. Really gets out all the bubbles and blemishes

[wazkelly]

Try wet sanding between coats before adding more TO. Really gets out all the bubbles and blemishes

Spot on Darryl.

On my latest build MMB-4 after 2 coats did a proper water based wet sand on 1200 grit and again after next 2 coats before reverting to applying 50;50 turps to TO with a small square of 1200 W & D paper. Using a rag just seems to trap all sorts of crap or lumpiness in the finish that wet sanding and wet sand finishing eliminate.

On yours Kick it looks like 1500 grit with water should knock off the lumpy bits and then give you a smoother platform to work with. Funny thing is that 1st coat after wet sand goes on really well but the next one doesn't seem to want to stick which tells you that the surface needs a bit of 'tooth' for additional coats to grab on to. Remember to just lightly sand as even with very fine grit it can take off more finish than you can imagine.

The Widow is looking very glassy already and with just a bit more work it will look awesome.

Cheers, Waz

[darryl.bellotti]

Yeah, I have been thinking that I need to do all this crazy buffing and polishing, but everything I've attempted has been crap. So I've taken it off and started again. Now It's just TO and thats it. I have been thinking about the 50/50 method too after seeing a dude on YouTube using it. After that, I'll just leave it be. Does that sound about right?

[Kick]

Spot on Darryl.

On my latest build MMB-4 after 2 coats did a proper water based wet sand on 1200 grit and again after next 2 coats before reverting to applying 50;50 turps to TO with a small square of 1200 W & D paper. Using a rag just seems to trap all sorts of crap or lumpiness in the finish that wet sanding and wet sand finishing eliminate.

On yours Kick it looks like 1500 grit with water should knock off the lumpy bits and then give you a smoother platform to work with. Funny thing is that 1st coat after wet sand goes on really well but the next one doesn't seem to want to stick which tells you that the surface needs a bit of 'tooth' for additional coats to grab on to. Remember to just lightly sand as even with very fine grit it can take off more finish than you can imagine.

The Widow is looking very glassy already and with just a bit more work it will look awesome.

Cheers, Waz

Hi Waz, thanks for your usefull (as again) tips. Do I understand correctly that you are using a small piece of 1200 grit wet sanding paper to apply a 50/50 (Turp/TO) coat? So no piece of rag?

[Adam Barnes]

Hey kick i hit mine with a wool buffer on the corrdless drill once the t/o was touck dry. Its not quite as shiny as wazkelly telly but its close and super smooth

[stan]

It's looking great - hopefully not too long until fitup time

[CascadiaGuitarGeek]

Depending on how big your bottle of TO is you might take longer than me to finish your Les Paul kit!