DJP - First attempt TLA-1R

[Fretworn]

I think I will probably stop after applying this one coat, and move on to the first top coat next week.

Can I suggest waiting at least two weeks. The colour will continue to intensify and you may discover areas you have missed once this happens. I little bit of patience can lead to a better result.

[DJP]

That seems sound advice. I am so pleased with the finish so far it would be a shame to spoil it for a handful of days !

[dingobass]

Wot Fretty sed

It is nice to see someone take their time with the finish, most problems happen when people rush the finishing......

I dont know how many times I say this, but the finish is what makes or breaks a build.
And when you consider that the Guitar should last a lifetime, whats a few weeks or even months spent on the finish?

[DJP]

Thanks Dingobass. I have to admity - I usually mess things like this up due to impatience and rushing ahead. However, having seen what can be achieved some beautiful builds in the diaries on this site, I am keen to take my time. Two quick questions.
1) Waterslide decals - I found a site making beautiful ultra thin multicolour ones in a metallic ink. However they stated their waterslides are not suitable for an oil finished surface. However - I seem to see plenty of folks applying decals in this forum. I am assuming that a waterslide should go over the first topcoat of Dingotone without too much of an issue ? Would that be correct ?
2) What you reckon about this weather in Perth - I just bought a weatherstation at JCarto monitor humidity, but with the forthcoming heatwave, might it be worth holding off tonights plans for putting a stain on the neck ? My current motto is if in doubt - don't !
Thanks

[DJP]

OK. I've done something I've never managed before. Been patient when building something and waited between coats !. I am pretty happy with the DT top coats on the body. 4 coats applied. Colour is great. Pretty even finish - a few minor flat / dull spots where the angle of the grain changes, but very minor You have to look close and I reckon the Dingowax should help.

[DJP]

The neck was more problematic. The DT top coats were very patchy. Some areas of grain were glossy and others very dull where the topcoat did not take. After applying 4 top coats I started to get quite despondent. I had applied light steel wool before coats and appled quite thinly as directed, but the patchy finish was not improving on the headstock - although the back of the neck improved slightly. I was particularly worried about applying a waterslide decal over the pretty patchy headstock finish. So whilst applying wirewool before topcoat #5 - I changed tactics. I gently applied 600 grit sand paper over the whole neck. It certainly evened out the patchy finish - in fact it looked great. Could have stopped then. However -still worrying about whether a waterslide decal would take to the DT I went to the big green shed for some White Knight Acrylic (thinking that with my newly learned patience - I could always start over again if it failed). I tried it on a piece of wood that I had previously tested the DT stain and top coat on. It seemed to take. I have now sprayed one thin coat and the finish is better than I could have dreamed. A beautiful even gloss. So far so good !

[DJP]

Headstock Decal

[DrNomis_44]

Nice looking Tele build you have there, the Nullabor Ochre finish looks great, I've got Coolangatta Gold on my Strat build, Wokkaboy suggested using some Ebony Timbermate to darken the grain so it would really pop, and it worked a treat.

[DJP]

Yes. The grain in that Gold Standard strat of yours is awesome. Its far from standard.

[DrNomis_44]

Yes. The grain in that Gold Standard strat of yours is awesome. Its far from standard.

But in a strange way it just seems to work with the Coolangatta Gold, it has that "Hand Made" vibe to it, it should look even better once all the finish work has been done and it's all dry, the neck is pretty much done and dusted.