Astracaster First Build FS-1

[Drashkum]

I like doing the electronics much better than clear coating. It is nevertheless always a bit of a battle to get the electronics through the F holes! I put a coil split switch on the V pots, and that did nothing to make it easier to mount.

The other thing that I did wrong on the first go-round was to forget not to run wiring between the switch and the lower volume pot. If you do that you can see the wiring through the f-holes. All the wiring needs to go in sort of a C shape from the switch to the top V to the top T to the Bottom T and end at the Bottom V. Otherwise you see wires through the hole.

But for the one big drip, your finish looks great! Judging by the fact that there are no other visible drips your drip-sanding technique seems to be working. How did you like the approach you used? I am in final (I hope) sanding mode, and may have use of it!

The approach to sand the drip after applying the grainfiller like timbermate of which i posted a video earlier from Highline guitars is flawless. I have done that a couple of times now on various drips on my Guitar and it seems to pay off nicely. Only grouse is that I have to wait well enough for the clearcoat to dry each time for me to do that. And each time that waiting time has been 10 days or so as the drip-nail test seems to fail before 10 days. So that's a frustrating wait.

I am trying to keep the electronics simple here. No push pull pots as the pickups supplied with the kit have only 2 conductor wires. I may order tone rider pickups for my next build ( Same starcaster which was sent to me earlier which I will be trying to salvage) for which I have an extensive plan of Coilspliting and piezo TOM bridge which will use the Artec MB1 chip.

As you say doing everything through F Holes is a pain. That's the next learning hurdle which I may have to ace. I may also have to get those polishing compounds and polishing pads for hand drill that I may have to use for polishing.

Geez! Building a guitar first time needs a lot of investment!!






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[fender3x]

Yes, it does take some investment. It's one of the reasons that I like to try to make something I couldn't just go buy off the shelf. The cost of the kit and finish (by the time you have purchased all the liquid products, the applicators and the abrasives, you have a bit of expense. Then there hand tools and hardware you might want to replace. I shop for deals on hardware and electronics, but like to use quality components...it starts to add up...and that's not counting getting parts you didn't need or that won't fit, and material necessary to correct mistakes ;-)

But when you are done, and this is certainly true in your case, you'll have a truly unique instrument.

[Drashkum]

Hi guys. Sorry for not updating the thread. It's been raining here so I had to play a waiting game.



Knocking of the drips and runs one final time before the final clear coat and then I start level sanding and wetsanding and buffing. There is extensive orange peel which I believe should go away with wetsanding and buffing.

I will have to start doing the electronics at some point this month. I think I can start that when I hang the guitar to dry after final clear. Do I have to wait for 3 weeks to a month before I start level and wetsanding and buffing?



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[Trevor Davies]

"Do I have to wait for 3 weeks to a month before I start level and wetsanding and buffing?"

I think most folks do leave it a few weeks to stop de-gassing! Better to be safe.

[JohnH]

It's looking amazing!

[Drashkum]

Hi guys. Sorry couldn't update earlier. The final clear coat is over today. I am letting it dry for 3 weeks from today before I take it for wetsanding and polishing. Will post pics soon

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[fender3x]

I was wondering about your build. You're faster than I am. I just did a polish on a clear coat that has been "curing" since April. Looking forward to the pics!

[Drashkum]

This was just before the final Coat



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[Trevor Davies]

Very nice, very shiny. Great work.

[fender3x]

Looks great! You've got to be happy with that!