The PBG B46.....Behemoth bass and guitar kit.

[ozzbike]

I found a tide mark across the back of the body.....think I will let her hang for two or three days...then some sanding...colour and polyurethane again.

Otherwise the mix of U-Beaut stain Blue and then a wipe of Black over the top in places is going well. I actually like it a lot. The Blue was very bright...and the black has made the colour dance around in the grain in places.

The headstocks were given two coats of Tru Oil...left to dry and now the necks, except the fingerboards, have had two thin coats of wipe on polyurethane. The body has had two thin coats of poly as well. (Oh the headstocks are U Beaut Yellow stained under the Tru Oil.)

I was going to mount, drill, situate things before I finished the sealing...as I did in the past. But there is just so much space to cover, so many things to do with this build. I have decided to finish the body....apply the blue 3M tape where it needs to be....measure...drill...and remove the tape.

[Dedman]

looking fantastic!

[ozzbike]

looking fantastic!

Thanks mate....I like it.

[gavinturner]

Oh man! That black and blue stain job looks amazing dude! Such a sensational idea, and you've nailed it. Absolutely loving the colour.

cheers,
Gav.

[ozzbike]

Oh man! That black and blue stain job looks amazing dude! Such a sensational idea, and you've nailed it. Absolutely loving the colour.

cheers,
Gav.

Wow man thanks. Big praise coming from you Gav.

I still worry about the defined tide line on the back....maybe have to sand and try the colour again there. I have two coats of poly on her now...the lines are noticeable.

[wazkelly]

Hi Ozzie, looking good.

Struggling to see tide mark on the back? Maybe not worth the effort touching up vs risk of stuffing up what already looks pretty damn good.

Cheers, Waz

[ozzbike]

Hi Ozzie, looking good.

Struggling to see tide mark on the back? Maybe not worth the effort touching up vs risk of stuffing up what already looks pretty damn good.

Cheers, Waz

Waz you got the rose coloured glasses....but thank you.

I looked at her all over today....and yeah leave well enough alone I think.

I am now approaching the area I normally have issues with....the first wet sanding...or light sand....or steel wooling.

I did get a kit from the sandpaperman with a number of 50 mm x 50 mm varying grade micro mesh pads.

My query is do I start now wetsanding at the coarsest grade? Do I wipe on more coats of poly before I start? Do I do a staged progression of three or four coats of poly followed by a light wet sand with finer and finer micromesh pads after more and more polyurethane?

Ideas will be much appreciated guys. Thank you in anticipation. 😎

[wazkelly]

Hi Ozzie, just wondering how many top coats have you done as final wet sanding can end up stripping the last couple quite easily.

If everything looks and feels quite smooth maybe start with 1200. These days I start with 1500 and if that isn't doing enough then drop back to 1200 and work my way on to 1500 then 2000 before reverting to the 4000 micro mesh pad, followed by 6000, 8000 and finishing on the 12000 pad.

If you start on the coarsest micro mesh pad it may not have enough grunt and you will wear it out fast without making much of an impression on the finish. I speak from experience having worn out that blue 4000 grit one on the 1st kit of pads while the rest were about 70% spent after doing 4 guitars.

Cheers, Waz

[gavinturner]

I'm with Waz. Dont start with anything less than 1500.

cheers,
Gav.

[ozzbike]

Okay...Waz and Gav.

I get the idea. I shall apply more light coats of poly until I am getting a coverage I like...THEN...doing some sanding.

In the past I have applied "X" number of coats and then stepping up from the previous coarseness of sandpaper I have done what I would have called finishing sanding...either light sand...or wet sand.....continuing with say 3 to 4 coats and then sanding to the point that I would be having a smooth surface and be up about 2000 grit. Then I would do the auto product finish.

This time it seems maybe my thick head can absorb the need to get the coverage I need and then only sand then....basically one sanding operation...but with progressively finer grits....micromesh included.

Okay she has had a further coat all over today. I am trying to make the last movement of the application in long with the grain wipes....hoping to even it out....this in the past has driven me nuts. The lines between areas and my perception of uneveness.

This time...straight to 10 coats and then see what I have. (It appears that as I apply the poly with a square of cotton cloth that I am apparently applying 1/3 of a coat each time...effectively...the master of all knowledge...the Internet....says. So at about 10 coats I will have the depth of about 3 thin brushed coats. I hope that is thin enough...yet smooth and protective enough.)

Feast Watson say 6 hour between coats? I think that is a little time sad. So one a day at the moment....with life induced longer gaps here and there....say every three coats....then a gap of a couple of days.

We currently stand at four coats all over...tomorrow off to Brisbane...work chasing...got an Interview...wish me luck guys.

See how we go over Fri Sat Sun......up to 7.....then maybe leave a couple of days....and then do wed thu fri....through to 10 coats at the end of next week.

I would then like to let her hang for a fortnight....maybe a month to fully harden....then start the wetsanding at 1500grit. Fingers are crossed.

Thanks for the advice gurus of gloss.