Andys Build #3 : JR-1DC

[gavinturner]

/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from Andyport on November 28, 2013, 21:45
The idea is not to put on too many coats...too thick can lead to cracking as the finish ages. I would think about 6 coats, 8 at the most would do. Put on say 3 good coats one day, allowing it to tack off between coats, leave next day or 2 to dry, wet sand and then shoot your next 3 coats. You could go another couple coats if it seems too thin.

Hi Andy,

One more quick question if I may. Do you rinse thinner through your gun while you wait for coats to tack, or do you just leave the gun hanging with the pot filled? I have my gun and acrylic ready, I am just worried about making some stupid schoolboy error with the spray gun first time out. Any help very much appreciated.

Cheers,
Gav.

[Andyport]

@ Gav
Hi Gav...the acrylic tacks off very quickly, so I don't worry about running thinners through the gun between coats. It tacks off to touch dry within a few minutes. Only if you have to leave it for any length of time, maybe 15mins or so, would I worry with running thinner through the gun.
Another BIG tip, something I found out on the weekend by ACCIDENT after spraying the JM-1 body, be extremely careful when wet sanding. In fact I don't think I will wet sand another guitar body again. Water and timber just don't mix. Just a small amount of water got into the bridge post holes and pickup routs and expanded the face timber. Had to sand the affected areas back to bare, prepare again and respray. It's not like I used gallons of water either, just a tiny bit gets into the edge of routs and holes and must run through the pores of the timber with capillary action. Something to really look out for.

Cheers
Andy

[wokkaboy]

@Gav & Andy,
thats what happened to my Iceman (when it had metallic blue paint with the southern cross) I was wet sanding after the 1st coat of clear and water must have got underneath like you Andy and it lifted the wood in places. I had to start all over again too. Be careful wet sanding folks !

[jarrod]

Always seal with the first mist coat. Then sand out the holes afterwards. Wet sand with a few splashes on the paper not the guitar. And wipe excess water away regularly.

[gavinturner]

@Andy: thanks for the info on spraying. That's just what I needed to know. Thanks also for the heads up on the wet sanding (you too Wokka!). I've had no disasters yet, but it might be just around the corner!

@Jarrod: thanks for tip on the misting seal coat. I'll definitely try that. In general I try to wet sand with as little water as possible as you suggest.

It's also a trade off when doing the mock-up too, whether to drill all those fiddle holes for tuners and pickguards and a on. Each little drill hole is a potential nightmare just waiting to happen..

Cheers Gents,
Gav.

[Andyport]

@ Gavin T...
totally agree with regards to pre-drilling when doing your mock build. I didn't with my first 3 builds and I don't think I will again.

@ Jarrod...
Agree too. I had sprayed seal coats and hadn't actually touched the holes with the paper, It was just a small amount of excess water that caused the issue. You're definitely right with regularly wiping away any excess water. Just a little laying around on the body can lead to problems.

As Wokka said, be very careful.