Finishing your Guitar..

[dingobass]

Hey Peeps,

First, I must say there are a heck of a lot of really nice finishes being done

Now for the DB finger waggling....

Dont over do it with the coats!!!

There is no need to apply any more than four coats of any finish, more is not better.

The pic shown here has only got three thin coats of Nitro, scuff sanded with 400 grit to flatten it out between coats.
I dont think its gunna get any shinier....

The same rule applies to any finish, (keeping in mind that TO will never give you this level of gloss)

Less is always best.

[keloooe]

Indeed, I limited my Strat to about 4 coats and it came out beautiful!

[stan]

great advice DB, and for those doing solid colours with clear over: enough colour to get even coverage is enough

[andrewdosborne]

Wise words DB. I've learnt the same through a lot of trial and error.. my latest TLA-1 only has 3 coats of TO on the neck, and 4 on the body.

[wokkaboy]

good to see the Chips avatar back Andrew, thats better than your head on Sigourney Weaver !

[kenfu]

Very noob question, but regardless of shine would more coats of something like lacquer or epoxy give more damage protection for those of us with a very bad case of the butter fingers? Or can it only do so much? Thanks!

[Island_Moose]

Shellac applied by French polishing excluded I presume?

[dingobass]

Shellac applied by French polishing excluded I presume?

The only exception!
Thanks for reminding me Moose, it has been a few years since I last French Polished an axe

[dingobass]

Very noob question, but regardless of shine would more coats of something like lacquer or epoxy give more damage protection for those of us with a very bad case of the butter fingers? Or can it only do so much? Thanks!

Its a fair question.
The answer is not really.
Thick finishes will actually chip more easily.

[kenfu]

Thanks DB! That is great to know.