ST-1 First time builder

[jbeesl1]

Hi All
Got my ST-1 from Pitbull yesterday and got stuck straight into sanding and shaping the head stock.






I also sanded the body of guitar with 400 grit paper.
I am planing on painting the guitar white. I have Primer/sealer then white water base paint then gloss lacquer.
If there are any steps missing please let me know.

[Dedman]

I usually sand up to 600 before primer, then sand the primer and first colour coats with 800. Then 1000, 1200 and finally 2000 on the gloss coats.
Of course if you want the grain texture to show through ( some people do depending on what you like) through ignore that > ;D

[jbeesl1]

Thanks, I don't want the grain texture to come through. I am going with solid white colour. I might run over it with 600 grain next time. I haven't primed yet. So i prime,sand,prime,sand then colour,sand,colour,sand if needs more colour then paint more. Then clear gloss lacquer of course going up in grits along the way.
Your picture is scary down the bottom by the way. :-)

[Andy40]

Love the strat build...love love love

[FrankenWashie]

Great start to the proceedings mate, Like Dedman says, if you put the effort in to the pre-colour sanding then you will get a better result on the final colour finish.
Check and change your paper often, use good quality sand paper, not Bunnings stuff and you will be right. if you run from 80-100 grit through 120-180, 240-320-400 and then 600 before primer your finish will be great.

[jbeesl1]

Thanks, will do the 600 grit when I start sanding again. It's hard NOT to buy Bunning's stuff. That's the paper I have. What shop do you get your paper from? We are both Inner Westie's, if you source yours locally.

[FrankenWashie]

I actually buy online from http://www.thesandpaperman.com.au the product is better and he's really easy to deal with. Shipping isn't expensive and you normally get it in a couple of days. You're also supporting a small Australian business.

They also stock micro mesh polishing pads which are awesome for the final polishing stages.

The bunning stuff is cheap and it's okay if you don't have the time to source other options, like you say,it's hard NOT to buy from Bunnings, they're everywhere.

[Brendan]

Also check out any woodworking stores for sandpaper nearby - places like Carbatec and maybe AllTools?

[jbeesl1]

Ok After a month of doing not much with my guitar I have made some progress
I have done finished the neck using Tru-Oil and orange oil on the fretboard. I think it turned out ok

[jbeesl1]

I have done the body. It turned out ok. It was a lot harder then I thought. Everything looks ok until you paint it. I found it hard to get into the corners near where the neck attaches.
I used 3 x coats of primer sealer
9 x coats of paint. It was quite translucent.
Primed again as I had some high spots
Painted another 3 coats.
Put 3 x coats of lacquer. Sanded to 2000 grit.
Used compound to cut then polish
Am I happy with it? Yes. Could I have done better? Yes. I made a few mistakes with the painting but I will know better for next time.