It's been a lot of fun seeing this guitar come to life. Thanks to everyone that assisted or even took the time to read.
As this build library comes to an end I thought I'd share my list of things learned/reminded of during construction. So, in no particular order, here we go:
-Check things twice. This is especially important for drips. Sometimes it takes time for drips to form so it's best to check again a few minutes after application.
-Work in good light. Use the light reflecting to check for scratches etc.
-Do every step to the best of your ability. If it's not satisfactory suck it up and do it over. Yeah, it's tedious but you'll be glad that you did.
-If you're thinking of doing a little bit more...don't. Keep things simple.
-Buy 2 (or more) of everything. If you don't need something you can save it for later, use it on your next build or return it.
-Remove dust/hair with adhesive tape or a tack cloth before/after each step.
-When using sandpaper to try to fix a mistake, use the finest grade of paper and work your way down to more coarse grades.
-Press grain filler into wood across the grain. Press in with a lot of force.
-After wet sanding, rub the wood across the grain to fill the grain.
-Use the palm of the hand to spread Tru-Oil thinly and evenly
-Use Goof-Off and a dental pick to remove glue
-Be extra careful sanding above the neck pickup
-Protect finished areas with painters tape. Better safe than sorry.
-Try paint, stain etc. on an inconspicuous area. Give it time to dry to fully assess.
-Drill all holes before finishing.