First build - TL-1TH

[Bakersdozen]

Awesome! I can't wait to see the fruit of your labour

[Simon Barden]

I just bought a cheap air line powered buffer, to make more use of my air compressor. Except that the backing pads supplied are the wrong screw thread to fit in the actual tool. So it's all going back. Such is life and Amazon.

[jugglindan]

I just bought a cheap air line powered buffer, to make more use of my air compressor. Except that the backing pads supplied are the wrong screw thread to fit in the actual tool. So it's all going back. Such is life and Amazon.

At least the returns with Amazon are less painful than with random eBay or Ali Express sellers.

I could buy buffing pads for my palm sander, or a buffing wheel for the cordless drill. But I would use them so rarely, and I don't mind doing it by hand. I'm clearly not in a hurry.

[McCreed]

But I would use them so rarely...

You'd be surprised how often you use a tool for non-guitar stuff once you have it.

...and I don't mind doing it by hand. I'm clearly not in a hurry.

And clearly not old enough that "elbow grease" turns into elbow pain (and shoulder pain, wrist pain, finger pain...)


edit:
Oh, and looking good btw! Can't wait to see it complete and playing!

[jugglindan]

Not that old yet, but getting there fast

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

[jugglindan]

Cut, polish, and hand buff done.


The finish feels silky smooth to touch, has a good high gloss, and I think it looks good. I would grade it a B. With the light at the right angle, there are orange peel remnants that prevent me from achieving a true mirror-like reflection. In hindsight skipping wet sanding with 600 and 1200 wasn't a good idea. Working up through the micromesh grades did a great job polishing what it could, but I needed to go harder at the early stages. There is no way I am going to go back to 600 or 1200 now since I am happy with the result, but I think that I have learned enough to get an A or A+ finish next time I use lacquer.

However, this is just me being critical for the sake of improving next time. I like the finish I have, and it's exactly what I had in mind from the start.

On reflection I think the nearly 2 months drying time really helped as well. During the entire sanding and polishing process the paint surface felt hard and sanded well.

I also cut, polished, and buffed the headstock but not the neck as I didn't want to affect the nice semi-gloss sanded effect.

[jugglindan]

Now on to attaching the neck, fitting the E tuners and positioning the bridge.

[McCreed]

Nice sparkle in those new photos!

I didn't realise you hadn't fitted the bridge yet. I like to do that before any finish goes on, but I guess others do it after.
There are arguments for each, but I'm not keen on drilling into a new paint job.

That's a string-through hardtail so you're going to have to drill through the body for the strings as well as drill to fit string ferrules.
I hope you can manage that without damaging your nice new finish.

[Bakersdozen]

That is looking top notch DC. Your patience certainly paid off there mate. Your a more patient man than I , that's for sure. Some people drill hardware first, some don't. Like anything there are different camps of thoughts and approaches. Keen to see this progress through the last few stages.

Does your bridge have top loading or are you planning string through with ferrules?

[jugglindan]

Thanks McCreed and Bakersdozen.

Right back at the start of the build I determined that the bridge works as both top-loading or string-through. Photos on the kit page show top-loading. I decided on top-loading to keep things simple. I also decided way back forever to drill after the finish to reduce the risk of water getting into the holes and cracking the finish. At the time I was planning on wet sanding. As it turns out I didn't wet sand so could easily have drilled first. However, sticking to the plan means masking with tape and drilling carefully, which should get the hardware fitted without damaging the finish.

The finish is super hard now, so I don't have any fear of the tape itself causing damage.