Friday, January 23, 2015

Guitar Build #1 - 1/23/2015

Setbacks, setbacks...

I fucking hate setbacks, but, they are apt to happen when attempting something for the first time. So, here I am at my first (and hopefully last) set back of this project.

After drying overnight, the guitar top had lightened quite a bit in color. See here:


I knew that once I began applying the oil-based finish that the colors would pop again, so I didn't worry much about that. So, I began with the first coat of Tru-Oil. All went well here, see below:


The colors look "wet" again, which really enhances the contrast between them and makes the flamed maple grain dance. Truly pictures don't do it justice. As your eye's perspective changes in relation to the guitar, the grains move around like looking at velvet. It's truly a sight to behold! The finish hasn't built up to the point of gloss yet, but given three coats per day for a few days, it will. Patience, grasshopper!

I had wanted to post pictures after every coat of finish, but alas the sun didn't cooperate. At any rate, at the time of writing this I'm just about to begin my third and final coat of finish for the night. I just went outside to take a quick peek at how the finish is building and noticed a small...maybe not so small...problem. The finish has dripped down the sides in three spots. So, I first grabbed my 0000 steel wool and tried to buff it out. No-go. Then I tried 800 grit sand paper. No-go. Then 320 grit. This mostly removed it, at least to the point that if I sanded back the entire back and sides of the body I could re-apply the mahogany stain I already applied back on the 19th. So...setback it is, although, I'm optimistic.This gives me a chance to scrape the bindings clean once again, and also to deepen the mahogany color on the back and sides. All in all, this sets me back one day. Lesson learned: heed the advice of YouTubers and USE LESS FUCKING FINISH PER COAT!!!!

Anyways, no need for a beverage now...I've already imbibed! I'm off for the last coat of the night and I'll report back tomorrow with before/after photos of the build-up of the finish!

Cheers,
Dean

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