Re: Help with finish on a guitar!

[strikerspam]

I finished my guitar over about a week. 4 days of spraying on lacquer in very fine coats, and letting dry then coming back and scuffing it every 3rd coat or so. By the end I had about 14 layers built up.

Then I started sanding up in to the VERY High grit sandpapers up to

1000 if I recall correctly. I really only needed to get up to about 800 before I could start buffing.

Then I shifted to the buffing compound and the sponge apllicator. I cheated a bit in that I have a wood lathe. I chucked the applicator applied the compound to the sponge and rubbed it around on the guitar to do the initial application. I didn't want it being flung everywhere if I tried to apply it with the lathe running. Once it was spread around I turned the lathe on low and buffed it in. Using the lathe let me stand up and use both hands to steady the guitar as I buffed out the finish.

I wiped it down and strung it up. I wasn't happy with my stringing of the guitar. Since I knew I was out of my depth. I took my guitar to the local Guitar Center that had a guitar repair shop in it and let them do the final adjustments on string height and the bridges.

It plays very well and has a very mello sound.

so how long did it take you to finish your lacquer job? i would have >to use a drill to polish at any speeds higher than an arm can move. > >so is everyone pretty set on the lacquers and nitro? > >no one has used any of the oil varnishes like tru-oil or formby's high >gloss tung oil? > >also, what have you guys used to color your wood? stain or dye?

[strikerspam]

From the research I did, yes, it does. But it's a real dice roll to get the number of layers right. Too few layers of finish and the guitar will sound very muted and will not ring. Toon many layers and the wood will harden up and the guitar will hum.

If I remember right you need about 14 layers when you finish. But you may find it different. Remember though when you buff you're taking layers off.

[strikerspam]