Shell pink JM restoration - 8: done.

[fuzzking]

Okay pleeeease noone post a pic!!! 

[haesslich]

i found a pic i should not post... possibly it's someones legs skin?

[fuzzking]

okay clear coat is on, sanded and all. very thin, some spots are not 100% professional, but it's looking okay.

i have the chance to borrow one of these polishing machines... how long should i let the clear cure (last layer: last saturday, so it's 4 days by now) before giving it the treatment?
last time i did it all by hand and it took me hours and hours, my arm almost fell off, so i think it might be a bit more comfy with the machine / pad...

and: do i have to watch out for anything when machine polishing (except for being very careful)? 

i'll post some pics when it's shiny!

[mynameisjonas]

with the laquer i've used on my guitars, i found i had to wait at least a few weeks before polishing, but i guess it depends on the brand. so i can't really offer any advice except to wait just a little longer that you think is necessary

[fuzzking]

okay then... patience...  :-\ patience...  :-\



i'll give it 3-4 weeks. should give me time to get all the parts i need to build it up, anyway. the mint green guard i have here won't fit,
have to get an avri/vintage compatible. and all the screws... btw: anyone knows a good source for trem mounting screws? preferrably in EU?

[fuzzking]

patience... i tried to be patient 

but i hand-rubbed the finish a good measure tonight, as i did with the black one. i think a few more passes will do (and i won't have to wait so long):



what bugs me is that the bridge post plugs  are still visible, you can't imagine how much time i spent on that area (woodfiller, sanding totally smooth, prepping, sanding...). but now it shows again.

also, i didn't bother plugging the screw holes, and the wood raised while wet sanding. very visible on the screw hole near the output jack.

couldn't find the blue masking tape (neither at the hardware store or on ebay) and used regular painters tape in the cavities. it got stiff with the lacquer and loosened at some spots -  i didn't notice.

on the lower edge there is a bit of sand through... maybe i'll try and age the body when it's cured. we'll see.

all in all, it's starting to look better than the mess i found when opening the package.

and it's my first try at a light color with clearcoat (and 2nd finish ever)... it'll have to do.

okay no pics anymore until it's done, promised...  and the next ones will be in daylight 

[k o y l]

what bugs me is that the bridge post plugs  are still visible, you can't imagine how much time i spent on that area (woodfiller, sanding totally smooth, prepping, sanding...). but now it shows again.

The guard will hide that no ?

Hey we're Orange brothers now !! 

[fuzzking]

HEY BRO! 

yeah it will be hidden - it just bugs me that it didn't work. hmm.

[Ryan]

Looks hot, Michael! A li'l more buffing and it'll be downright EDIBLE. How many coats of clear is that?

[fuzzking]

it's 1 1/2... 

one mist coat over the orange, then 2 somewhat wetter passes that evening, next evening just 2 passes.

only very very lightly sanded. the sand through is in the orange, not the clear...  i just didn't have any more nerves doing the orange.
on top of that,  i don't have the best of conditions here: cats, dust... i can't count the times i tried to remove darker specks in the orange.

this will be my last finish job...  i think i should invest my time in becoming a better player, really.

i found a guy who will do some nitro finishes for me for a very very very good price (i had to promise not say who he is, haha.)

a  big headstock greco strat neck will go on this one to make it look a bit mustang-ish.

i hope it's completely done in 3-4 weeks.

[fullerplast]

mmmmmmm.... looks nice.

You really saved that one... good work!



Edit:

and: do i have to watch out for anything when machine polishing (except for being very careful)?

Yes... be very careful. 

Seriously, the finish comes off the contours and the rims of the cavities VERY easily. I burned through a PERFECT Desert Sand finish on a Duo-Sonic once and I won't ever use an electric buffer again. It could just be my lack of skill... but I won't chance it. It was on the contour of the upper horn... ARRRRRGH!

[fuzzking]

thanks!


i guess i could have done better if i had more routine & better conditions, but i didn't feel like spending around 500 euros (!) - really, i got some quotes from luthiers all over germany -  to have it stripped, somewhat corrected and finished in nitro. this way it was around 80 euros, and after all i wanted to do it myself because i wanted to prove it could be done at home, at almost no cost - even if you're not a  pro.

i'll keep my hands off the machine and take it to the guy who will be doing the shell pink on the musikraft body. he'll probably laugh... 


 

[fullerplast]

The guard will hide that no ?

Even the rims of the bridge cups will help hide those dowels, even with the guard removed. They're wider than the cup itself.

[fuzzking]

tiny update: it's at the luthier at the mo - he already polished the finish up and will match the cbs-style neck (that i took off the '78 greco strat) to the body. neck heel and pocket are not entirely compatible yet, but i trust the guy not to fuck it up (as i certainly would with my little skillz). i told him to take his time, as i'm still gathering parts here and there. hardest thing to get by seem to be the damn trem screws - if anyone knows where to get them, please lemme know.

[k o y l]

What kind of screws do you need ?