Members Freeman Keller Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 This is the finishing stage and while it isn't quite finished (ouch) I thought I would go ahead and post it anyway. I devoted one month to finishing - there was actually a pretty strict schedule as you'll see. There are lots of different guitar finishes (maybe I'll do a sidebar) but only a few that work for the home builder. The simplist are brush on - shellacs, varnishes and so-called brushing lacquer. Probably the most popular is Tru Oil - it is used by gun builders a lot and many people seem to get very nice results with it. Most professional finishes are some kind of sprayed poly or lacquer - by far the easiest for the home builder is rattle cans of nitrocellulose (different than car lacquer). I used this on my first two and got very good finishes (the steps are almost identical to what will follow). However nitro is just plain nasty - it is toxic, explosive, stinky and in rattle cans, pretty expensive. So for my last three I have switched to water based or waterborn lacquer. Waterborn lacquer uses water as its main solvent - it is environmently friendly, doesn't stink or try to blow up the garage, and cleans up with water. Only problem, you need a compressor and spray gun. Well, I had a compressor so I bought a little detail gun and away we go. I will be using all StewMac materials - easy to buy stuff from them, they will all be compatible and Dan Erlewine has written a great book on how to use them. First step is to stain the mahogany neck a nice dark redish brown to match the rosewood. You can leave it light, but I like this effect. You can either stain the wood or the first few coats - I chose to stain the wood. However, even tho I masked the light birch laminate that is supposed to offset the headplate and extend the binding theme, unfortunately it wicked a little stain and doesn't stand out like I had hopped. Oh well, next time I stain before gluing it on The other thing has has to be done is fill the porus rosewood back and sides. Rosewood and mahogany are very open grained wood and you would think that the lacquer will fill the little pores - well it doesn't so you have to (spruce doesn't need pore filling). Pore filler is kind of a putty like stuff that you wipe into the wood, then try to remove from the surface. It took a couple of applications Now we start spraying. I did two wash coats (dilluted 1:1) and added one drop of amber stain to 4 oz of finish to just slightly kill the white look of the spruce. The wash coat sinks deeply into the wood. I have built a simple little spray booth out of an old guitar shipping box - basically eveything else in the garage gets cover with a tarp I spray 15 coats of sanding sealer - lacquer that is very high in solids which is intended to level and fill the wood. Three coats a day, sanded to 220 or 320 before each session. Then 12 coats of gloss top coat, again 3 per day sanded to 400 between sessions. I shot the last three the morning that I left for a weeks vacation - that was critical because I wanted one week to dry. When I got back the guitar was wet sanded with 800, 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit paper, then polished with medium and fine compounds. I wish I had a nice buffing wheel but the foam pad in the drill is adequate Here it is after the first polishing. I need to do at least one more with the fine and one or two with the swirl remover - that will wait until I done some of the setup. Anyway, here it is right now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted February 29, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 OK, question for you folks. I have two bridges that I can use - a traditional pyramid bridge and a more modern "belly" bridge any comments on what you think I should use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarist21 Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 Freeman, it looks great. Congrats on a big step forward and I can't wait to see the finished product. Ellen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stormin1155 Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 That is one georgous little guitar! Super craftsmanship! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hudman Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 Wow! That's a nice looking guitar! I like the traditional pyramid bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members daklander Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 The pyramid bridge if you turn it the other way around. The "belly" bridge is too intrusive, IMO. The pyramid bridge just seems to fit that small body better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members brahmz118 Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 Amazing. This is the best chapter yet. Until the next one I'm sure. I like the more rounded bridge. Somehow it fits the curvature of the lower bout. I might be biased because it's facing the right way. Or maybe that was the photographer's intent... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Krash Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 Just beautiful - can you make me one of those? I agree with brahmz that the belly bridge looks better because it mirrors the curve of the body, but also with dak that it's too big. A smaller belly bridge would be perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted February 29, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 The pyramid bridge if you turn it the other way around. The "belly" bridge is too intrusive, IMO. The pyramid bridge just seems to fit that small body better. Oops, good thing there wasn't any glue on it, eh? I started out thinking the same way but the more I look at the gentle curve of the end of the fretboard and keep thinking that, after all, this will be a girl's guitar..... I wish I could make the belly bridge smaller but I'd really muck it up if I tried.... My other home mades all have belly bridges.... All the original Martin parlors were pyramid... I just can't decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members horseman1 Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 I went back and started at #1 and ended up back here. Too cool! Really great that you shared this with us. Thanks! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 :love: that inlay on the headstock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Verence Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 Another vote for the belly bridge. Curvy is always better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwm1958m Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 In the pictures the pyramid bridge seems to be a more proportional size to the body of the guitar. I like the belly bridge better but it looks a little big. I like your thought of a smaller belly bridge. I think that would be perfect. It looks beautiful. Great work and great attention to detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TelesRock Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 Nice looking guitar. I wish they would make more electrics with more natural style finishes, like the ones on acoustics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BROLEX Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 OK, question for you folks. I have two bridges that I can use - a traditional pyramid bridge and a more modern "belly" bridge any comments on what you think I should use? the kidney/belly bridge looks a tad big for for parlour. if it was up to me, id go for the pyramid have you ever considered shell as a material for the saddle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 Words just won't come to me in order to describe how amazed I am at each step. I can't wait for the next step: posting A/V clips on the Annex! Followed of course by "the reveal" - again in video! BTW, my vote's for the pyramid bridge. The belly bridge is just too big and the pyramid gives it more of a vintage look that goes along well with the slot head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members larry50 Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 I was wondering when Chapter 14 was coming out. The guitar looks gorgeous. Another vote for the pyramid bridge. The belly bridge simply overwhelms the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tkris Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 beautiful work. i vote for the pyramid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DonK Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 The pyramid bridge if you turn it the other way around. The "belly" bridge is too intrusive, IMO. The pyramid bridge just seems to fit that small body better. My thought too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members garthman Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 It looks lovely. Nice work, Freeman. I think the pyramid bridge too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members babablowfish Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 What a gorgeous little guitar! Thanks again for posting. My 2 cents goes for the pyramid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Glenn F Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 You do good work, Freeman! I can't wait to hear a clip or two! Cheers, Glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members C70man Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 In the pictures the pyramid bridge seems to be a more proportional size to the body of the guitar. I like the belly bridge better but it looks a little big. I like your thought of a smaller belly bridge. I think that would be perfect.It looks beautiful. Great work and great attention to detail. I would have to agree. The belly bridge is just too big for the body, though I prefer its design. Too bad you can't come across a smaller one. If you can't, go with the pyramid bridge. It is simple but elegant. Wonderful job...as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Samilyn Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 Wow, Freeman! With each new installment, I'm again astounded by the scope of your talent and skill. Though pyramid bridges are not particularly to my personal taste, I think it's the more appropriate one for this guitar. This little guitar seems to have an old-world style that generates thoughts of the renaissance era in my mind, so I think the belly bridge is too modern in addition to being out of proportion. I do, however, agree with others that the curves of a smaller belly bridge would harmonize nicely with the graceful curves of the guitar. Can't wait to see it when it's finished!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members redhawks2 Posted February 29, 2008 Members Share Posted February 29, 2008 I like the proportions of the pyramid. I've been thinking about building one of Stewmac's 000 kits but the thought of getting all the work done to assemble the body and then taking a router to it and risking a tear out for the binding freaks me out. I would think anyone doing the routing must be in a cold sweat when that cutter is whizzing around at 25K against that soft spruce! I don't know how anyone does this.Beautiful work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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