AND SO IT BEGINS!

[ThtOthrPrsn]

So before I get into the progress, let's start this update off with some candy  :toothy10: :toothy10: :toothy10:

I finally got around to wetting the top. For lack of better words HOLY (explicative)!!!

Okay, enough drooling. Back to the progress, the bridge finally came in!
This is simply a mockup, I plan to have it professionally installed because I lack the proper tools.

 

[Cagey]

That thing is going to be awesome!

 

[ThtOthrPrsn]

That thing is going to be awesome!

Yeah, I'm getting more and more excited to get this all together. It's starting to get warm enough out here to finally start putting on my coats of tru-oil. Sad part is that it'll take a while since it's almost always pretty humid here.

 

[Cagey]

You're in Michigan? I'm in Michigan (SE corner, 20 miles north of Detroit in Clinton Twp). I've already shot a guitar and am getting ready for the next one. It's only been too humid for the last couple weeks.

Rub-on finishes usually aren't terribly aromatic and there's no overspray, so you could almost do it indoors. I did a neck this past winter indoors using a wipe-on poly. No trouble at all. If it had been at all stanky, my roommate would likely have bitched. As it worked out, never heard a word.

 

[ThtOthrPrsn]

Wow! Small world! I'm in Lansing (Ingham County), I'm glad it finally stopped raining as much as it was. Around what temp. should I apply tru-oil in? Aslo, does it have any unpleasant smell once applied?

 

[Day-mun]

That makes three. I'm over on the west side, right on Lake Michigan.  :icon_thumright:

 

[Cagey]

I've heard it's ok above 60 degrees, and has very little odor. Lotsa guys do the kitchen table or basement thing.

Lacquer is more particular, and you can play with that if you follow the "rule of 65": temp no lower than 65°F, humidity no higher than 65%. I keep a little instrument out in the garage to tell me where those numbers are. Sorta like this one...

...but mine's a little different in that it's part of a little network of the things. I have four sensors around the house/garage that report to a base, but also have individual displays on each sensor/transmitter. But, that unit above is only $15 - can't beat that with a stick if having an accurate reading of those parameters is important.

 

[Cagey]

That makes three. I'm over on the west side, right on Lake Michigan.  :icon_thumright:

Nice. I lived over in that area for a while. About 10 years in Grand Rapids, then a couple down in Allegan. Loved it. Only moved back to this side for work, which is no longer an issue, but haven't had a good reason to pick up and move again.

 

[ThtOthrPrsn]

I've heard it's ok above 60 degrees, and has very little odor. Lotsa guys do the kitchen table or basement thing.

Lacquer is more particular, and you can play with that if you follow the "rule of 65": temp no lower than 65°F, humidity no higher than 65%.

Awesome, I'll probably set up in my garage on saturday and start my initial coats. What grain sand paper would you recommend finish sanding with?

 

[Cagey]

I'm not as familiar with oil finishes as I am with lacquer/poly, so I can't say for certain. Somebody else around here just lined out how they did it and came out with some excellent results. Maybe somebody will give us a link? In the meantime, there's a pretty comprehensive article on finishing guitars with Tru-Oil here that you might want to read.

 

[ThtOthrPrsn]

I'm not as familiar with oil finishes as I am with lacquer/poly, so I can't say for certain. Somebody else around here just lined out how they did it and came out with some excellent results. Maybe somebody will give us a link? In the meantime, there's a pretty comprehensive article on finishing guitars with Tru-Oil here that you might want to read.

Extremely helpful! Thanks you for linking me to that!

 

[Cagey]

You're welcome. I'm sure if you follow that schedule, you'll get great results. Just above all, be patient! Finishing is always detail-oriented and time-consuming, so you gotta get your mind right. Almost every finish failure I've had or seen others have has come from trying to beat the system. </lecture>

 

[ThtOthrPrsn]

I definitely plan to take my good 'ole time with this because I don't want this to be anything less than perfect (by my preferences and standards)  :icon_biggrin:

 

[DangerousR6]

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude, that is off the hook... :icon_thumright:

 

[LushTone]

Oooh, the envy. Dat flame! :headbang1:

Nice bridge and neck too! Goncalo is so smooth...

 

[ThtOthrPrsn]

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude, that is off the hook... :icon_thumright:

Thanks!

Oooh, the envy. Dat flame! :headbang1:

Nice bridge and neck too! Goncalo is so smooth...

Thanks! This is my first natural neck and I LOVE it. The bridge is really comfortable to rest your hand on.

 

[ThtOthrPrsn]

So today was a great day to start applying the tru-oil. But before I could get to the fun I had to get the finish sanding done.

I knew tru-oil would enhance the grain, but SWEET JEEBUS. It looks even better (and a little bit lighter) in person!

Tomorrow I'll get to the back and sides as long as the temperature and humidity continues to cooperate.  :icon_biggrin:

 

[Cagey]

You're not doing that out in the sun, are you? If you are, stop it, or you're liable to be very sorry.

 

[ThtOthrPrsn]

You're not doing that out in the sun, are you? If you are, stop it, or you're liable to be very sorry.

I was applying it in the sun and then bringing it inside, what is liable to happen when done in the sun?

 

[Cagey]

It'll get way too hot. The finish could blister or craze. Somebody else did a body out in the sun here a couple years back and it went straight to hell in a handbasket. I mean, it was amazing how badly it went. I think that one might have been lacquer, though, so maybe I'm worried about nothing.