before you clear what do you clean with?

[dmraco]

I want to get any impurities and dirt off my finish before I clear.  I was planning on using naptha but wont this raise the grain?

Thanks

 

[ByteFrenzy]

No. That's precisely why you would use naphta or mineral oil and not water.

 

[Keyser Soze]

What type of finish are you looking to clean?

 

[dmraco]

dyed maple.

 

[Tonar8352]

Thats the stuff to use.

 

[dmraco]

cleaned up nice.  I have found the the grain on my flame maple is taking the clear at different rates.  This did not happen with my other build.  I guess I will have to keep up with several light coats.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Tonar8352]

I have been working on the 5A Tele and that maple top is sucking finish like a sponge.  I just keep pouring finish to it and hitting it real lightly between coats with a worn out 3M 320 sanding sponge.  There is still not enough finish on the top to switch to regular 320 paper to get it level so I can burst it.  You must have a piece from the same tree.

 

[dmraco]

I have been working on the 5A Tele and that maple top is sucking finish like a sponge.  I just keep pouring finish to it and hitting it real lightly between coats with a worn out 3M 320 sanding sponge.  There is still not enough finish on the top to switch to regular 320 paper to get it level so I can burst it.  You must have a piece from the same tree.

I am doing the same thing using one of those painting sponges.  It seems like the darker grain is taking it more.  I have about 10 coats of poly on it now.  I am going to let it sit for about 72 hours and hit it very lightly with 320.  I do not think sanding thru will be an issues.  Even if I do, 75% of the guitar is natural.  here is a shot of the grain....

 

[Patrick from Davis]

One heck of a looker you have there.  I'll bet it is going to be incredibly fun to take out into the sun and view it from every angle.  Excellent job.
Patrick

 

[dmraco]

yes.  I cannot wait.  The neck is a looker too.  The flame maple moves depending on what angle you look at it.

I am really happy withthe flame on the guitar too.  Hard to beleive it is not a select cut.

 

[Watershed]

Wow, that is a great top!
Did you spray or wipe on the stain?

What kind of poly are you using?

Thanks,
James

 

[dmraco]

Wow, that is a great top!
Did you spray or wipe on the stain?

What kind of poly are you using?

Thanks,
James

I used Minwax spray poly...gloss.  It gets even better.  After I applied the 1st 2 cans, I let dry 72 hours and then sanded with 320 grit.  This is all per their instructions.  There was some slight orange peel.  Nothing major.

Since the maple was sucking clear like crazy I purchased another two cans and went to work.  The results speak for themselves.  I barely need to sand or buff.  there are a few dust specs that I will know down with 2000 grit....other than that....perfection.  Best of all, I recoated ever 20-30 minutes and could sand at 72 hours.  Nitro is just a bit longer than than....... :laughing8: :laughing8: :laughing8:

I am planning on letting it sit a good week to harden up before assembly....

 

[Mor Paul]

It looks so great... almost goldish. It would look killer on an LP. Maybe just the faintest sunburst imaginable on there...

Or it could look good on a tele... practice for staining for me!

 

[dmraco]

kinda like this:

This was the look I was going for, minus the burst.  I am not all that into bursting.

I think they used black and sanded back.  I wanted a little more gold so I used Tobacco brown.