"Bursting" Swamp Ash?

[bobsessed]

Anybody done it? How'd it go?

 

[dmraco]

All the time.  Works best with spray on.  Swamp ash does not take run on dye well.  What are you working with?

 

[Tonar8352]

Yes I've done lots of them and they turn out great. Do a search on 2-tone sunburst and you will find a lot DIY threads I've done over the years and some with step-by-step pictures. Here is a nice Tele I did.

 

[bobsessed]

I've got this swamp ash body blank that I've cut into a fairly unique shape that I want to do a burst on. I've got a few cans of StewMac lacquer in vintage amber, cherry red, and clear. I'm going to do it in a Les Paul-type cherry sunburst. I hope it'll look nice.....that type of burst is usually associated with the Gibson types so I'm a little unsure. So do you think it will be ok to just fill the grain and shoot the color, or do you like to use a sealer/primer?

 

[bobsessed]

Oooooh, I just looked at some SA bodies in Warmoth's stock in that finish that are stunners. I should've looked first..... Now if I can  get mine to look half that good....

 

[Tonar8352]

On Swamp Ash you have to paste fill it and then shoot clear to level sand so that you have a perfectly level surface before you add any color. If it has any dimples before you add color you are in for a huge challenge to get it to look right. The nice thing about getting it level before you add color is  if you burn through the clear while level sanding it is no bid deal, you just add more clear until you get it level. If you have color on the surface before it is level the chance of sanding through the color on the way to getting it level greatly increases.

 

[bobsessed]

Makes good sense....Thanks for that. It'll be my first burst and I'll need all the help I can get!

 

[bobsessed]

So it's January and I've got this new guitar screaming at me to get finished and played. Have any of you used spray bombs in a ....semi-cold room? What's the ideal temp for applying nitro?

 

[Cagey]

Working with nitro usually involves following what's know as the "rule of 65". Basically what it means is don't shoot below 65°F or above 65% relative humidity. Those are limits; ideally you want it a bit warmer and drier than that. 72°F @ 40% rh would be a nice day to paint. Any warmer/wetter, and you start to need to add retarder to slow the stuff down.