Finishing a Flame Maple Tele (56k warning)

[Cagey]

I think your best bet is going to be dye. Color match as best you can, then several rounds of clear and sanding to level it out, then continue on the way you were. Keep in mind if it's that thin there, that whole area is probably pretty thin, too, and easily breached.

 

[MedianMusic1]

So I have a slight problem.  I was smoothing stuff out with wet 600 grit paper when I realize that I have accidentally sanded through!

I've "sanded through" my finishes too. Like yours, they were very small and/or inconspicuous. I never bothered trying to fix it and instead settled for the distressed/working guitar look...

 

[pabloman]

Use some black laquer and burst it.

 

[-CB-]

use DILUTE dye.... and build the color slowly with a small brush

then give it a few drop fill layers

after those are dry, shoot the whole thing with clean again twice... let it dry and you'll be ok to sand again

FWIW, I usually dont sand back anything - no need with lacquer IF you properly fill the grain

2nd to last coat - sand off orange peel

last coat to rebuild that... and then light-light sand and buff, done

 

[CtheHammer]

FWIW, I usually dont sand back anything - no need with lacquer IF you properly fill the grain

2nd to last coat - sand off orange peel

last coat to rebuild that... and then light-light sand and buff, done

Hmmm...I think I definitely had a surface prep issue on this guitar.  I did the whole dampening with water and sanding back the raised grain thing, but I didn't do any grain filling on the top obviously since it is maple and I didn't do any on the alder after reading that it often doesn't really need it however in my case it definitely did.  I must have the world's worst orange peel on top of that because while there was a shine to what I sprayed, it wasn't anything resembling smooth.  And getting it so using 600 grit took quite a bit of effort.  What seems interesting to me is that the sides came away relatively smooth though.  There was a little bit of orange peel on them (mainly around the neck pocket) but for the most part they came away smooth and with a decent surface without me touching them.  Dunno if it is a matter of how I am spraying, my overall setup, or any number of factors...

 

[CtheHammer]

Found out a week ago that I have to move a week from now so it became time to wrap up this project.  I decided to leave the spot as is; it adds character and can be a reminder for next time to be more careful.  :icon_tongue:

Hardware:
StewMac Tele wiring kit
Grover Locking Mini-Rotomatics
Gotoh Tele Bridge
Roadhouse Specials for Tele

And here are the obligatory pics.  Hopefully it will be nice one afternoon so I can get some pictures in natural lighting as opposed to the fluorescent glow in my kitchen.

Did a basic set up and so far she sounds great.  The pickups have a nice full sound while still getting a single-coil sound and not getting muddy.  Overall it  :guitarplayer2:.

Only one other change to make to it now, but I'm going to wait until some of the colder months to do it.  Lets just say that the basic cream dots are so...basic...  :icon_thumright:

 

[Nando Vallart]

Oh gawd!!!! such a beauty!

 

[kboman]

Very bling, but not overstated. The glow of the neck is... yummy.

 

[Cagey]

Nice. I like the matching neck/headstock.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

LoVe It, the chrome pops on that!  :headbang1:

 

[AprioriMark]

Man, kudos to you on this job.  Absolutely beautiful.  You're inspiring me to stop being a wuss and try finishing on my own this summer.

-Mark

 

[jimbo]

That turned out amazing. I'm starting to get tele-envy