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Boston Joe

Junior Member
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I'd like to put a logo on my headstock. I'm not sure how to go about it, though.

My original idea was to simply use a paint pen. But I'd like to put something over it so it doesn't wear off. I tried this on a test piece. It was already partly finished. I wrote on it with the paint pen and let it dry. Then I tried putting another coat of poly over it, and it wiped right off. I assume this is because the poly has mineral spirits in it. I don't know what kind of paint is in the pen.

I've also been experimenting with some metallic enamel paint (Testors model paint). I could paint the logo on, but again, I don't know if the poly would wipe it off.

Other things I've thought about:

Wood burning it (I'd have to by an iron)
Etched brass plate (I'm going to etch the neck plate anyway, so I'll have etchant, but sourcing the right size plate, etc, and just the whole thing sounds like kind of a pain in the ass)

I'd prefer not to go with decals. Just a personal preference.

Any suggestions, either on how to accomplish any of the things I've mentioned above, or for other methods?
 
Boston Joe said:
I'd prefer not to go with decals. Just a personal preference.

I can sure relate to that. At least as far as waterslide goes. Recently I've been using metal decals that I'm really happy with. Installation is a breeze and they look sharp. I haven't been using them long enough to speak first-hand of their durability, although I am quite satisfied with what I've see so far, but others on this forum with longer experience have done so. I got these through Morning Print. Potential downsides are that you have to buy a bunch and have to do some graphics work to provide a file.
File%20Nov%2015%2C%208%2056%2002%20AM.jpeg
 
-VB- said:
Boston Joe said:
I'd prefer not to go with decals. Just a personal preference.

I can sure relate to that. At least as far as waterslide goes. Recently I've been using metal decals that I'm really happy with. Installation is a breeze and they look sharp. I haven't been using them long enough to speak first-hand of their durability, although I am quite satisfied with what I've see so far, but others on this forum with longer experience have done so. I got these through Morning Print. Potential downsides are that you have to buy a bunch and have to do some graphics work to provide a file.
File%20Nov%2015%2C%208%2056%2002%20AM.jpeg

The graphics work won't be a problem. Not sure how I feel about buying "a bunch" though.
 
I guess I could have been more specific there. I had to order 50 at about $150. Not a bad price per each, but rather a lot out of pocket at once. The good news: I'm covered for the next 49 guitars.... (47 actually, my son grabbed a couple for his own purposes...)
 
-VB- said:
I guess I could have been more specific there. I had to order 50 at about $150. Not a bad price per each, but rather a lot out of pocket at once. The good news: I'm covered for the next 49 guitars.... (47 actually, my son grabbed a couple for his own purposes...)

Ouch. I don't have plans to build more than one guitar.
 
Rgand said:
Boston Joe said:
-VB- said:
Boston Joe said:
Ouch. I don't have plans to build more than one guitar.

That's how it always starts.....  :icon_jokercolor:

I had a feeling you'd say something like that.
It's like the cat's first taste of blood. There's no going back. :icon_biggrin:

Let's just say I don't have the budget to build more than one guitar. And I definitely don't have $150 to burn on 50 decals, of which I'll use one.
 
Boston Joe said:
Rgand said:
Boston Joe said:
-VB- said:
Boston Joe said:
Ouch. I don't have plans to build more than one guitar.

That's how it always starts.....  :icon_jokercolor:

I had a feeling you'd say something like that.
It's like the cat's first taste of blood. There's no going back. :icon_biggrin:

Let's just say I don't have the budget to build more than one guitar. And I definitely don't have $150 to burn on 50 decals, of which I'll use one.
That's OK. I built my first scratch build when I was in my early 20's. It was done with crude hand tools but it worked and I had something no one else did. Then I really didn't do anything until a couple years ago when the bug re-surfaced and I got started again. :icon_thumright:

For your logo, how good are you at working with a pen? You could do a stylized signature and just hand draw it on the headstock for a pretty cool look.
 
Practice with your paint pen on some scrap wood, let it dry really well over night or so. Once dry give it a few light mistings with some shellac, I used the spray can zinsser from Home Depot over a silver sharpie and it did not run or rub off. Let the coats dry well before the next one.
 
Things that "dry" vs. things that "cure" are inherently easier to dissolve. Things that dry rely on their solvent to keep them in a fluid state, while things that cure undergo a fundamental chemical/material change. Paint tubes fall under the "things that dry" heading, because they have to maintain a shelf life and/or a workable life once opened. As a result, they're typically not very durable.

For example, lacquer dries, and so can be easily dissolved again with the reapplication of it's primary solvent, acetone. Polyurethane cures, so dissolving it again is very difficult, and in its dissolved state is no longer useful.

I'm not sure what problem you have with decals, but they're pretty easy to deal with as long as you're willing to bury them in finish. Otherwise, I'd agree they can be pretty tacky-looking and won't take any abuse. But, it sounds like you're willing to put a finish over whatever you apply, so decals present some advantages. First, and probably most importantly, they allow you to create just about any image you can imagine using the myriad tools available on computers. They're also very thin, so burying them isn't as tough as you might imagine. Get some blank waterslide paper, create an image, and print it. Apply it, shoot a few coats of finish over it, sand it back and re-shoot a few times, buff and polish it when the edges are no longer visible, and there you are. Professional results.

Much easier is to throw some money at Doug and get a metal emblem made. He does great work, and all that's left to do when you get the thing is attach it. Almost no work for you, professional results, relatively inexpensive, highly durable, unique - what's not to love? He has a CNC machine, so you're not limited to any particular shape/material. I just saw a neck plate he made from titanium, and that stuff can be a bitch to work with. Design something up and send it to him, see what he says.
 
Boston Joe said:
Let's just say I don't have the budget to build more than one guitar. And I definitely don't have $150 to burn on 50 decals, of which I'll use one.

Admittedly those sorts of expenses get easier when they can be written off as business expenses... However you end up proceeding, I'll be interested to see it!
 
Sometimes, patience comes in handy. If money is an issue, set the thing aside for a bit and come back to it later. It often beats compromise.
 
What about a metal Warmoth logo. Mr Pinter had a few made for some forum members and it may be someone closer to your location may have a spare one?
 
Cagey said:
Much easier is to throw some money at Doug and get a metal emblem made. He does great work, and all that's left to do when you get the thing is attach it. Almost no work for you, professional results, relatively inexpensive, highly durable, unique - what's not to love? He has a CNC machine, so you're not limited to any particular shape/material. I just saw a neck plate he made from titanium, and that stuff can be a bitch to work with. Design something up and send it to him, see what he says.

"Doug" is DangerousR6? Or someone else?
 
Boston Joe said:
Cagey said:
Much easier is to throw some money at Doug and get a metal emblem made. He does great work, and all that's left to do when you get the thing is attach it. Almost no work for you, professional results, relatively inexpensive, highly durable, unique - what's not to love? He has a CNC machine, so you're not limited to any particular shape/material. I just saw a neck plate he made from titanium, and that stuff can be a bitch to work with. Design something up and send it to him, see what he says.

"Doug" is DangerousR6? Or someone else?

Yes DangerousR6
 
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