Simple, solid color paint finish on Mahogany

[dNA]

So I've had enough free time on my hands to obsess over the details of my next build. One thing I'm sure of: the body will be mahogany, and I'm probably going for a sonic blue finish.
of course, the more expensive it is the longer it means i have to wait to get it. So I'm thinking about saving that $185 on the Warmoth paint job if I can do it myself for less.

But i don't know where to start. I was thinking we should really get some sticky posts from some of our most experienced board members that detail some of the most common finish types on the most common woods.
Is a paint finish on mahogany easy? I don't know anything about what grain filler is or does, or if it's needed with a paint finish. I also want the guitar to be matte or satin, not gloss. Tips?

 

[reinhold]

Check out the tutorials on reranch as a starting place to see if you're up for it.

 

[Rickgrxbass]

So I've had enough free time on my hands to obsess over the details of my next build. One thing I'm sure of: the body will be mahogany, and I'm probably going for a sonic blue finish.
of course, the more expensive it is the longer it means i have to wait to get it. So I'm thinking about saving that $185 on the Warmoth paint job if I can do it myself for less.

But i don't know where to start. I was thinking we should really get some sticky posts from some of our most experienced board members that detail some of the most common finish types on the most common woods.
Is a paint finish on mahogany easy? I don't know anything about what grain filler is or does, or if it's needed with a paint finish. I also want the guitar to be matte or satin, not gloss. Tips?

From what I understand, mahogany is a nightmare if you want a glass-smooth finish.  It's probably worth the $185 to save the time required to do a satisfactory job.  Of course thats my 2p.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Let Warmoth or Tonar do it. You'll have to grain fill the mahogany prior to painting. Mess up once or twice and you'll have spent enough time and money to make you wish you let them do it.

 

[rapfohl09]

So I've had enough free time on my hands to obsess over the details of my next build. One thing I'm sure of: the body will be mahogany, and I'm probably going for a sonic blue finish.
of course, the more expensive it is the longer it means i have to wait to get it. So I'm thinking about saving that $185 on the Warmoth paint job if I can do it myself for less.

But i don't know where to start. I was thinking we should really get some sticky posts from some of our most experienced board members that detail some of the most common finish types on the most common woods.
Is a paint finish on mahogany easy? I don't know anything about what grain filler is or does, or if it's needed with a paint finish. I also want the guitar to be matte or satin, not gloss. Tips?

From what I understand, mahogany is a nightmare if you want a glass-smooth finish.  It's probably worth the $185 to save the time required to do a satisfactory job.  Of course thats my 2p.

+1

I've done a few mahogany test boards and I still haven't gotten the grain fill step right yet.

 

[dNA]

ahhh. seems like there's a general consensus. that's a bit disappoitning. but there's a certain part of me that's secretly relieved to hear that, because I was sure the home-finishing process would involve a lot of screwing up and and compensating for said screwups and being totally frustrated before the end of it.

maybe I'll go with basswood or alder instead...

 

[Danuda]

I painted my first warmoth myself and while I enjoyed the experience I will probably never do it again.  My design was rather complicated so it wouldn't really be the same thing, but it I were to do a solid color I would just have Warmoth do it.  After factoring in paint cost, filler, sand paper, clear coat and buffing supplies plust the amount of time it takes.  $185 seems like a bargain.